Independence Day events in Monterey County
Monterey 4th of July Pancake Breakfast
Kick off your Independence Day with some pancakes and coffee at the Monterey Firefighters Charity Pancake Breakfast. From 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Colton Hall Lawn, you can grab a plate for $15 a ticket. Proceeds will benefit the Monterey County Youth Museum. Reservations are required.
Monterey 4th of July Celebration and Parade
Monterey's annual Fourth of July Parade will return to Downtown Old Monterey for the first time in two years. Festive floats, patriotic displays, costumes and live music will crowd the streets in and around Old Monterey beginning at 10 a.m. at Alvarado Street and Calle Principal.
Monterey's Big 4th of July Celebration and Backyard Food Fest
The city of Monterey's free backyard food fest will follow the parade from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Colton Hall Lawn on Pacific Street. The event includes live music and food vendors will also provide a variety of food options for purchase.
Pacific Grove 4th of July Celebration
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce will host a Fourth of July celebration at Jewell Park. It will feature live music from Katherine Lavin Band, Firefly Band and the Monterey Peninsula Voices Choir. Kids activities will include bounce houses, Kona Ice and face painting.
4th of July on the Wharf
Head down to Fisherman's Wharf for festive decorations and photo opportunities. “Uncle Sam” will be outside Candy World from noon to 5 p.m. giving out free flagthemed salt water taffy. This year, the Loma Linda Academy String Orchestra will be putting on a free performance outside the Wharf from 3 p.m. — 4 p.m. in front of Rockfish Harbor Grill. The show will feature 30 talented musicians and various patriotic pieces to honor Independence Day.
Living History Day
Monterey State Historic Park will host a Living History Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Memory Garden, located behind the Pacific House Museum at Custom House Plaza. Attendees can see a variety of demonstrations including blacksmithing, rope making, leather stamping, 19th-century games, military drills and historic music and dancing. Guided history tours will also be available. The event is free, but a $5 donation per family is suggested. All proceeds support the State Park Title 1 School Year Program Scholarships. Visit https://www. parks.ca.gov/?page_id=575 for more information.
Monterey County Pops
From 2-3:30 p.m., the popular 28-member orchestra Monterey County Pops! will perform a free concert in Devendorf Park in Carmel. The orchestra will be holding an open rehearsal and soundcheck from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The concert will also be broadcast over Comcast Channel 24 and livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube.
Seaside's Red, White and Blues Festival
The city of Seaside will kick off the free Red, White and Blues Festival from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. on July 4 at 440 Harcourt Ave. The event will feature a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatable obstacle courses, face painting, arts and crafts, bungee jumpers, a rock-climbing wall and bounce houses. Local food and craft vendors and live entertainment will also be featured. The bands Momotombo SF, with former members from Malo and Santana, and Sensory Tribe will perform. While safe-and-sane fireworks are permitted in Seaside, they are not permitted at the festival and this year's celebration will not feature the municipal fireworks display. Drugs, alcohol, pets, barbecues and tents are also prohibited.
Fireworks
Seaside and Marina are the only cities on the Peninsula that allow the legal use of safe-and-sane fireworks. Other cities in Monterey County that permit fireworks this year include Salinas, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City and Soledad.
Safe-and-sane fireworks can only be sold by licensed retailers and used by the general public within very strict parameters. All safeand-sane fireworks must display a “State of California State Fire Marshall Registered Fireworks” seal.
The fine for the illegal sale and use of fireworks in prohibited areas is $2,500 for Seaside and $1,000 for Monterey.