Fourth of July events >> Bay Area parades, fireworks and more
Here’s a rundown of South Bay and Peninsula Independence Day events. All events are scheduled for July 4unless otherwise noted. events; find a Bay Area-wide roundup online at www.mercurynews.com/ entertainment.
APTOS
World’s Shortest Parade: 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Aptos Village Park, Soquel Street and State Park. Parade at 10a.m. followed by party in the park, noon-4 p.m., with food, vendors, music, and activities. Free. Pancake breakfast 7-10a.m., in parking lot of burger. Aptos. Breakfast, $5-$10fee; party, $5 donation. http://aptoschamber.com.
CUPERTINO
4th of July Celebration: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Noon. Events at Memorial Park/Quinlan Community Center include pancake breakfast (7-11a.m.), carnival (9a.m.-noon), children’s parade (10a.m.) and concert (10:30 a.m.-noon) with live rock band. At Blackberry Farm, food trucks and free swimming (10 a.m.-5 p.m.). Recommended viewing sites for the 9:30p.m. fireworks show are Sedgwick Elementary, Creekside Park and Miller Avenue (between Bollinger and Disney). www.cupertino.org.
FELTON
Old Time Celebration: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401Graham Hill Road. Games, activities and live music throughout the day; barbecue noon-3 p.m. Free admission. Train rides, $22-$31; food available for purchase; festivities free. 831-335-4484, www.roaringcamp.com.
FOSTER CITY
Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks: 9a.m.-9:45p.m. Leo Ryan Park, 650Shell Blvd. Games, food, entertainment, family and dog parade, and a fireworks display. http://bit.ly/28L1as3.
FREMONT
Fourth of July Parade: 10 a.m.- noon. Begins at Fremont Library, continues north on Paseo Padre Parkway and ends at Capitol Avenue. Creative floats, specialty units and marching musical units. Free. http://fremont4th.org.
GILROY
Fireworks Salute: 9:15 p.m. Gilroy High School, 750W. 10th St. Annual Fourth of July fireworks display. Free. http://gilroywelcomecenter.org.
LOS ALTOS
Glorious Fourth Celebration: 10:30 a.m.-2p.m. Shoup Park, 400University Ave. Games, live music, food and desserts, games, bounce house and more. Free. www. losaltosca.gov.
MENLO PARK
Fourth of July Parade and Celebration: 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Parade beginning at Chestnut Street followed by celebration at noon, Burgess Park, 701Laurel St. Live music, jump houses, slides, games, crafts, face painting, rock walls, food and drinks available for purchase. Free; $7wristband required for some activities. www.menlopark.org.
MILPITAS
Fourth of July Party and Fireworks: 1-4 p.m. “Waving the Red, White & Blue” pool party (free), followed by food truck court. 7-9 p.m. “Red, White & Boom” Fireworks and concert featuring the HouseRockers. Fireworks show admission, $3. Milpitas Sports Center, 1325E. Calaveras Blvd. www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov.
MONTEREY
Independence Day Parade: 10a.m. Starts at Alvarado and Pearl streets. Floats, specialty units, musical units and guest celebrities. www.monterey.org/july4th
Big Little Backyard Barbecue: 11 a.m.4:30 p.m. Colton Hall, Pacific Street. Music, carnival games, food available all day for purchase or bring a picnic lunch. Free admission. www.monterey.org/july4th.
MORGAN HILL
Freedom Fest Fireworks & Parade:
4p.m. Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center, 16500 Condit Road. Music begins at 6 p.m. Fireworks start at dusk. Free. http://morganhillfreedomfest.com/fireworks.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
San Francisco Symphony Fireworks
Spectacular: 8 p.m. Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1Amphitheatre Parkway. The highlight of this event will be the fireworks display accompanied by the orchestra. $28-$44. www.mountainviewamphitheater.com.
Shoreline Lake fireworks viewing: 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. 3160 N. Shoreline Blvd. The Boathouse & American Bistro at Shoreline Lake will rent pedal boats, rowboats, canoes and kayaks for fireworks viewing from the lake. Lakeside barbecue, picnic baskets also available. Prices, reservations: 650-965-7474, https://shorelinelake.com/upcoming.html.
PALO ALTO
Chili Cook-Off: Noon-5 p.m. Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive. 36th annual chili battle plus music, food trucks and children’s activities. www.paloaltochilicookoff.com/.
REDWOOD CITY
Independence Day Parade and Festival: Northern California’s largest Fourth of July parade starts at 10a.m. at Brewster Avenue and Winslow Street and winds through downtown Redwood City. Live marching bands, floats, veterans, service groups and more. Festival with arts and crafts, food booths, children’s activities until 5 p.m. Free. www.redwoodcity.org. Old-Fashioned Fourth and Fireworks: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the San Mateo County History Museum, 2200Broadway, will hold traditional events, including crafts and hand-cranked ice cream; $2-$3 admission that day. At the Port of Redwood City, live music will begin at 7p.m. and the fireworks will be launched about 9:30 p.m. www.historysmc.org, www.redwoodcity.org.
Kiwanis Carnival: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Corner of Veterans Boulevard and Middlefield Road. Rides, games, food, fun. Free admission but there is a fee for rides. http://woodside-terrace.kiwanisone.org/Page/29228.
SAN FRANCISCO
Entertainment and Fireworks Extravaganza: 6-10p.m. San Francisco waterfront. Live music at Aquatic Park, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39sites before the city’s fireworks show at 9:30p.m. Entertainment details at www.fishermanswharf.org and www.pier39.com. SS Jeremiah O’Brien:
6:30-10:30 p.m. Dockside viewing of S.F. fireworks at Pier 45. Tickets include hot dogs, popcorn and soft drinks. $10-$80. www.ssjeremiahobrien.org.
SAN JOSE
Rose, White & Blue Parade: 10 a.m. Rose Garden district parade with 115entries starts on Dana Avenue and concludes at The Alameda community party site, with live music, food, booths. Free. www.rosewhiteblueparade.com. Rotary Centennial Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. July 4. Free downtown San Jose show at Discovery Meadow, 180Woz Way, with VTA adding additional light rail and bus service for the event. For details on VIP party/dinner, go to www.rotaryfireworks.org. San Jose Giants: Municipal Stadium, 599 E. Alma Ave. Fireworks will immediately follow the conclusion of the game that begins at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices, $10-$30. 408297-1435, www.sjgiants.com.
SAN MATEO
Fourth of July in the Park: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Martin Luther King Park and Pool, Monte Diablo Avenue and N. Fremont Street. Family fun, music, recreational swim, cardboard boat race (pre-registration required for boat race). Free. www.cityofsanmateo.org.
SANTA CLARA
All-City Picnic and Fireworks: Noon-10 p.m. Bands, carnival games, jump houses, children’s crafts, face painting, free public swimming, food booths, city info booths, all at Central Park, 909 Kiely Blvd. Fireworks at 9:30p.m. Free. http://santaclara.gov. Great America Fireworks Shows: July 1-4. Fireworks set to patriotic music each night. Current and past military men and women will be honored with free admission with valid ID. Park admission, hours: www. cagreatamerica.com.
SANTA CRUZ
Firecracker Run: 6:30a.m.Harvey West Park, 326 Evergreen Street. Kids 1K, 5K and 10K hosted by the Sunrise Rotary Club. Pancake breakfast 7-11:30a.m. Race registration: $20-$50. www.santacruzfirecracker10k.org.
Old-Fashioned Independence Day: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wilder Ranch Cultural Preserve, 1401Coast Road. Early 1900s-style celebration with family parade at 11:45a.m., games, live big-band music, living history demonstrations, historic speeches and flag-raising. Food and drink for sale, or bring a picnic lunch. Day-use parking fee is $10. 831-426-0505, http://bit.ly/2tblI85.
SARATOGA
Independence Day Celebration: 9:30-11 a.m. Kevin Moran Park, 12415 Scully Ave. Highlights include patriotic music, historical characters, family parade, free flags and popsicles. Free. www.saratogaJuly4.com.
SCOTTS VALLEY
Parade & Fireworks: 3p.m. Skypark, 361 Kings Valley Road. Celebrate with parade, barbecue, live bands, games, petting zoo, food, music and games. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Admission, $8. Activities and food extra. 831-438-3251, www.scottsvalley.org.
WATSONVILLE
Spirit of Watsonville 4th of July Parade: 1 p.m. July 4. Main Street from St. Patrick’s Church to First Street, Watsonville. http://bit.ly/2qWq2pP.
Lisa Herendeen, Kathy Bennett and Linda Zavoral contributed to this report. To have your festival included in the listing, email lherendeen@bayareanewsgroup.com.