Here’s our roundup of Fourth of July events in Richmond and around the East Bay — from fireworks in Marina Bay Park to a vintage car show in El Cerrito, a Carlos Santana tribute band in San Pablo, and a community parade in Pinole, there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
But first, a safety reminder: You can’t set off your own fireworks in Contra Costa County. It’s a county ordinance. Call (925) 941-3300 for more information.
Richmond Fourth of July fireworks show
The city of Richmond’s Fourth of July celebration is at 5 p.m. today, July 3, at Marina Bay Park. The annual event will feature food vendors selling burgers, barbecue, funnel cakes, churros and more. The Parks and Recreation team will host a children’s play area with games including giant versions of Connect 4, Jenga and chess, to name a few. Bring a comfy chair and blankets and settle in to enjoy a 20-minute fireworks display that is scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m.
Nearby fun on the Fourth of July
WorldOne Festival in Cerrito Vista Park
The city of El Cerrito will host its own Fourth of July Festival, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Thursday, July 4 in Cerrito Vista Park, at 950 Pomona Ave. Entertainment will be provided by WorldOne Concerts. A family fun zone will be set up for children, and, for automotive enthusiasts, a vintage car show will be on display. The event, which is less than a mile walk from the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station, will also feature food vendors, beer and wine booths, and face painting. Come prepared with blankets and chairs to set up camp and enjoy the festivities.
Multi-Cultural Celebration in San Pablo
The city of San Pablo will host a Fourth of July Multi-Cultural Celebration, from 5-9 p.m. Thursday in the San Pablo Community Center, 2450 Road 20. Enjoy a performance by the Carlos Santana tribute band, Viva Santana, plus carnival games and food trucks. Come prepared with blankets and chairs to enjoy the festivities.
Drone light show at Pinole Valley High
The city of Pinole is hosting a Fourth of July Celebration, from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Thursday at Pinole Valley High School, 2900 Pinole Valley Road. The event will have live music, food vendors, and a community parade starting at 8:30 p.m., circling the Pinole Valley High School track. The night is set to end with a drone light show.
Concert in Albany’s Memorial Park
The city of Albany is hosting a Fourth of July Celebration, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, at Memorial Park, 1325 Portland Ave. The event will have two separate musical performances: From 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. the Honor Brass Band will take the stage, and Aaron Burnham and the Brushfires will close out the event from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. There will be food trucks, kids’ activities and city information booths. Bring your chairs and blankets to this event to enjoy the music from the grass.
Some East Bay roads will be closed on Fourth of July
If you’re venturing to other cities this holiday, we recommend you avoid the East Bay hills. For a 24-hour-period starting at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Grizzly Peak Boulevard from Centennial Drive to Skyline Boulevard in Berkeley and Oakland will be closed to most outside traffic. All turnouts will be closed, and stopping will not be allowed. Ride-share vehicles, delivery vehicles and residents of that area — in cars, on bikes or on foot — will still be able to enter the closed portion, according to the city of Berkeley.
For more things to do, visit our calendar, where you can add your events for free.
Centennial Drive between Stadium Rim Way and Grizzly Peak Boulevard will also be closed during the same time period, according to a UC Berkeley WarnMe notification.
Panoramic Way and Prospect Street will both be closed from 2 p.m. to midnight, according to the city.
The Lawrence Hall of Science and UC Botanical Gardens will be closed July 4, according to the city — as will the Tilden Park Steam Trains, Jen Vanya, a spokesperson for the East Bay Regional Park District, confirmed to Berkeleyside in an email.
Iris Kwok of Berkeleyside contributed to this article.
