This Fourth of July marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And the Bay Area will be taking its celebrations to a new level accordingly.
The big news is that San Francisco’s annual free fireworks show is being launched from the Golden Gate Bridge for only the third time in almost a century.
To do this, the iconic rust-red bridge will be completely closed from about 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., so expect more traffic on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the Bay Bridge as drivers will be seeking alternate routes between the East Bay and San Francisco.
Richmond will light up its shoreline in usual fashion, hosting its Annual Third of July Fireworks show to Marina Bay Park at Regetta Boulevard and Marina Bay Parkway. The free event starting at 5 p.m. features live music, games and a variety of food vendors, with the fireworks display beginning around 9:15 p.m. Families are welcome to bring picnic blankets for a night under the stars.
CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL FIREWORKS
Read below for area events or, on the Fourth, hop over to El Cerrito for a fireworks-free celebration including music, food and a classic car show.
If you’re planning on buying your own fireworks, don’t set them off in Richmond, warn citizens and police, who will have their drone out patrolling for illegal firework shows.
Fourth of July fireworks and other Bay Area celebrations
San Francisco
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show is free and starts around 9:30 p.m., according to the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks website. The best viewing locations are Crissy Field, Marina Green and Pier 39 and Northern Embarcadero. For those who don’t mind spending a bit of money, there will be private cruise options, with tickets available on Eventbrite.
As mentioned, drivers should pay attention to the bridge closure, times of which could vary, and should expect delays. Find more information and detour maps here.
The bridge’s sidewalks will also be closed to pedestrians and cyclists at certain times leading up to July 4, with the east sidewalk closed starting as early as the morning of July 3. Regular pedestrian access will resume on July 5.
And the parking lots at the south end of the bridge will be closed on July 4 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
East Bay
- July 3: Fireworks at Marina Bay Park, Richmond
- July 4: Party on the SS Red Oak Victory, Richmond
- July 4: Multicultural Fourth of July Celebration at the San Pablo Community Center, San Pablo
- July 4: Fireworks at Hacienda de las Flores Park, Moraga
- July 4: Parade and fireworks along the Martinez shoreline, Martinez
- July 4: Fireworks at College Park High School, Pleasant Hill
- July 4: Festival and Fireworks at Mt. Diablo High School, Concord
- July 4: Fireworks at Pittsburg Marina, Pittsburg
- July 4: El Cerrito and Worldone Festival in El Cerrito
North Bay
- July 1 to July 5: Stars, Stripes and Stories at the Marin County Fair in San Rafael
- July 3: Drone Show at Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake
- July 4: Fireworks on the Suisun City Waterfront, Suisun City
- July 4: Drone on the Mare Island Waterfront, Vallejo
- July 4: Drone show at Oxbow Commons, Napa
- July 4: Fireworks at General Vallejo’s field, Sonoma
- July 4: Laser Light Show at Pioneer Park, Calistoga
- July 4: Fireworks at Independence Park, American Canyon
America 250 exhibits and longer-term events
- Through Jan. 11: “This Land Is …” Exhibition at MaryLou and George Boone Gallery in San Marino
- June 21 to July 4: “7X7,” a public light installation in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza
- June 29: Commemorating 250 Years of SF at its Birthplace at Manny’s in San Francisco
- June 29 to July 4: A weeklong “exploration into the past, present, and future of SF & the United States” at Manny’s in San Francisco
- Through Nov. 8: The Spirit of ’76 at the Los Altos History Museum in Los Altos
- July 1 to July 8: A cross-country relay across America starts on Limantour Beach in Marin County
- July 1: Humanities West presents the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco
- July 2: Trans 250 Art Exhibit at Manny’s in San Francisco
- July 11: Mutiny at Port Chicago: Black Resistance and Redemption at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland
Also, as a birthday gift to the public, until July 6 California State Parks is offering a downloadable free pass to celebrate America 250, which can be used for free entry to all state historic parks through Dec. 31.
KQED contributed to this report. Richmondside is a media partner of KQED, a listener-supported public radio station serving Northern California. We occasionally republish KQED stories we believe will be of interest to our readers.
