The best 4th of July events in L.A.

AmericaFest at the Rose Bowl is an explosive celebration of all things red, white and blue—and easily the biggest show in L.A. The fireworks typically don’t shoot off until 9pm, but the Rose Bowl opens its gates hours earlier on Independence Day, usually starting with kid-friendly carnival fun, followed by an in-stadium program that includes motocross stunts and a tribute to JPL. Parking for the event will cost a whopping $45, but you can make it worth your while with an afternoon of tailgaiting outside the stadium.

West Hollywood’s ultra-chic rooftop bar L.P. is bringing its alfresco screening series back just in time for the holiday weekend, starting with Dirty Dancing.

It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. For the weekend of the Fourth, Cinespia is screening Dazed and Confused and Dirty Dancing with a fireworks finale.

There’s something about watching fireworks over the ocean. Every year in Marina del Rey, fireworks explode over the marina channel and spectators gather all over to watch: at Burton Chace Park or Fisherman’s Village as well as from Marina “Mother’s” Beach, waterfront hotels and restaurants, and on boats. Fireworks start at 9pm and usually last for about 20 minutes, but this year it’ll be a 10-minute show fired off from the south jetty instead of a barge. Arrive early to the area’s county lots.

We’ve missed the Sunday strolls through dozens of restaurant stalls and pop-up shops, but thankfully, Smorgasburg L.A. is coming back. The food bazaar and gathering place temporarily closed—along with practically everything else—in mid-March of 2020, but now it’s really, finally back starting July 4th.

True to its name, Boat Cinema will present movie screenings literally on Castaic Lake every Friday, Saturday and Sunday this summer, starting with Jaws over the holiday weekend. You can rent an electric mini boat that seats up to five people ($199), a shallow-water inflatable island for six ($89) or even BYOB ($69)—boat, that is (we won’t snitch if you bring the other “b,” though there’s technically a corkage fee).

Ring in another year of independence in the grand ol’ USA with Kool & the Gang. The Hollywood Bowl proudly hosts its annual Fourth of July party, complete with a dazzling fireworks finale. Grab your tickets early; seats in the nosebleed section go for $20. Or consider springing for front section tickets—it is America’s birthday, after all.

House music hits Hollywood Park during this two-day Fourth of July fest that features Chromeo, Diplo, AC Slater, Tchami, Sofi Tukker and more. Initially slated for the harbor, it’s been moved to the grounds surrounding SoFi Stadium.

Grand Park and the Music Center are taking this Fourth of July off when it comes to fireworks. In their place you’ll find this monthlong outdoor exhibition that examines what it means to call yourself an Angeleno through a mix of photo and light installations.

Cruise on up to the Palisades for a beachy Independence Day extravaganza. Things kick off in the afternoon with a 2pm WWII fighter plane flyover to herald the start of the parade. The baton twirlers and marching trombonists will begin their promenade on Sunset Boulevard, between Via de la Paz and Drummond. There’s usually a late-afternoon concert, but that’s not the case this year. You will, however, still find the 9pm fireworks show at Palisades Charter High School (tickets required).

Peruse rows of locally-made crafts, clothes, jewelry and food at this every-other-Sunday market in Hollywood. On top of the 100-vendor-strong lineup, the market has a trio of key features in its favor: free entry, on-site parking and a dog-friendly policy. You’ll find it on Cahuenga Boulevard, by the corner of Hollywood Boulevard.

Named for the Canadian electro-tech jacker’s cat (how sweet!), the rodentia-head-sporting deadmau5 (Joel Thomas Zimmerman) brings his mind-melting array of flashing lights and sonic boom to Exchange for a July Fourth party; you might want to pack your sunglasses.

Make your Fourth of July an all-day blowout by heading down to this legendary, long-running fest at the Huntington Beach Pier. The festivities kick off with a 5K run and fitness expo. Walk the parade route to the beach and then put on your Uncle Sam hat for the three-day Pier Plaza Festival, where you’ll find live entertainment, family activities and all-American eats. Scope out a spot or grab a VIP seat for the fireworks display at 9pm, which ends in an epic 500-round finale.

The Queen Mary isn’t quite ready to partake in a fireworks show, but the rest of Long Beach sure is. This Fourth of July, you’ll find pyro over Queensway Bay around 9pm for a free show easily viewable from most of the Long Beach waterfront’s attractions. If you’d rather watch from the water, Harbor Breeze Cruises has three different boats departing from Rainbow Harbor ($50) on the Fourth, as well as a July 3rd cruise ($50) for a 9pm show on the eastern edge of the city over Alamitos Bay.

Burbank’s Starlight Bowl is forgoing a 4th of July concert this year, but it’ll still be shooting off fireworks for the holiday around 9pm. Note that there’ll be no access to the amphitheater itself, and the city suggests watching from your own backyard (but if you’re not local, we’d suggest scoping out Castaway just across the canyon, which will be offering fireworks seating and some pretty killer views of the Valley).

Fireworks smack-dab in the middle of the street? Not an uncommon sighting on the Fourth. But at a professional level? Now you have our attention. The City of Glendale is teaming up with Caruso for a fireworks show just outside of the Americana, centered around Harvard Street and Brand Boulevard (that’s near the eastern entrance to the outdoor mall). No tickets are required, and you should be able to catch the show (which starts at 9pm) from anywhere in the area—as long as you don’t have an office tower blocking your view.

For just the second time, the storied movie studio and theme park will fire off a Fourth of July pyro extravaganza with fireworks synchronized to both Universal-themed music and patriotic standards. There aren’t a ton of details about the show, expect to see fireworks shot off from multiple locations in the park around 9pm on the Fourth (it’ll be included in park admission).

Theme parks, fireworks and Coca-Cola—talk about a patriotic trio. Six Flags will shoot off fireworks over three straight nights at its Valencia park. As far as the carbonated sponsorship goes, you’ll be able to slurp town a red Sprite concoction while you’re there, and you can nab half-price park tickets with the promo code COKE (though prices are already pretty jacked up July 2 through 4 to begin with).