The best 4th of July events in L.A. to celebrate Independence Day

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 Fourth this year, Cinespia is screening Top Gun with a fireworks finale, followed by La La Land the next evening.

For dinner and a movie, all in one, just follow the food trucks to Street Food Cinema. Over the holiday weekend, see The Princess Bride outside the Autry Museum, preceded by live music, food trucks and cocktails. The fireworks-free, dog-friendly evening will be capped off with a projection-mapping Fourth of July display.

Watch the Long Beach fireworks from aboard the historic Queen Mary ocean liner after a day of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, food, games and dancing, plus a WWII aircraft flyover. At the time-traveling celebration, every area of the ship will re-create a different decade—from carnival games at the 1910s old-time fair on the Sports Deck to a 2000s hip-hop day party at the bow. The night culminates with fireworks over the ocean at 9pm.

Ring in another year of independence in the grand ol’ USA with Earth, Wind & Fire, backed by the LA Phil. The Bowl proudly hosts its annual Fourth of July party from from July 2 to 4, complete with a dazzling fireworks finale. Grab your tickets early; seats in the nosebleed section go for less than the price of parking. Or consider springing for front section tickets—it is America’s birthday, after all.

If you’re on the hunt for a cheap, lively way to celebrate Uncle Sam, shake it over to Grand Park, and watch Downtown L.A. light up for free—though for the third year running around, the park has swapped out fireworks for more eco-friendly drones. Renamed from the Fourth of July Block Party, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party will offer scrumptious food truck fare, a 75-foot-tall Ferris wheel and 90-foot super slide, plus two stages of live music—one with DJs programmed by KCRW Summer Nights, the other headlined by Grammy-nominated L.A. rapper D Smoke. The tunes begins while the sun is still high in the sky, so settle in for an all-day picnic—note that no booze is allowed, though—and relax. Best of all, the event is Metro-accessible via the Civic Center/Grand Park station (though $10 parking is also available at the Music Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall). Be sure to stay for the drone show—a flurry of some 800 illuminated drones above the Music Center—at 9pm.

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 on the 4th of July: 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. Arrive early to the area’s county parking lots.

Known for excellent film choices and a steady supply of snacks and booze, Rooftop Cinema Club is your snazzy, comfortable and less stressful alternative to other outdoor movie screenings. You don’t even need to bring your own camping chair—Rooftop Cinema Club provides you with your very own comfy lawn chair. And instead of listening to the movie over loudspeakers, you’ll get a set of wireless headphones so you never have to miss a word. Over Fourth of July weekend, catch screenings of Independence Day, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Sandlot, 50 First Dates and Top Gun.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water: The Los Angeles Philharmonic tackles the instantly recognizable John Williams score (nerve-racking shark theme included) during a screening of the Steven Spielberg classic and ultimate summer blockbuster—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year—at the Hollywood Bowl. David Newman conducts.

The annual Anime Expo takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center for four days of panels, special events and plenty of cosplay. Thousands of fans come to celebrate the quirky art and culture of anime as figureheads and stars of the industry visit to speak and sign autographs. Plus, a massive wing of the convention is set aside specifically for gaming—both electronic and card-based.

The late-night snacker’s greatest fantasy is just a car ride away. America’s first large-scale night market takes over Santa Anita Park’s Paddock Gardens during select summer weekends. Come hungry and caffeinated—this lively market, complete with over 250 Asian street food and booze peddlers, live music, artists, games and more, won’t put itself to bed until 11pm. 

Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. For 15 years running, Independent Shakespeare Co. has put on a series of lively productions each week, inviting audiences to take a seat on the grass (read: bring a picnic blanket) and enjoy performances like this season’s headliner, early Shakespeare comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost, which will be performed over the holiday weekend on July 5 and 6.

As sunset continues to stick toward the later end of the evening, the Huntington is taking advantage of the extra daylight with this coveted after-hours series. Formerly open just for members, Twilight Garden Strolls is now open to the public, too, and will extend the San Marino garden’s hours until 8pm on select evenings in the summer, including Sunday, July 6. The 1919 Cafe will be open until 7:30pm (hot food stations close at 7pm), so you can even have dinner on the patio. Just a heads-up that you’ll need a timed ticket that’s separate from regular morning or afternoon admission.

Life imitates art, literally: Classic paintings, statues and murals take on a new dimension as real people dress and pose to re-create original masterpieces—a trick popularized by vaudeville artiste Lolita Perine at the first festival in 1932. A professional orchestra, a narrator, intricate sets and theatrical lighting help bring the works to life at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. This year’s theme, “Gold Coast: Treasures of California,” breathes life into the state’s history be re-creating both monuments and masterpieces from museums including the Getty, LACMA and Norton Simon Museum.

For more than 50 years, this venue has drawn theatre aficionados to its storied, open-air stage for engaging productions in a magical setting. The 299-seat amphitheater in Topanga Canyon hosts audiences of all ages for plays from a wide range of genres, from Shakespearean classics to folk tales. This weekend, catch highlights such as William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as Strife by Nobel Prize-winning writer and activist John Galsworthy.

Even more Shakespeare! Expand your mind on breezy summer nights by listening to the words of the Bard for free. The program, founded in 1998, will put on two plays—As You Like It and Julius Caesar—with the help of talented local actors. “By the Sea” is a bit misleading; though some of the locations are ocean-adjacent, and largely in the South Bay and Long Beach, the troupe takes the plays on tour all across Los Angeles.

Cruise on up to the Palisades for a beachy Independence Day extravaganza. Things kick off in the afternoon with a 2pm parade. The baton twirlers and marching trombonists will begin their promenade on Sunset Boulevard, between Via de la Paz and Drummond. There’s also an early evening concert, followed by a 9pm fireworks show at Palisades Charter High School (tickets required).

Dodger Stadium hosts fireworks (or drones) on Friday nights throughout the season, but they do it up extra on the Fourth of July. Buy tickets to see the team take on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Fourth and then stick around for a fireworks show you can see from your seat; line up on the field level near the end of the game and you can even watch from the outfield grass. The game starts at 6:10pm, so expect the fireworks show to start around 9pm, depending on how long the game goes.

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 four-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.

Burbank’s Starlight Bowl is putting together a whole evening of 4th of July festivities, starting with a performance by Billie Joel and Fleetwood Mac tribute bands. Then it’s on to the fireworks show around 9pm. If you’re not really into the programming but still want to see some pyro, we’d suggest scoping out Castaway just across the canyon, which typically offers fireworks seating and some pretty killer views of the Valley.

What’s more American than spending your Fourth of July listening to the roar of revving engines and loud booms? That’s the idea behind Kaboom, an annual celebration at the Fairplex that features motocross and monster trucks, followed by a fireworks spectactular at 9pm.