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

West Hollywood’s ultra-chic rooftop bar L.P. is showing—what else?—Independence Day for its Fourth of July alfresco screening.

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, Cinespia is screening Pee-wee’s Big Adventure 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. Arrive early to the area’s county lots.

True to its name, Boat Cinema will present movie screenings literally on Castaic Lake every Friday, Saturday and Sunday this summer. You can rent an electric mini boat that seats up to five people or watch from the shore. Either way, over the holiday weekend you can watch The Sandlot and Armageddon.

The Hollywood Bowl hosts a fireworks-filled summer bash each year, and this time around the Beach Boys will have the honor of tackling the show. Bring a bottle of wine and sit through the show (tickets start at $29 way in the back) and then stick around for the post-concert pyro, held after all three dates.

The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for another season of screenings in Downtown L.A., the Arts District and El Segundo. For the Fourth, you can watch The Sandlot from LEVEL, 10 Things I Hate About You in El Segundo and Independence Day from atop ROW DTLA—stick around afterwards for that last one to see all of the nearby fireworks shows.

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 this time around, the park has swapped out fireworks for drones. This Fourth of July, Grand Park hosts a unique block party, featuring scrumptious food truck fare and two stages of live music.

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 also an early evening concert, followed by a 9pm fireworks show at Palisades Charter High School (tickets required).

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.

For dinner and a movie, all in one, just follow the food trucks to Street Food Cinema. Holiday weekend screenings include Back to the Future at L.A. State Historic Park and La La Land at Will Rogers State Historic Park on July 1.

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.

The Queen Mary isn’t quite ready to partake in a fireworks show again, 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 two different boats departing from Rainbow Harbor ($50–$75) on the Fourth. In addition, you can see a show on the eastern edge of the city over Alamitos Bay on July 3.

Burbank’s Starlight Bowl is putting together a whole evening of 4th of July festivities, starting with a performance by Bruce Springsteen and U2 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.

The midnight snacker’s greatest fantasy is just a car ride away over the holiday weekend. One of America’s largest Asian food markets spans the course of Santa Anita Park’s front Paddock Gardens during the summer. Come hungry and come caffeinated—this lively market, complete with over 250 Asian street food and booze peddlers, live music, artists, games, and beyond, won’t put itself to bed until midnight.

Every Saturday night during the summer at sunset, both hotel guests and vistors at the Fairmont Miramar can slip into something waterproof and enjoy a family-friendly flick around the Santa Monica hotel’s luxurious pool. Holiday weekend picks include Minions: The Rise of Gru (July 1) and Ratatouille (July 2).

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.

Theme parks, fireworks and Coca-Cola—talk about a patriotic trio. Six Flags will shoot off fireworks over four straight nights at its Valencia park. As far as the carbonated sponsorship goes, expect to be able to slurp down some festive concoctions while you’re there. Look out for the fireworks over the Full Throttle Plaza and Main Gate Plaza around 9pm.