July 4th in California

go somewhere cool this summer

July 4th marks the busiest summer week in California. It’s mid Summer for most school kids. The golden state has its biggest increase of visiting tourists during this month too, along with the local residents traveling on seasonal road trips. Plenty of traffic, be warned.

Camping July 4th means EVERYBODY and their GRANDMOTHER will be outside this weekend. The majority of big family camp-outs and social BBQ events take place — on this very summer holiday weekend. Backpackers and serious car campers are on the road well ahead of time – headed for wilderness destinations.

Stay away from the biggest campgrounds and tourist traps, unless you are into that. Head for the back country for optimal seclusion, flowing creeks and coolest lakes.

• BE FIRE SAFE, always know fire restrictions
  
• DRINK PLENTY WATER
  
• DON’T DRIVE DRUNK
  
• NO FIREWORKS IN FOREST

City Fireworks & Parade Events can be found on various city web sites or chamber of commerce sites, which you can easily access through Total Escape.

Fourth of July is also known as Independence Day, with celebrations in almost every major city & some notable small towns. City parades, firework displays, live music, streets fairs, BBQs, crafts, beach bon fires & in certain beach towns, total utter chaos. Below is only a sampling of popular July 4th events within California. Firework shows are so common that we are not listing most of them.

Street Fairs, Rodeos & Festivals on July 4th –

• • Eastern Sierra Independence CA
    
  • So Cal Mountains Lake Arrowhead CA
    
  • So Cal Mountains Big Bear Lake CA
  • Freedom Festival – Redding CA
  • Beach Independence Day – Newport
  • Street Fair – Mission Viejo, OC
  • Street Fair – Ventura CA
  • Willits Frontier Days & Rodeo

Music Festivals on July 4th –

• Atascadero Fourth of July Music Festival

Independence Parades –

• • 4th of July Parade – Visalia, CA
  • July 4 Parade – Pacific Palisades, California
  • July 4th Golf Cart Parade – Avalon, Catalina Island
  • Torchlight Parade @ Night July 3rd – Benicia, CA
  • Independence Day Parade – Alameda, CA
  • Independence Day Parade – Morgan Hill, CA
  • Fourth of July Celebration Parade – Napa, CA
  • 4th of July Parade – Santa Barbara, CA
  • 4th of July Parade – Sonoma, CA
  • 4th of July Parade – Fremont, CA
  • 4th of July Parade –  Santa Clarita, CA
  • Fourth of July Parade – Scotts Valley, CA
  • Fourth of July Parade – Sausalito, CA
  • Fourth of July Parade – Half Moon Bay, CA
  • July 4th Children’s Parade – Cupertino, CA
  • Independence Day Parade – Calistoga, CA
  • Independence Day Parade – Clearlake, CA
  • Independence Day Parade – Sierra Madre, CA
    
  • Independence Parade & Fireworks – Bishop, CA
  • Independence Day Parade – Fairfield CA
  • July 4th July Parade – Huntington Beach
  • Fourth of July Parade – Novato, CA
  • Independence Day Parade – Ontario, CA
  • Independence Day Parade – Redwood City, CA
  • Old Glory 4th of July Newport Harbor Boat Parade
  • Independence Day Parade – San Jacinto, CA
  • 4th of July Parade – Vallejo, CA
  • 4th of July Parade – Watsonville, CA
  • 4th of July Parade – Weaverville CA
  • 4th of July Parade – Willits Frontier Days

   

• Fourth of July Fireworks –
  • Jamison Fireworks – Porterville CA
  • Fireworks 4th of July – Winters, CA
  • Rose Bowl Fireworks – Pasadena, CA