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

AmericaFest at the Rose Bowl has been squashed due to budget reasons, but this MLS match certainly isn’t a bad subsitute. Thanks to a bit of inclement weather at the start of the season, the L.A. Galaxy and LAFC will now play in Pasadena on July 4, with a post-match fireworks show shot off from the adjacent Brookside Golf Course.

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).

Dodger Stadium hosts fireworks 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 Pittsburgh Pirates 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.

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.

The storied movie studio and theme park fires off a Fourth of July pyro extravaganza with fireworks synchronized to both Universal-themed music and patriotic standards. Though we’re still awaiting all of the details for 2023, the past few years have added other holiday touches along the way, including themed décor and a fife and drum band. You’ll be able to view the 9pm fireworks from two locations, most likely the Universal Plaza in the upper lot as well as near the Transformers ride on the lower lot (if you were thinking of getting away with watching from CityWalk, you should expect limited to no visibility from the shopping district).

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.

Lifelong Neil Young fans (are there really any other kind?) will not want to miss the rock star/environmentalist/best-selling author as he play four intimate shows at the Ford plus another at the Greek. His live performances have a legendary reputation, and hopefully there’ll be a good mix of the old classics, the newest efforts and Young’s signature high-quality sound, energy and gripping guitar solos.

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).

Dance, stroll and unwind at Descanso Gardens toward the end of the day during this series of summertime events. Tonalism (July 1, 8pm–1am) will turn the garden into a backdrop for late-night ambient music.

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.

Listen to a run of summertime, family-friendly concerts on the Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza during this returning outdoor series, including Las Cafeteras on July 1.

The L.A. editions of this California craft fair finds artsy folks in waterfront neighborhoods browsing diverse, local and handmade goods from dozens of vendors while dining on offerings from a curated selection of food trucks. Get your craft on at DIY stations, strike a pose in the photo booths and take in live music. The festival is both kid and pet-friendly and quirky perks include a bike valet for two-wheeled travelers.