Fourth of July 2016: Mermaids! Luaus! Motown! Rollercoasters!

FireworksLIVE MUSIC

3-Day July 4th Celebration at the Hollywood Bowl with Chicago

(July 2, 3, 4) 7:30 pm / $18.00 – $265.00

Celebrate with Chicago’s mix of rock and horns with holiday-appropriate songs like “Saturday in the Park.”  There will be the traditional fireworks spectacular along with the two words I dread most at this time of year: Patriotic music. Kids 12 and under 1/2 price. Bring a picnic, but “Please note: kegs, pony kegs and party balls are not permitted.”

Starlight Bowl in Burbank

6:30pm / $20 – $140

The Starlight Bowl in Burbank presents an “Americana Celebration” featuring Classic Soul and Motown from Stone Soul, plus the Kings of 88’s tribute to the legends of piano-rock including Elton John, Billy Preston, Stevie Wonder and Jerry Lee Lewis. Ticket prices for July 4th are from $20 for the upper level and up to $140 for a box.

WAY more listings after the break

FESTIVALS with FIREWORKS

4th of July Block Party at Grand Park

2pm – 9:30pm/ FREE

The Block Party is a free event brought to you by Grand Park and the Music Center, featuring two stages of live music, food and an incredible fireworks display launched from the civic center skyline. The lineup of L.A.-based music talent includes live bands like Kotolan,  Rocky Dawuni, and The Echo Park Project and the dancers from the World Salsa Congress. This is an alcohol-free event. Picnics and outside food are welcome, but no outside beverages. No folding chairs, large coolers or umbrellas.

Americafest at the Rose Bowl Stadium

2pm / $13 – $25

On Saturday, July 4, the world-famous Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena hosts its 90th annual Fourth of July celebration, Americafest. The festival starts at 2 p.m. outside the stadium with food and games for kids in Area H. Gates open at 6pm. The night’s events include live motorcycle stunts, a performance by Liverpool Legends, the “Ultimate Beatles Experience,” and as the Juno spacecraft reaches Jupiter, there will be a connection to NASA Live from Mission Control. Insane fireworks will commence at 9pm. Unfortunately you will have to listen to Souza.

The Coliseum Carnival and Fireworks

12 noon / FREE

Live entertainment provided by KJLH Radio, food, games and activities for all ages. Fireworks begin at 9pm on the 4th. Exposition Park South Lawn Located Off Exposition Park Drive & Bill Robertson Lane. Plus a whole weekend of carnival rides located in Parking Lot 2 off Bill Robertson Lane, The carnival runs from Saturday, July 2nd through Monday July 4th 12 noon to 10pm.

July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza – Warner Center Park 

6pm / $10 – $25

VCC’s July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza delights over 60,000 people with a concert by original Beach Boy David Marks with the Surf City AllStars, and 20-minute spectacular fireworks display. There are over 20 food vendors, along with arts and crafts vendors and a play area. Parking is included in the $25 VIP pass. Park in any of the Warner Center structures between Topanga and Canoga or Califa and Oxnard.

Fourth of July Fireworks Festival and Luau at CBS

4:30pm – 10:00pm / $20 – $125 Check the site for prices. They list a “VIP toddlers ticket.” Seriously.

The gates open at 4:30 p.m. The event starts at 5 and ends at 9:30 p.m. Gates for entrance close at 8 p.m.  There will be live performances by Elvis Kruk and the Big Boss man. Plus, a magician, a car show, a meteorologist, pirates, and even mermaids. There will be food and drinks available for purchase. The night will culminate with a spectacular fireworks show. Since this is Hollywood, there are endless wristbands with endless levels of access and perks. A VIP ticket also gets you access to the rooftop viewing of the fireworks and valet parking. Check the website to figure out how special you want to be. General admission tickets enter and park in the parking structure on Radford Ave. VIP tickets enter through the Colfax gate.

PARADES

Santa Clarita

9am / FREE

“Volunteering Makes Us Stronger” is the theme for Old Town Newhall’s Fourth of July Parade with floats, marching bands, equestrian teams, Model A Fords, and that damn patriotic music again. The Masons are on the parade roster. Dare I dream that they will be driving tiny cars? 9 a.m. Main Street at Fifth to Lyons Avenue, west on Lyons, north to Orchard Village Road and 16th Street.

Pacific Palisades

2pm / $11.49

Get there ten minutes early is you want to catch the skydivers! The theme this year is “Independence Day – The Palisades Way.”  The 2016 Parade Grand Marshal is Honorary Mayor Kevin Nealon. The parade will follow Via de la Paz to Sunset Boulevard, then go east on Sunset to Drummond Street. Tickets $11.49; free for ages 6 and younger. Grandstand parade seating $53.49. Fireworks event begins with music at 6:30; fireworks, 9 p.m. Palisades Charter High School, 15777 Bowdoin Street, Pacific Palisades 90272.

Sunland

10am / FREE

Sunland-Tujunga Independence Day Parade: The Rotary Club of Sunland-Tujunga and Shadow Hills presents “Celebrating Our Volunteers” parade, 10 a.m. Route: Mount Gleason Avenue at Foothill Boulevard, west on Foothill to Sunland Recreation Center, 8651 Foothill Blvd.

ATTRACTIONS

July 4th Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain

(July 2, 3, 4 ) 10am & 10:30am / $51.99 – $82.99

The City of Calabasas

5pm / $10

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Not online, but at local businesses, which makes it kind of hard for outsiders to attend. The Family Fun Zone “includes games and prizes, inflatables, arts and crafts, temporary tattoos, stilt walkers, balloons and more!” Live musical dance party with Platinum Groove. Blankets are recommended. Picnic items permitted or food is available for purchase. No pets, tobacco, alcohol or those demon sunflower seeds. Calabasas High School, 22855 W. Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas. Fireworks begin at 9 pm. Musically choreographed fireworks probably means Souza. $10; children under 2 are admitted free.

Culver City

4pm / $5

The celebration will include food trucks, carnival games, live music by “Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps,” raffles, and a fireworks display. View the fireworks from a new location this year on the WLAC Baseball & Practice Fields. No pets, no alcohol. Up to $20 for parking.

El Segundo

5PM / FREE for locals $5 for the rest of us

El Segundo’s annual Fourth of July celebration starts at 10 a.m. until 3pm in Recreation Park with food, games, a water-balloon toss, pie-eating contest, and watermelon-eating contest. Live music from 5 to 7pm. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. To buy wristbands for grandstand seats call 310-524-2700 or visit the website.

Eagle Rock

5pm / FREE

The 7th Annual Northeast L.A. Concert & Fireworks Show will have a moon bounce, community booths, food vendors and rock climbing. Musical entertainment by The Spazmatics! No BBQ grills, alcohol, pets, or glass bottles. Eagle Rock Recreation Center 1100 Eagle Vista, LA 90041

Moorpark Sunday July Third 7/3/16

3:45 / $5

Those rebels over at Moorpark just have to buck the trend by holding their annual Fireworks Extravaganza on July 3rd. The event features 2 bands, food vendors, and fun attractions from their many vendors. Plan to arrive early as over 11,000 people attend this event annually.

Stay tuned for more events!!!

Elise Thompson

About Elise Thompson

Born and raised in the great city of Los Angeles, this food, culture and music-loving punk rock angeleno wants to turn you on to all that is funky, delicious and weird in the city. While Elise holds down the fort, her adventurous alter ego Kiki Maraschino is known to roam the country in search of catfish.
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2 Responses to Fourth of July 2016: Mermaids! Luaus! Motown! Rollercoasters!

  1. I lost it at “those demon sunflower seeds!” 😛

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