Looking for something to do this Independence Day? We have you covered.
UPDATE: Due to the length of this post, we had to split this list into two posts. Events in cities located in the Central County and The Coast can be found in this post. When you click on North County and South County, you will be taken to a new post.
Orange County has a little bit of everything when it comes to Independence Day celebrations.
Starting June 28 and extending to July 6, you have your pick of parades, 5Ks, carnivals, slip and slides, harbor cruises, patriotic concerts, pub crawls, fancy meals, free picnics and yes, fireworks.
We have assembled this comprehensive list that includes it all. (And if we are missing something, email us. We'll add it to the list!)
We created maps and spelled out the details for every event we could find, organized by city. We also did research on the parameters of purchasing and setting off safe and sane fireworks and when and where you can do it.
Find a Celebration Near You
In order to find your local holiday celebrations, we've divided the county into four sectors and created maps to help you find the celebrations near you.
Click on the sector name to jump to that section:
CENTRAL COUNTY
Click on the town name to jump to that section for details:
Anaheim | Costa Mesa | Fountain Valley | Garden Grove | Irvine | Orange | Santa Ana | Tustin | Villa Park | Westminster
You can also click on the red icons on the map for details.
Or jump to another section:
Anaheim
Personal fireworks are LEGAL in designated areas of this city.
Jump to our FIREWORKS STANDS section for a map and details.
JULY 4 | Fourth of July Celebration
This all-day event starts with the Firecracker 5K/10K Run, Yankee Doodle Dog Show and a parade. The afternoon festival includes food booths and entertainment, ending with fireworks in Peralta Park.
SCHEDULE
Canyon High School, 220 S. Imperial Highway, Anaheim Hills
7 a.m. Firecracker 5K/10K Run | $40 for 5K; $45 for 10K; $35 for untimed 5K
9 a.m. Yankee Doodle Dog Show | $10 for first entry; $5 for additional entries
1 p.m. Fourth of July Parade
Peralta Canyon Park, 115 N. Pinney Drive, Anaheim Hills
3 p.m. Food, Activities, Entertainment
9 p.m. FIREWORKS
JULY 4 | Disneyland Fireworks
On JULY 4 only, the nightly fireworks show will be accompanied by patriotic music.
SCHEDULE
9:30 p.m. FIREWORKS
Best Viewing Spots in the Park
In front of Sleeping Beauty Castle
Main Street, U.S.A., between Central Plaza and the Main Street Train Station
In front of "it's a small world"
Along the Rivers of America in Frontierland
Costa Mesa
Personal fireworks are LEGAL in this city.
Jump to our FIREWORKS STANDS section for a map and details.
JULY 3 | Independence Day Celebration
This celebration includes music by the Tijuana Dogs and 80's All-Starz, contests, kids activities, food and drinks. Parking and admission is free.
OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive – Lot A, Costa Mesa
SCHEDULE
4 p.m. Gates open
5 p.m. Celebration begins
9:30 p.m. FIREWORKS
11 p.m. Gates Close
Fountain Valley
Personal fireworks are LEGAL in this city.
Jump to our FIREWORKS STANDS section for a map and details.
City Celebrations
No community celebrations planned in this city.
Garden Grove
Personal fireworks are LEGAL in this city.
Jump to our FIREWORKS STANDS section for a map and details.
City Celebrations
No community celebrations planned in this city.
City parks will be closed by 5:00 p.m. on July 4,
including tennis and handball courts, with park sprinklers activated.
Irvine
Personal fireworks are ILLEGAL in this city.
From JULY 1 – 14, members of the community are invited to honor veterans, active duty, and fallen service members by visiting the flag display.
Irvine Civic Center Lawn, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine
COST
Flag Sponsorship | $65. Proceeds from flag sponsorship benefit the 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee.
JULY 3 | Pretend City 4th of July Celebration
Details will be announced on their Instagram account @pretendcity
Pretend City Children's Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine
Schedule
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
This run, which starts with live fife and drums, is a fast flat course on the Irvine Valley College campus.
Irvine Valley College, 5500 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine
Schedule
6:45 – 7:45 a.m. Shirt and bib distribution; race day registration
7 – 7:45 a.m. Fife and drums
8:00 a.m. First races begin (see website for the start schedule)
COSTS
Race Registration | $25 - $56 depending on the race. Prices increase after July 2.
The Woodbridge Village Association hosts a days worth of activities which includes an 5K/10K/Kids Run and a neighborhood parade open to anyone, an afternoon of activities at the South Lake Beach Club for association members, ending with fireworks in the evening.
Schedule
North Lake Gazebo, 4615 Barranca Parkway, Irvine (starting location)
6:30 – 9 a.m. Ralph J. Redington 5K/10K and Kids Run
Barranca Parkway between Lake Road and Creek Road, Irvine
10 a.m. Wheels on Parade.
South Lake Beach Club, 2 Blue Lake South, Irvine
Wristbands required for Beach Club activities.
11 a.m. DJ starts
Noon – 4:30 p.m. Beach Club activities.
9 p.m. FIREWORKS
10 p.m. Beach club closes
FREE VAN SHUTTLE
The van route will travel clockwise and pick up people who are on East or West Yale Loop, at the North Lake Beach Club, or at the South Lake Beach Club. There is only one shuttle and it can take up to a minimum of 30 minutes to make it around the loop.
COSTS
Ralph J. Redington 5K/10K and Kids Run | 5K/10K registration, $40; Kids run, $10. Sign up online by noon on July 3. All registration is available online only.
Wheels on Parade | Free
Wristband | $12 per wristband sold online through June 30. For purchase in person after June 30 for $14 at the Woodbridge Community Center. $15 on the day of the event. NOTE: There are 3,000 wristbands available for purchase. Children 2 and under are free. Wristbands are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis to adult WVA members with a proper facility ID only.
Patriotic music performed by the Pacific Symphony at the new Great Park Live venue. After intermission will be The Music of Chicago with Brass Transit. Fireworks finish the evening with live music from the symphony.
Great Park Live, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine
Schedule
6 – 7:45 p.m. Pre-ordered boxed meals pickup
8 p.m. Concert start time
Approx. 10 p.m. FIREWORKS
Cost
Single ticket concert seats | $40 to $450
See picnic menu for pre-ordered boxed meal prices.
Orange
Personal fireworks are ILLEGAL in this city.
Illegal Fireworks Use or Possession | $1,000 or up to one year in jail.
JULY 3 | 3rd of July Celebration
Games, vendor booths, activities and patriotic music. Various food trucks supporting local non-profits will be on-site selling food and drinks.
Grijalva Park, 368 N Prospect St., Orange
Schedule
4 p.m. Celebration begins
8 p.m. Patriotic music program
9 p.m. FIREWORKS
The community's 5k weaves through the beautiful Orange Park Acres community. The Orange Park Acres Parade follows the race.
Salem Lutheran Church/School, 6500 E. Santiago Canyon Road, Orange
Schedule
7:30 a.m. OPA 5K race begins
10 a.m. Parade begins