When daytime turns to dusk on the Fourth of July, there’s nothing left to do but look up. Whether viewed from atop a hillside, inside an amphitheater, or cozied underneath a blanket on the beach, the sky comes alive with “rockets’ red glare” and “bombs bursting in air,” and Los Angeles has several great options to indulge in this celebratory tradition. Here are five places that are sure to end your holiday evening with a bang.
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, 730 p.m.
The performances at this landmark music venue are always a crowd-pleaser, yet the addition of a fireworks display makes Fourth of July one of Hollywood Bowl’s most anticipated nights of the year. Join the multi-platinum artist Josh Groban along with patriotic songs played by the Los Angeles Philharmonic for an evening you’ll remember for years.
Tickets on sale now with a 50% discount for children 12 and under
The Baldwin Hills Overlook, Culver City
You can opt out of the 1.25 miles of zigzagging dirt trail or stone staircase cutting through the middle by taking your car, but no matter which way you choose to reach the Baldwin Hills Overlook, you’ll be glad you’ve made the journey. From this steep hill south of Culver City and overlooking the Los Angeles Basin, you’ll be able to enjoy fireworks setting ablaze from Santa Monica to the San Gabriel Mountains.
4th of July AmericaFest at the Rose Bowl, 9 p.m.
The 87th AmericaFest boasts the biggest fireworks show in Southern California thanks to the work of PyroSpectaculars, a leading pyrotechnics company in the U.S. whose past productions include Super Bowls and Olympic Ceremonies. Exhibits, crafts, and inflatable rides keep the family engaged on the grassy picnic area outside the stadium before everyone heads inside for the 30-minute, choreographed main event.
General admission tickets are $13 per person, free for children 7 and under; Festival begins at 2 p.m. with fireworks show at 9p.m.
Pacific Palisades, Palisades Charter High School, 9 p.m.
Enjoy gourmet food vendors and live entertainment at the Palisades Rocks the Fourth concert capped with, you guessed it, fireworks. For an earlier dose of old fashioned fun on your holiday, snag some sidewalk on Sunset Boulevard (between Via de la Paz and Drummond) where the 65th Annual Fourth of July Parade kicks off at 2 p.m. featuring marching bands, floats and even skydivers.
Admission $5, free for children 12 and under; proceeds to benefit the Palisades Charter H.S. Music Department
Marina del Rey, 9 p.m.
Why not marvel at flashes of red, white, and blue from the water’s edge? In Marina del Rey, fireworks are shot from a floating barge across the marina’s main channel so you can experience the blasts as they explode in the sky and reflect off the water. Premiere viewing areas include Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way), Fisherman’s Wharf (13755 Fiji Way), and Marina beach (Mother’s Beach), yet the magic can be enjoyed from the waterfront side of most restaurants and hotels.
