Bicycles and wagons festooned in red, white and blue, pancake breakfasts and funnel cakes, fireworks and drones lighting up the night’s sky. Orange County communities have tons of plans for how to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Some kick-start the celebration of American independence a little early, and some involve multiple days of fun in the sun. Most are free to attend or very low cost.
Here are many of the city- and community-sponsored events on tap. Events are on July 4, unless otherwise noted:
Aliso Viejo
The Aliso Viejo Community Association presents its July 4 celebration at Grand Park. The HOA’s event is 6 to 9:30 p.m. with a concert, family activities and a fireworks show at 9 p.m., capping it all off. Information about when the park opens for saving spots and street closures is at avca.net.
Anaheim
The Anaheim Hills community’s annual celebration will include a day of activities, beginning at 7 a.m. with the Firecracker 5K/10K Run/Walk starting from Canyon High. The Yankee Doodle Dog Show will be at 9 a.m. at the high school’s softball field.
This year’s parade, presented by Disneyland, begins at 1 p.m.; it starts out from Canyon High and travels along Santa Ana Canyon Road. Food booths and entertainment will be at Peralta Park, with live music starting at 3 p.m., until the fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. Information: anaheim.net/fourthofjuly.
Brea
Celebrate Independence Day at the 45th Country Fair at City Hall Park, 401 S. Brea Blvd. The fair will open at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast and last until 3 p.m. with entertainment, food, a car show, various contests, games and rides planned all day. The always popular Kiddie Parade starts at 10:45 a.m. Admission to the Brea Plunge is free starting at noon. Information: cityofbrea.net
(Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Costa Mesa
The city hosts a July 3 community celebration at the OC Fair & Event Center. The 5 to 11 p.m. event is free and will feature entertainment and activities for families. The fireworks show will be at 9:30 p.m. Information: costamesaca.gov
Dana Point
The city’s fireworks show will light up the harbor at 9 p.m. A barge off the coastline of Doheny State Beach is used to shoot off the fireworks. Popular viewing spots include Pines Park, Heritage Park, Lantern Bay Park, Baby Beach, Doheny State Beach, The Harbor Island and the Sampson Overlook Gazebo. Information: danapoint.org.
The Condor Squadron association will do a flyover at about 5:50 p.m., coming from the direction of Newport Beach.
Fullerton
The city will again host a Fourth of July celebration at the Downtown Plaza. From 5 to 9 p.m., there will be live music, activities for families, food vendors and more. A fireworks show will cap off the evening. Information: cityoffullerton.com
Huntington Beach
The community always has big plans for the holiday. The Surf City Run 5K will kick off at 7 a.m. for residents on July 4 and run along Main Street and PCH. Register online. There is also an open 5K, a stroller 5K and a run for kids.
Also on July 4, the traditional Main Street Parade, advertised as the largest west of the Mississippi, steps off at 10 a.m. at 9th and PCH, travels up Main Street, finishing at Clay Avenue. This is the parade’s 121st year.
The Condor Squadron association will do a flyover at about 5:30 p.m., heading in the direction of Newport Beach.
There will be live entertainment at Pier Plaza starting at noon and, finally, at 9 p.m. a fireworks show will be launched over the water.
On July 5, there will be more entertainment on Main Street from noon to 7 p.m., and on July 6, there will be the Rockstars of Tomorrow from noon to 6 p.m. at Pier Plaza.
Information on these events and more is available at hb4thofjuly.org.
Irvine
The city is hosting an inaugural July 4 celebration at the Great Park from 4 to 10 p.m.
There will be a community parade at 5 p.m. along the Great Park Historical Timeline; kids and families are invited to participate by decking out their bikes and scooters, strollers and wagon in patriotic decorations. There will be live music at Hangar 244 starting at 4 p.m., food for sale and family activities and games throughout the day.
A drone show is planned at 8:45 p.m. and a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. Information: cityofirvine.org
Also, the city and the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee will host a the annual Fourth of July Field of Valor from July 1 to 13 on the Irvine Civic Center Lawn. Community members can sponsor a flag in honor of a veteran, active duty, or fallen service member; visit cityofirvine.org/fieldofvalor.
Laguna Beach
The city will return with its fireworks show at 9 p.m. at Heisler Park. Monument Point will be closed all day, and starting about 5 p.m., the area of Heisler Park from Myrtle Street to the Rockpile Beach stairs will be closed. Information: lagunabeachcity.net
The Condor Squadron association will do a flyover at about 5:45 p.m., coming from the direction of Newport Beach.
Laguna Hills
The community’s Fourth of July Celebration includes festivities at the Laguna Hills Community Center & Sports Complex. From 4 to 9 p.m., community members can enjoy live music, a festival, activities and food. The event is free to attend, and food and drinks will be available for purchase. At 6 p.m., the band Anthem Road will perform. The fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. Information: lagunahillsca.gov
Laguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel Family YMCA hosts its 46th Run in the Parks with a 5K and kids race. First is the 5K at 8 a.m. Information and registration: ymcaoc.org/run
The Chamber of Commerce hosts a pancake breakfast to accompany the run, cost is $10 at Crown Valley Park at the lower soccer field. Serving from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The city is hosting a free session of swimming from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Laguna Niguel Aquatics Center.
There will be a 5:30 p.m. flyover of the city – traveling over Crown Valley Parkway from the 5 Freeway to Pacific Coast Highway. A concert kicks off the evening’s festivities starting at 5:30 p.m. at Crown Valley Community Park.
The city is hosting a drone show this year, in lieu of fireworks, and more than 400 drones will launch at 9 p.m. Information: cityoflagunaniguel.org
Lake Forest
The community will celebrate with a community parade,”Lake Forest Thrives in 2025,” kicking off at 9:30 a.m. at Ridge Route and Toledo Way. It will follow Toledo Way, turn right on Lake Forest Drive then right onto Serrano Road and end at Ridge Route. Information: lakeforestca.gov
La Habra
The city will host an Independence Day party for the community at La Bonita Park. Super Diamond, a Neil Diamond tribute band, will perform live, there will be a military flyover, kids’ activities, vendors and a fireworks show will cap the night at 9 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. Presale wristbands, $8 for youth and $10 for adults, can be purchased at the La Habra Community Center, 101 W. La Habra Blvd. Information: lahabraca.gov
La Palma
The city’s annual Fitness Run for Fun has 5K and 10K events for running and walking as well as a Yankee Doodle Dash for kids. First start at 7:30 a.m. There is also a pancake breakfast in Central Park. Information: cityoflapalma.org
Los Alamitos, Seal Beach
The annual fireworks spectacular at the Joint Forces Training Base will be held July 3, but the base will be closed to the public. Instead, the 9 p.m. fireworks show will be livestreamed on the city of Los Alamitos social media pages. Information: cityoflosalamitos.org
Mission Viejo
The city’s July 4th Street Faire and Fireworks Spectacular returns. Olympiad between Marguerite and Melinda will be closed for the fair that starts at noon and will feature live entertainment, rides, food trucks and games. Admission is free. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Information, including on shuttle service: cityofmissionviejo.org
Newport Beach
Several parades and activities are planned throughout the city.
– The Newport Peninsula Bike Parade and Community Festival kicks off at 9 a.m. at 36th Street Park and travels down Balboa Boulevard to Channel Place Park, where there will be a free festival with carnival games, jump houses, crafts and food. The festival runs to 11:30 a.m.
– There will be a children’s bike parade at 10:30 a.m. at Mariners Park.
– The Old Glory Boat Parade begins at 1 p.m. in Newport Harbor at the east end of Lido Isle. The annual parade is hosted by the American Legion Yacht Club and American Legion Post 291. Participants are sought and you can also find a viewing map online at alyc.com
– The Condor Squadron association will do a flyover at about 5:35 p.m., coming from the direction of Huntington Beach.
– A fireworks extravaganza at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort caps a day of activities at 9 p.m. Newport Beach co-sponsors the fireworks show. There are also activities and entertainment earlier in the day.
Information: newportbeachca.gov
Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
Orange
– Orange Park Acres is hosting its 58th parade on July 4, which kicks off at 10 a.m. at Salem Lutheran Church and School. Information: orangeparkacres.org
San Clemente
The Condor Squadron association will do a flyover at about 6 p.m., coming from the direction of Newport Beach.
A spectacular fireworks show will launch at 9 p.m. from the San Clemente Pier. The approximately 20-minute show can be seen from many beaches and hilltop areas. See san-clemente.org for more information and routes for the free trolley service running.
San Juan Capistrano
The city is hosting a carnival at Marco Forster Intermediate School starting at 2 p.m. There will be games, activities, food, shopping, entertainment and more. Attendees can watch fireworks starting around 8:45 p.m. The city’s trolley is free for the day. Information: sanjuancapistrano.org
Santa Ana
The city hosts an Independence Day celebration starting at 5 p.m. with live music, a play area for kids, food and more at Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave. The fireworks display will begin at 8:45 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Information: santa-ana.org/fourth-of-july
Tustin
The community will celebrate at Tustin High, 1171 El Camino Real, with entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. Admission is free, but parking at the high school will be $10, with proceeds going to the Tustin High Dance Team. There will be food trucks. Fireworks display will be at 9 p.m. Information: tustinca.org
Villa Park
Stars on Parade kicks off at 9 a.m. Kids of all ages decorate their bikes, scooters, wagons and such to participate in the parade, which will travel a mile and a half through residential streets. Line up at 8:30 a.m. at Cerro Villa School. Information: vpcsfoundation.org
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda’s annual Fourth of July Spectacular will kick off at 5 p.m. with family activities, food vendors and a concert at Veterans Park and Yorba Linda Middle School. The fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. The event is free. Information: yorbalindaca.gov
– East Lake Village will get into the spirit early with its annual Patriotic Boat Parade on July 3. Boats will be decked out with the red, white and blue – and lights – to tour around the lake starting at 8:45 p.m. on July 3. The public can watch from the greenbelts that surround the lake. Food trucks in the village’s parking lot will be selling from 6 to 9 p.m.
– The Nixon Presidential Library & Museum will play host to a “thrilling” Continental Militia skirmish reenactment beginning at 10 a.m. on July 4. Then a George Washington actor will share Revolutionary War stories. Free to attend, register at NixonFoundation.org. Does not include admission to the galleries.
Also on July 6, the Huntington Beach Concert Band will perform a patriotic concert in the library’s East Room.