Independence Day in LA
By Emily Young MA ‘16
Figuring out what to do on the 4th of July is tough with so many great options in Southern California. Let my experience guide you, along with some other great suggestions.
4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. It’s the best summer festivity to celebrate
independence, freedom, and good old TNT. This will be my 4th Fourth of July
in Los Angeles, and I plan to make it the best one yet.
Close to Campus
If you are on campus for the 4th, no need to travel far for great fireworks. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has one of the greatest fireworks shows in Southern California. Starting at noon, Expo Park holds a 4th of July Extravaganza; a community event with music performances, food, game and rides all the way up to the fireworks show at dusk (approx.. 9:00 P.M.). Best yet, the cost of attending is free. Freshman year I only attended for the firework show. The fireworks were spectacular and the jazz music was really a nice touch.
At the Beach
Watching fireworks from the beach is a 4th of
July activity uniquely Californian.
Sophomore year, I went to a friend’s house for a poolside 4th
of July BBQ and biked to Venice Beach to watch the Marina Del Ray fireworks show. Not that LA has any set traffic patterns, but
do expect traffic to be hectic, especially near the beaches. Parking near the beach is always tough, so plan
ahead and be resourceful. If you can,
try to park at a friend’s house and ride bikes or rollerblade. If you plan to
be at the beach all day, pack lots of water and sunscreen!
- Marina Del Ray Info: http://www.visitmarinadelrey.com/events/4th-of-july
- Redondo Info: redondofireworks.com
- Newport: www.visitnewportbeach.com/4th-of-july/
- Dana Point: www.danapoint.org
- Huntington: www.hb4thofjuly.org
Action Packed
Why flaunt your red, white, and blue for one day when you
can make a full weekend out of it? If
you have never been, going to the Hollywood Bowl 4th of July
Spectacular is a must. Last year, Steve
Martin’s band along with the LA Philharmonic rocked the bowl! I love the Hollywood bowl because you can
bring in your own food and drinks and really make a night out of it. The acoustics are great throughout the entire
bowl, so I recommend saving a few bucks and sitting further back, especially for
the firework show. It’s absolutely one
of the best fireworks shows I’ve ever seen timed to music. You can go on the 2nd, 3rd,
or 4th so plan your 4th of July Weekend accordingly.
Hollywood Bowl: http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/july-4th-fireworks-spectacular-smokey-robinson/2015-07-02
4th of July weekend is also a fun time to enjoy sports and get active with friends. You can get decked out and play sports on the beach, or join more organized activities like the Long Beach Bike Parade or Palisades 5k/10K. There are plenty of great sports to watch 4th of July weekend. Enjoy America’s favorite pastime 4th of July weekend with special events at the Dodgers Stadium and Angel Stadium.
- Long Beach Kids’ July 4th Bike Parade: http://justinrudd.com/bikeparade.html
- Palisades 5K/10K: http://www.palisades10k.com/register.php
- Dodgers: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/fan_forum/hollywood_bowl.jsp
- OC Block Party and Fireworks at Angel Stadium: www.ocblockparty.com
For more great 4th of July festivities check out:
- 4th of July AmericaFest at the
Rose Bowl: www.rosebowlstadium.com/RoseBowl_Americafest.php
- Palisades
Americanism Parade: www.palisadesparade.org
- July
4th Block Party at Grand Park: grandparkla.org
- 4th of July Celebration in San Pedro: http://www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/facility/cabrilloBeachPool.htm
- Independence
Day Celebration and Parade in Huntington Beach: www.hb4thofjuly.org
I hope everyone has a wonderful 4thof July
Celebration and whatever you do, rock RED, WHITE, and BLUE.
