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San Francisco | 4th of July Fireworks Guide | 2012

Get ready to celebrate Fourth of July 2012 in the Bay Area!

Here’s a list of over 120 different Fourth of July events (including 60 different places to watch fireworks) with listings for the major fireworks shows in San Francisco, Berkeley, Mountain View and San Jose, plus tons of smaller hometown festivals, fairs and fireworks shows throughout the Bay Area and a few fun road trips.

List of 116 July 4th Events & Fireworks Shows | 2012

Fireworks, fairs, festivals, parades, concerts and more. All events take place on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 unless otherwise noted. Fireworks shows denoted in blue.

San Francisco | 2012

• Fisherman’s Wharf | San Francisco 4th of July  FIREWORKS Celebration - 2012 – FREE
• -- Pier 45 | FIREWORKS viewing party aboard historic WWII Liberty Ship - 2012 – FREE – $25
• – Pier 39 | Pre-fireworks live music & festivities - 2012- FREE
• – Ghirardelli Square | 4th of July Family Festival - 2012 – FREE
• – The Cannery | no events scheduled for 2012
• Angel Island | FIREWORKS viewing party – 2012 – $22
• Dolores Park | SF Mime Troupe Opening Weekend Performance (July 4, 7, 8) – 2012 -FREE
• Golden Gate Park | 50 Piece “Oompah” Band Patriotic Concert in the Park (July 1) – 2012 – FREE (food for purchase)
• Golden Gate Park | Patriotic 4th of July Symphony Concert - 2012 – FREE
• Inner Richmond | Free Hot Dog Day & Hot Dog Drawing Contest (July 4) – 2012 – FREE
• Mission District | The Bay Bridged’s Big Time Freedom Music Festival – 2012 – $8
• Polk Gulch | Independence Day FREE BBQ Block Party – 2012 – FREE
• Potrero Hill | “Safe and Sane” Mini DIY Street FIREWORKS Show – 2012 – FREE
• San Francisco | 8 Different San Francisco Guided Walking Tours in One Day - 2012 – FREE
• Union Square | Free Swing Concert in the Park – 2012 – FREE
• West Portal | Red, White & Bluegrass | no free concert for 2012
• All Over Bay Area | Free Fishing Day (No fishing license required) July 7 – 2012 – FREE
• All Over Bay Area | AAA “Tipsy Tow” Free Car Tow Home Program – 2012 -FREE

East Bay | 2012

• Alameda | Mayor’s 4th of July Parade & Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee Park Festival -2012- FREE
• Alameda | Reds, Whites and Blues: Wine & Live Blues – canceled for 2012
• Alameda | John Lee Hooker Jr. Outdoor Concert – 2012 – FREE
• Albany | Beard & Mustache Competition & July 4th Celebration -2012- FREE
• Antioch | Riverfront FIREWORKS & Parade – 2012 – FREE
• Benicia | “Freedom Festival” Torchlight Parade (July 3) – 2012- FREE
• Benicia | Picnic in the Park & Waterfront FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Berkeley | 4th of July FIREWORKS & All Day Festival -2012- FREE
  
• Berkeley | Off the Grid Food Truck Party – 2012 – FREE
• Clayton | 4th of July Parade and Kiddieland – 2012-FREE
• Concord | 4th of July Jubilee & Parade- 2012- FREE
• Concord |  “The Flag” Variety Show & FIREWORKS (July 2, 3, 4)- 2012- FREE
• Danville | July 4th Parade-2012- FREE
• El Cerrito | World Music & Circus Festival -2012- FREE
• Fremont | 4th of July Parade -2012- FREE
• Fremont | Ardenwood Historic Farm Family Festival-2012- $8
• Hayward | 4th of July Family Festival & Picnic -2012- FREE
• Hercules | fireworks canceled for 2012
• Lafayette | Buddhist 4th of July Veggie Potluck -2012- FREE
• Livermore | 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks-  2012- $5
• Martinez | Hometown Celebration, Parade  & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Moraga | Dog Parade, Classic Car Show & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Oakland | “F*ck the Fourth” Anarchist Book Sale (July 8th) – 2012 – FREE
• Oakland | 1912 Old-Timey Patriotic Picnic - 2012 – $15
• Oakland | Lake Merritt Music Festival & BBQ – canceled for 2012
• Oakland | Jack London Square July 4th Festival - 2012 – FREE - No fireworks for 2012
• Oakley | Cityhood Celebration & FIREWORKS (July 7) – 2012 – FREE
• Orinda | 4th of July Parade & Celebration in the Park – 2012 – FREE
• Piedmont | Small Town Dog Parade & Picnic in the Park – 2012 – FREE
• Port Costa | Evening July 4th Parade – 2012 – FREE
• Pleasant Hill | July 4th Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Pleasanton | Fourth of July Patriotic Concert & Picnic – 2012 – FREE
• Pleasanton | Alameda County Fair FIREWORKS Show (July 6) – 2012 –  $10
• Richmond | FIREWORKS & Symphony Concert (July 3) – 2012 – FREE
• Richmond | Waterfront Family Festival & FIREWORKS (July 3) – 2012 -FREE
• San Pablo | Rolling Stones Tribute & FIREWORKS show - 2012 -FREE
• San Ramon | Celebrate America Festival in the Park - 2012 - FREE -  no fireworks for 2012
• Vacaville | Journey Tribute & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE

North Bay | 2012

• American Canyon | 4th of July Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2012- FREE
• Bodega Bay | 1st of July FIREWORKS over the Bay (July 1) – 2012- FREE
• Calistoga | Silverado 4th of July Parade  - 2012- FREE
  
• Calistoga | Napa County Fair & FIREWORKS (July 1-4) – 2012- $10
• Cloverdale | Fourth of July FIREWORKS - 2012 – FREE
• Corte Madera / Larkspur | 4th of July Parade & Celebration – 2012- FREE
• Glen Ellen | Sonoma Winery Charity Car Classic (July 1) – 2012- FREE
• Healdsburg | Rotary Club FIREWORKS Show -2012- FREE
  
• Inverness | 4th of July Foot Races & Festivities -2012- FREE 
• Kenwood | Old-Fashioned Hometown Parade -2012- FREE
• Napa | Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Novato | Vintage Military & WWII Sherman Tank Parade –  2012- FREE
• Oakville | Mondavi Winery FIREWORKS Show (June 30) -2012- FREE (from outside grounds)
• Petaluma | Annual Bell Ringing Ceremony – 2012 FREE
  
• Petaluma | Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds FIREWORKS Festival – 2012- FREE
  
• Ross | July 4th Parade & Picnic -2012- FREE
• Russian River | Water Carnival & FIREWORKS (June 30 & July 1) – 2012- FREE
  
• Russian River | Monte Rio’s “Big Rocky Games“ (June 30 & July 1) -2012- FREE
• Russian River | Guerneville Independence Day Block Party & FIREWORKS (July 1) -2012- FREE
  
• San Rafael | Marin County Fair FIREWORKS – (June 30-July 4) – 2012- $16
  
• Santa Rosa | Red, White & Boom FIREWORKS -2012- $7
• Sausalito | 4th of July Parade & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Sebastopol | 3rd of July FIREWORKS Extravaganza Festival (July 3) -2012- $8
• Sleepy Hollow | Parade, Swimming & BBQ canceled for 2012
  
• Sonoma | July 4th Parade and Plaza Celebration - 2012- FREE
  
• Sonoma | General Vallejo’s Birthday & 4th of July FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
  
• Suisun City | Solano County Waterfront FIREWORKS & Celebration -2012- FREE
• St. Helena | Louis M. Martini Winery FIREWORKS -  2012- FREE (from outside grounds)
• Vallejo | Great Vallejo Ducky Derby - canceled for 2012
• Vallejo | Six Flags FIREWORKS & Concert- 2012 - $37.99
• Vallejo | Parade, Symphony Celebration & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
  
• Windsor | Pre-4th of July FIREWORKS Festival (July 3) – 2012- $3
• Yountville | Street Fair, Concert & FIREWORKS - 2012- FREE

Peninsula | 2012

• Foster City | Dog Show, Parade & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Half Moon Bay | Food Trucks on the Fourth - canceled for 2012
• Half Moon Bay | Waterfront Small Town 4th of July Parade – 2012 FREE – no fireworks for 2012
• Menlo Park | 4th of July Parade and Celebration – 2012 – FREE
• Los Altos | Glorious 4th of July Park Party - 2012 – FREE
• Los Altos Hills | 4th July Scooter & Skateboard Parade - 2012 – FREE
• Pacifica | 38th Annual Fourth of July Celebration –  2012 – FREE
• Palo Alto | SJ Earthquakes MLS Soccer & FIREWORKS (June 30) – 2012 – $15
• Palo Alto | Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off Festival – 2012 – FREE
• Redwood City | Independence Day Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS - 2012 -FREE
• Redwood City | Old Fashioned Fourth & Ice Cream Making Party – 2012 – $2.50
  
• San Mateo | no 4th of july events for 2012
  

South Bay & Santa Cruz County | 2012

• Aptos |  4th of July Parade & Festival – 2012 – FREE / Donation03
• Cupertino | Children’s Parade & Concert in the Park – 2012 – FREE
• Cupertino | Blackberry Farms Free Swimming Day - 2012 – FREE
• Cupertino | Fourth of July FIREWORKS Show – 2012 – FREE
• Felton/Roaring Camp | Sock Hop and 50′s family 4th of July – 2012 – FREE
• Gilroy | 4th of July High School FIREWORKS show – 2012 -FREE
• Hollister | Kiddie Parade & FIREWORKS show – 2012 – FREE
• Los Gatos | 4th of July Hometown Games & Picnic – 2012 – FREE
• Milpitas | Red White and Blue Pool Party – 2012 – $2
• Milpitas | Red White & Boom FIREWORKS Festival – 2012 –  $3
• Morgan Hill | Patriotic Sing & Music Fest  (July 3) – 2012 – FREE
• Morgan Hill | Silicon Valley Parade & FIREWORKS –  2012 – FREE
• Mountain View | FIREWORKS Show with the San Francisco Symphony - 2012 –  $19.25
• Mountain View | “Celebrate America” Music Festival & FIREWORKS (June 30) – 2012 – FREE
• San Jose | San Jose Giants Baseball & Post-Game FIREWORKS (July 4 & 5) - 2012 – $10
• San Jose | San Jose Giants FIREWORKS Show – 2012 – FREE to watch outside stadium
• San Jose | Alameda Rose, White and Blue Parade & Street Festival – 2012 -FREE
• Santa Clara | All City Picnic - 2012 – FREE (Fireworks canceled for 2012)
• Santa Clara | Great America FIREWORKS show (June 30, July 1,7) – $47
  
• Santa Cruz / Wilder Ranch | Old Fashioned Independence Day 1912 Celebration – 2012 – FREE
• Saratoga | Costumed Festival & Free Popsicles – 2012 – FREE
• Scotts Valley | Festival, Parade & FIREWORKS – 2012 – $6/$8
• Sunnyvale | “State of the City” Celebration in the Park – takes place August 26, 2012 – FREE
• Watsonville | Spirit of Watsonville Parade & Downtown Festival - 2012 – FREE

Road Trip!!! | 2012

• Big Bear Lake | Rotary FIREWORKS on the Lake – 2012 – FREE
  
• Dixon | Old Fashioned July 4th Festival & FIREWORKS – canceled for 2012
  
• Fort Bragg | FIREWORKS on the bluffs (July 7) 2012 - FREE
• Mendocino | Kooky Hometown July 4th Parade & Festival - 2012 – FREE
• Point Arena | Street Fair & FIREWORKS (July 7) – 2012 – FREE
• North Lake Tahoe | Kings Beach FIREWORKS and Deck Party – (July 3) FREE to $12
• South Lake Tahoe | Lights on the Lake FIREWORKS -  2012 – FREE
• Sacramento | Independence Day Celebration & FIREWORKS - 2012 - FREE
  
• Willits | Willits Frontier Days & Parade (July 1, 3, 4) – 2012 – FREE / $12
• Yosemite | Mairposa Fairgrounds Festival & FIREWORKS – 2012 – $6
• Stockton | MLB Baseball Clinic, Festival & FIREWORKS - 2012 -$5
• Stockton Delta | Hilton July FIREWORKS On the Water (July 3) – 2012 – FREE

Our Disclaimer: We have done our best to confirm the details of each of the above events with at least one source (either the city itself, a newspaper, chamber of commerce, or a trusty website). But because there is always a rare chance that we have been given incorrect information, we do recommend you contact the city directly to confirm details before you head out to any event.