The Bay Area is a great spot to celebrate America’s birthday. Crowds gather all over the waterfront areas where the 4th of July San Francisco events and activities take place, highlighting the festivities with a spectacular Independence Day celebration. From patriotic parades to colorful firework displays and live music to specialty cruises, kids and the whole family will enjoy the outdoors great!
We hope you’re ready for the Independence Day celebration because festivities are approaching. But if you haven’t made any plans yet, fret not! We’ve covered a comprehensive list of events and activities around the San Francisco Bay Area to celebrate the 4th of July with your kids. Pick your favorite spot or tackle the whole list for an unforgettable day of summer fun!
Fisherman’s Wharf
2801 Leavenworth St., San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone Number: (415) 673-3530
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 9:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Fisherman’s Wharf invites you to visit the Waterfront to enjoy the day! A fireworks display will be launched from two barges on the Bay beginning at 9:30 pm. Neighborhood restaurants, activities, and retail shops in Fisherman’s Wharf will be open. Fireworks are set off from barges at Aquatic Park and Pier 39. Try heading to Aquatic Park, Ghirardelli Square, Coit Tower, or any waterfront spot you can snag for spectacular show views.
Dress appropriately for the weather, which can get cold and windy. A good jacket or blanket can help keep you warm. We suggest leaving your pets at home to make your day more enjoyable. We don’t want your furry friends to get spooked by the large crowds and noise of the fireworks display. There will also be K-9 units in the neighborhood.
Pier 3
Hornblower Landing, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone Number: (800) 459-8105
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
This 4th of July, a Premier Plus Dinner cruise in San Francisco is sure to create an unforgettable evening with an illuminated skyline for the Independence Day celebration. Experience a plated dinner cruise on the Bay with an impressive fireworks display. Dine the night with friends and family and soak in San Francisco’s refreshing views.
July 4th is a busy day for City Cruises, Pier 3, and the city of San Francisco. Please arrive early and allow plenty of extra time for heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic and parking options. Public transportation is highly recommended.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
1001 Fairgrounds Dr. SW, Vallejo, CA 94589
Phone Number: (707) 644-4000
July 4 – , 2024 | Thursday – Sunday | 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
When the sun sets, the party starts. Celebrate summer in the San Francisco Bay Area with different activities and events at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom during the 4th of July Independence Day Celebration Powered by Coca-Cola®, featuring live music, specialty food booths, and summertime games.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will also have its first 4th of July Celebration Drone show. At 9:00 pm, the nightly spectacular drone show will be beautifully choreographed to feature iconic patriotic and Six Flags imagery from up to 400 feet in the sky.
Leo Ryan Park
650 Shell Blvd., Foster City, CA, 94404
Phone Number: (650) 286-3380
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 9:00 AM – 9:45 PM
Join the Foster City Parks & Recreation, Lions of Foster City, and the Foster City Rotary Club for this exciting all-day series of events at Leo Ryan Park. The Foster City 4th of July Celebration in the San Francisco Bay Area is back with a whole day of fun events, activities, and music for the whole family. There will be a Kid Zone, a pet parade, family games, and a giant fireworks display.
There will also be a pancake breakfast and food trucks for lunch and dinner. You don’t want to miss all the games, food, entertainment, family and dog parade, and a grand fireworks display. All family members are welcomed and encouraged to participate in some of our favorite games, like Potato Sack Races and a Watermelon Eating Contest. Fireworks will take place over the lagoon.
USS Hornet Museum
707 W Hornet Ave., Alameda, CA 94501
Phone Number: (510) 521-8448
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Spend your 4th of July in the Bay’s best location for the day with music, food & drinks, tours, and more! They will have two no-host bars, Food Truck Mafia with multiple food options, DJ Samoa Boy spinning tunes, the Swinging Blue Stars, and much more to entertain you. Special guest Benjamin Hemphill, a Korean War pilot, will be on hand at around 1 pm to sign pictures and discuss his experiences as a Skyraider pilot on the USS Antietam.
The ship’s superstructure will be open for free tours of the Captain’s Bridge. The rest of the Museum spaces on the ship are open, so you can see all our iconic aircraft (including our F-14 Tomcat, just like those in Top Gun), Apollo artifacts and Space Race History, and all the ship’s areas and exhibits below decks where sailors worked and lived from World War II to the ship’s decommissioning in 1970. They also will close early enough that you will have time to watch the fireworks at your favorite spot.
Cerrito Vista Park
950 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530
Phone Number: (510) 243-5796
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The annual City of El Cerrito/WorldOne July 4th Festival provides the chance to celebrate amongst high-flying banners and share the excitement with a family fun zone, main stage entertainment, art exhibition, and great food, a classic car component to the event.
The event also includes live entertainment on the main stage, a children’s fun area with carnival games, jump houses, face painting and rides, arts and crafts vendors, El Cerrito Art Association Art Show & Sale, lots of delicious food options, and vendor booths by local business and service groups.
Half Moon Bay Downtown
Main St., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone Number: (650) 726-5705
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Let the good times roll! This year marking its 53rd rendition, Half Moon Bay’s beloved Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade, along with a Pancake Breakfast, Block Party & Festival, takes over Main Street, transforming the charming downtown into a festive Red, White, and Blue celebration. The parade starts at 12 noon and lasts approximately 90 minutes.
A time-honored, home-spun tradition, the parade celebrates Independence Day in small-town America with an entertaining array of whimsical floats, marching bands, horses, community service groups, classically cool cars, decorated trikes and bikes, parading pooches, youth sports teams, dance and theatre troupes, photos and fun with the delightfully rotund, and more!
The Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill
1520 Lakeside Dr., Oakland, CA 94612
Phone Number: (510) 208-5253
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
This 4th of July, ditch the grill and head down to Lake Chalet in the San Francisco Bay Area for a star-spangled BBQ & Beer Party that’s sure to sizzle! They’re throwing a lakeside bash you won’t want to miss, complete with mouthwatering BBQ, refreshing drinks, festive fun for all ages, and stunning panoramic views of Oakland’s Inner Harbor.
Indulge in their pre-sale VIP ticket special, featuring a delicious plate of BBQ ribs or BBQ chicken slow-cooked to perfection. These hearty portions are served alongside classic summer sides like sweet and juicy corn on the cob and savory baked beans. Pro tip: Pre-sale tickets also unlock exclusive access to our VIP seating on the dock.
Schooner Freda B
Slip 465, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone Number: (415) 331-0444
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 4:15 PM – 6:30 PM
On this holiday afternoon sail, you’ll board in Sausalito and start with a tour along its scenic waterfront. It was the proposed site for Hearst’s Castle and later the cradle of some of America’s most cherished music, including Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors and Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ by the Dock of the Bay” (yes, this Bay!).
Not to spoil too much, as this cruise will take you all around the Bay, and the stories expand even more as you get closer to Angel Island, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco. A safe and appropriate way to enjoy Independence Day!
Shoreline Amphitheatre
One Amphitheatre Pkwy., Mountain View, CA 94043
Phone Number: (650) 967-4040
July 4, 2024 | Thursday | 8:00 PM
“Summer with The Symphony” is explosive this season – the world-class San Francisco Symphony is coming to the Shoreline Amphitheatre on 4 July with their brand new Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular! You don’t have to be a classical music connoisseur to love every moment of the epic firecracker of an evening with the San Francisco Symphony.
The world-renowned orchestra, with dynamic conducting by Edwin Outwater, stellar musicians, wonderful musical selections, and the amazing vocalist Jessica Vosk, will wow returning audiences again. Come down to the wonderful Shoreline Amphitheatre and spend Independence Day in the best way possible – with a spectacular, breathtaking musical experience of a lifetime while enjoying a fantastic fireworks show.
The Bay Area is a marvelous spot for a breathtaking fireworks display, with beautiful bursts of red, white, and blue booming over the water and the city skyline while patriotic music plays. Whether joining the crowds or staking out a spot at one of the best places to watch fireworks in San Francisco, your little ones will have so much fun celebrating the 4th of July with the best events and activities for kids. There’s no place the Independence Day celebration is quite like in San Francisco!
Looking for more family-friendly events and things to do with kids in San Francisco? San Francisco offers countless opportunities for fun! Check out our seasonal blog post, or browse through our places to go section. Find even more things to do in San Francisco with kids by checking out our Things To Do category.
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