Orange County communities have a tradition of celebrating American independence and with its being the 250th anniversary they are going all out.
Read more Daryl Hall on the mend from kidney transplant from living donor
From one corner of the county to the other, the holiday weekend is full of plans to celebrate the Fourth of July with parades and festivals, concerts and fireworks.
Here are many of the public events being hosted — they 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 begins at 4 p.m. with live music, 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 steps off at 1 p.m., launching from Canyon High and traveling 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 and America’s 250th 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
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, contests, activities for families and more. The America 250 Choir will perform along with the ‘ 80s-inspired Flashback Heart Attack. The fireworks show will be at 9 p.m. Information: costamesaca.gov.
Cypress
It’s a big birthday bash on July 3 in the city with the celebration of America’s 250th and 70 years of Cypress being a city. There will be community games starting at 6 p.m., Pop Vision will perform starting at 7 p.m. and the fireworks will be at 9 p.m. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged, and no saving seats before 5:30 p.m. At Cypress College. Information: cypressca.org.
Also check out: All the ways to celebrate July 4th and America’s 250th birthday in Southern California
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.
Fullerton
The community can join a bike parade at 10 a.m. from North Woods and West Wilshire Avenue to the Fullerton Community Center. And, the city will again host a celebration at the Downtown Plaza. There will be a DJ starting at 7 p.m. and the fireworks show will cap off the evening at 9 p.m. Information: cityoffullerton.com
Huntington Beach
The community always has big plans for the holiday and expects to go even bigger for the 250th celebration.
A three-day festival kicks off celebrations in the city on July 3 with carnival rides, shopping, live music, food and more in Pier Plaza. The festival starts at 10 a.m. July 3, 4 and 5 and the carnival hours start at noon. Activities end at 9 p.m. on July 3 and 4 and at 6 p.m. on July 5.
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 122nd year. Tim Conway Jr. will be the grand marshal. The parade will also be broadcast on KABC Channel 7.
The Condor Squadron association will do a flyover at about 5:30 p.m., heading in the direction of Newport Beach.
Fireworks will cap the activities on July 4 at 9 p.m. Beach view is free, there is some reserved seating for sale on the pier.
Information on these events and more is available at hb4thofjuly.org.
Irvine
The city and the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee will host the annual Fourth of July Field of Valor from July 1 to 31 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.
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 Family Style will perform. The fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. Information: lagunahillsca.gov
Laguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel Family YMCA hosts its 47th Run in the Parks with a 5K and kids race. First is the 5K at 8 a.m. New this year will be a diaper dash. Proceeds benefit the YMCA’s scholarship fund. Information and registration: ymcaoc.org/run.
The Chamber of Commerce hosts a pancake breakfast to accompany the run at Crown Valley Park. Serving from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The city is hosting a free swimming session from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Laguna Niguel Aquatics Center.
There will be a 5:30 p.m. flyover of the Crowne Valley Park Amphitheater. And “back-to-back concerts” kick off the evening’s festivities, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the amphitheater.
The city is hosting a drone show this year at 9 p.m. Information: cityoflagunaniguel.org
Read more JPMorgan Chase promotes Petno, Rohrbaugh to copresidents, setting up two more successors for Dimon
Lake Forest
The community will celebrate with a 5 to 9 p.m. festival and fireworks at Deerpath Community Park. There will be children’s activities, live music featuring Fletcher Rockwell and the Freddy Jones Band. Information: lakeforestca.gov.
There will also, on July 5, be an ice cream social at Forest Park Beach with American Legion McKinlock Post 264 serving prepackaged ice cream starting at 11 a.m. while supplies last.
La Habra
The city will host an Independence Day party for the community at La Bonita Park. The Lucky Devils Band and Earth to Mars will perform live, there will be a military flyover, kids’ activities, games, 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 race starts at 7:30 a.m. There is also a $10 pancake breakfast in Central Park. Information: cityoflapalma.org/run
Los Alamitos
The fireworks spectacular at the Joint Forces Training Base will be held July 3. Gates open at 4 p.m. and close at 8:45. Bring lawn chairs and blankets, there will be no other seating available. The fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. The event is free. Information: cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation
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 5:40 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
Orange
Orange Park Acres is hosting its 60th 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. It will include a 360-degree loop and two flybys.
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 festival at Marco Forster Intermediate School starting at 3 p.m. There will be games, activities, food, shopping, entertainment and more. The concerts start at 4 p.m. 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 6 p.m. with live music, a play area for kids, food, a patriotic pup contest 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 10 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 9 a.m. at Cerro Villa School. Following will be a picnic and concert at the campus with kids games, contests, food and a live band until 2 p.m. 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 8:50 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 host three days of activities starting July 3 with a kickoff celebration at 10 a.m. featuring six presidential reenactors helping bring history to life, community meet-and-greets with county law enforcement and other resource providers, a petting zoo and more.
There will also be a reenactment of a Revolutionary War skirmish and moments in history. And the museum still has its “America250: A More Perfect Union” exhibit on display.
And starting at 5 p.m. there will be a car show, military swearing-in ceremonies, a military flyover and more, all capped off with fireworks.
Tickets are $30 general admission; there are discounts for seniors and children.
On July 4, there will be donuts and coffee with the presidential reenactors and discounted admission to the museum. Tickets are $17.75
And at 11 a.m. on July 5 there will be a patriotic performance by the Huntington Beach Concert Band in the Nixon Library’s replica White House East Room. The concert is free, reservations may be made online.
Read more Prairieland defendants’ families promise appeal, warn of precedent after sentencing
Information and tickets/reservations: nixonfoundation.org.