These California Towns Throw Legendary 4th Of July Celebrations

California’s place in American history is inextricably tied to the nation-defining events of 1850. It was on September 9 of that year, barely two years after the end of the Mexican American War, that “The Golden State” officially became the 31st member of the United States of America.

From the very first Independence Day that followed, communities up and down what is now the country’s most populous state celebrate July 4 enthusiastically, adding their twists to the country’s most important National Holiday. From harbor flotillas to pyrotechnic displays that light up the Sierra sky, residents and visitors alike are left with an exciting reminder of why the Fourth matters so much to the United States.

For ideas and inspiration, check out how these California towns are planning to throw legendary 4th of July celebrations in 2025, just a year before the country commemorates its 250th birthday.

Avalon, Santa Catalina Island

July 4th, 2025, will see Avalon’s entire waterfront turn red, white, and blue. Things kick off in this island town with the morning’s Home & Business Decorating Contest, an excuse for Crescent Avenue storefronts and houses to get draped in block after block of colorful bunting. At noon, decked-out golf carts line Casino Way and then roll out at 1 p.m. for the much-anticipated Golf-Cart Parade, cheered on from crowds lining Green Pleasure Pier, town beaches, and the historic Catalina Casino. Adding to the fun is this year’s parade theme, Surfin' in the USA: Celebrating Catalina's Beach Culture… so dress accordingly!

Family picnics will spill onto the sands of South Beach and Descanso Beach as nightfall approaches. That’s when a barge off Lovers Cove will launch a 20-minute firework show that’s all the more dramatic for its Avalon Bay backdrop, a sheltered setting that gives a little extra “whoompf” to the exploding pyrotechnics. Hang around after this colorful display for a free downtown concert on the Wrigley Stage. Superb views of the bay and the fireworks can also be had from the Stagecoach Viewpoint to the west of town.

While late ferries can whisk you back to Long Beach or Dana Point afterwards, those wanting to make a weekend of their island adventure should consider booking a stay at a downtown hotel such as Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel or the Bellanca Hotel; but book early, as they tend to fill up quickly for Avalon’s Fourth of July celebrations.

Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino Mountains

Located at an altitude of nearly 7,000 feet in the vast San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear Lake delivers Southern California’s largest mountain fireworks show. The Rotary-sponsored Fireworks Spectacular begins between 8:45 and 9:15 p.m., a display that’s enhanced thanks to a synchronized musical broadcast on local radio station KBHR (93.3 FM and 102.5 FM). The fireworks, combined with the music being streamed live by boaters in the middle of the seven-mile-long lake, are something you won’t soon forget.

The day-long festivities start earlier at Meadow Park’s Independence Fair with pancake breakfasts and model rocket building at booths run by the Big Bear Discovery Center. At noon, Pine Knot Landing hosts a thrilling timber-sports showcase featuring axe-throwing and other skills, while Snow Summit’s Scenic Sky Chair shuttles guests to scenic viewpoints for picnics and barbecues. Own a classic car? An informal cruise along Big Bear Boulevard will get you preferred parking at Boulder Bay Park.

Alternative vantage points include the Alpine Pedal Path on the north shore and the Castle Rock Trail switchbacks above Metcalf Bay. Between events, consider taking a tour of the Big Bear Solar Observatory (it’s rarely open to the public) or renting bikes to circle the Stanfield Marsh Boardwalk to look for osprey. And if camping is your thing, the campgrounds at Serrano and Big Pine Flat fill quickly but are worth considering.

Mammoth Lakes, Eastern Sierra

The July Fourth fun in Mammoth Lakes kicks off with the town’s 11 a.m. parade. Floats, vintage fire engines, and bike brigades will snake down Old Mammoth Road, finishing up on Main Street. From here, it’s an easy jaunt to Shady Rest Park for food-truck villages and a beer garden hosted by the first-rate Mammoth Brewing Company. Early evening options include blues concerts in The Village at Mammoth Plaza and twilight gondola rides aboard the Mammoth Mountain Panorama Scenic Gondola for a summit sunset.

The Mammoth Lakes Independence Day fireworks display is being held 12 miles south of town at Crowley Lake. Dubbed the “Sky Concert,” the 2025 Crowley Lake 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular will include an impressive 859 fireworks shells blasted skyward from 9:15 p.m. for a spectacular 17-minute display that lights up the Eastern Sierra sky. Be warned, though, that parking areas along U.S. 395 fill hours in advance.

This year’s holiday weekend also includes the Mammoth Mountain Sunset Party, bringing top DJs for a hedonistic dance extravaganza in the High Sierra. If staying overnight, consider side trips to Devils Postpile National Monument and glacial Twin Lakes, or play a round of at the Sierra Star Golf Course, North America’s highest-elevation 18-hole layout.

Sausalito

Ferries arriving from San Francisco deliver parade watchers directly onto Second and Main Streets, where Sausalito’s much-anticipated 4th of July Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. and rolls along the waterfront before finishing at Dunphy Park for an old-fashioned picnic. Highlights include food stalls run by the Sausalito Women’s Club serving up fabulous Dungeness crab rolls, while the city’s Parks & Recreation stage has booked jazz trios for entertainment.

At 6:30 p.m., the action shifts to a free concert until the main attraction at 9:15 p.m.: fireworks over Richardson Bay. Framed by the silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge to the south, it’s undoubtedly one of the most patriotic sights on America’s Pacific Coast.

Planning to make a weekend of it? Well, you should. An early arrival offers up fun things to do such as exploring the WWII-era Marinship shipyard and hiking the coastal trail to Fort Baker, home to the Cavallo Point lodge and the Point Bonita Lighthouse. Kayak outfitters run special sunset paddles beneath the Sausalito houseboat enclave, even arranging “drift-in” front-row seats to the pyrotechnics.

Solvang, Santa Ynez Valley

Danish-themed Solvang starts its Independence Day festivities with the Rotary Club’s 10 a.m. parade down Mission Drive, past gingerbread-trimmed storefronts and the 1947 windmill on Alisal Road. Marching bands pause before the Old Mission Santa Inés, whose quadrangle transforms by noon into festival grounds lined with barbecue pits, ice-cream carts, and a kids’ zone featuring tons of Lego bricks.

Period-costumed guides offer tours of the mission’s adobe museum before gates close for the 9 p.m. fireworks show. Those in the know arrive early with lawn chairs and picnic hampers to claim a spot. You might also want to consider making a dinner reservation at First & Oak or Mad & Vin, each offering multi-course holiday menus timed to finish before showtime. Day-trip options include cycling four miles to the grape-vine rows of Rusack Vineyards or trekking to the chalk bluffs above the Santa Ynez River Preserve.

The Final Word

There’s no doubt that the best of California’s Fourth of July celebrations succeed because they add unique local twists to the country’s most important day of the year. In 2025, these lovely small towns illustrate just how communities can come together to share something they have in common: the fact that they live together in the world’s most exciting country. With a Friday holiday anchoring a three-day weekend in 2025, these California towns promise a fun blend of patriotism and partying as they host the state’s most legendary 4th of July celebrations.