Best Places to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks in Los Angeles

We’ve pulled together a round up of the best places to watch fireworks in Los Angeles over the Fourth of July holiday in 2019. For our fireworks round up we’ve put the displays that are free to the public first and the paid events toward the bottom. We’ve thrown in a few parades for good measure too!

At a number of the fireworks display locations, you can also watch them from other vantage points and we have named a few of them in the posts. Also check our post Great Vantage Points to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in LA for places you can see multiple fireworks displays at the same time.

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Best Places to Watch Independence Day Fireworks in LA

1. Pre-Holiday Fireworks Show at Santa Monica College

The fireworks show at the Santa Monica College happens on June 29th so if you are a fireworks lover take this one in and then you can watch more fireworks displays on the Fourth of July!

The Independence Day Celebration runs from 5 pm until 9 pm.  The organizers recommend coming early and having a picnic on the lawn while enjoying entertainment and special exhibits.

Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Blvd.,
Santa Monica, CA 90405

2. Pacific Palisades 4th of July Race, Parade, Concert and Fireworks

Make a day of it at the Pacific Palisades Fourth of July Festivities.  There will be a race, a parade, a concert and, of course fireworks!  The parade starts around 15120 – 15140 Sunset Blvd and the concert and fireworks are at 15777 Bowdoin St in Pacific Palisades. 

This one does have a cost of $10.00 but it’s worth it for a full day of fun!  Visit their website for more information or to register to be part of the race.  http://palisades4th.com

3. Santa Monica Fourth of July Parade

Enjoy the 13th annual Santa Monica 4th of July Parade from 9:30 am to 12 pm.  Come in your red, white and blue!

The parade begins at Pico Boulevard on Main Street and concludes at the southernmost beach parking lot

4. Fireworks at Marina Del Rey

This is personally my favorite place to watch fireworks.  Marina del Rey is such a beautiful spot to spend an afternoon and/or evening!  We created this video of the fireworks and boat parade at Marina del Rey over the Christmas holiday to give you an idea of the beauty of the display.

You can watch the free fireworks from Burton Chace Park or Fisherman’s Village.  Go early.  Parking will be harder to find as the day goes on.  This is a spot where you might want to consider renting a hotel room on the marina to spend a comfortable evening watching the fireworks.  Just be sure the hotel give you a room with a few of the fireworks over the main channel.

Burton Chace Park is at 13650 Mindanao Way and Fisherman’s Village is at 13755 Fiji Way.

5. Fourth of July Fireworks and Block Party at Grand Park

The party starts in DTLA at 3:00 pm and runs until 9:30 pm.  While their website doesn’t provide any specifics of what there will be to do prior to the fireworks at 9 pm, we know you will have plenty of fun things to do.  Grand Park has never been known to skimp on events!

This is a free event other than parking costs.  There is a parking lot under the park, though some of the neighboring lots may be cheaper.  You might also want to consider taking the Metro.  Parking is never easy to find in DTLA and when a major event is packing people in it’s even more difficult.

Again, you might want to consider booking a hotel room facing the stadium in DTLA for a relaxed, romantic 4th of July.

Grand Park
200 N Grand Ave

More Fireworks Display Listings After the Break…

6. Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza at West Valley

This free concert and fireworks display is considered one of the most extravagant fireworks displays in Southern California.  The fireworks show lasts 15 minutes.

The concert features the dynamic music of Ryder Green. 

The fun begins on July 4th at 6 pm.  5800 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills

7. Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Exposition Park

One of the largest free fireworks displays in the city happens at Exposition Park.  The fun kicks off at 11 am and includes live music, food, games, and activities for all ages. Fireworks begin at 9 pm

Exposition Park
3911 S Figueroa St.

8. Fourth of July Fireworks at Seaside Lagoon, Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach celebrates our Independence Day with live music, fun activities for the kids, food and beverage booths and a musical fireworks and laser show.  The fun starts at 2 pm and runs until 10 pm.

This is a free fireworks show at a very fun place to spend the day.

Seaside Lagoon
200 Portofino Way
Redondo Beach

9. Calabasas 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular

Calabasas starts the Fourth of July celebration at 5 pm and the Calabasas High School.  Fireworks are at 9 pm.  Tickets are $10 and they include parking and entertainment. 

For more information and tickets visit https://www.cityofcalabasas.com/events/fireworks.html

Calabasas High School
22855 Mulholland Highway
Calabasas

10. Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade and Fireworks

Okay, it’s in Orange County, but can you think of a more cool place to spend your Fourth of July than in Surf City USA?  The fun begins at 10 am with the largest Independence Day Parade this side of the Mississippi.  The parade runs along Main Street from the Pacific Coast Highway to Yorktown Ave.

It’s free to watch unless you want seats on the bleachers.  Those are ticketed.  Once the parade is over the fun continues on the pier up until the fireworks show at 9 pm.  Viewing is available all along the beaches.  You might also want to consider renting a hotel with an ocean view and watching from a more peaceful vantage point!

For more information http://www.hb4thofjuly.org

11. Fireworks at the Queen Mary

This is another great place to watch fireworks down in Long Beach.  The Queen Mary’s All American 4th of July begins at 3 pm and ends at 10 pm.  Having been in service as a troop transport ship throughout WWII, the Queen Mary offers a very patriotic celebration.  There is a cost and it varies depending on how much celebrating you want to do.  You can get more information and prices here https://www.queenmary.com/calendar-of-events/july-4th/home/

As for watching the fireworks, you can find numerous vantage points at Shoreline Village and the walkway extending out into the harbor, all along the marina, at Alamitos Beach.  You might even want to consider going to Angel’s Gate Park and watching from the high vantage point by the Korean Bell of Friendship.  (You might even be able to see the fireworks at Marina del Rey and Redondo Beach from there too.)

Queen Mary: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach
Shoreline Village: 429 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach

12. Laguna Beach Fireworks

This is a beautiful spot to watch free fireworks down in Orange County.

The City fireworks show will originate from Monument Point at Heisler Park and begin at about 9 pm. 

Note that the Monument Point area will be closed all day on the 4th of July. Also closed is from 12pm, the area of Heisler Park from the Rock Bench at Myrtle Street to the Rockpile Beach stairs at Jasmine Street to allow for fireworks preparation.

As with all of the fireworks displays, arrive early!

13. E.T. and Fireworks at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Watch E.T. and enjoy a fireworks display at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  The gates open at 7:15 pm and the movie begins at 9 pm (we assume the fireworks will be just prior to the movie, but they may be after).

Tickets are $38 and can be purchased here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/et-fireworks-tickets-62227985580

Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90038

15. Fireworks at Dodger Stadium

The Dodger battle the San Diego Padres and when the game is over you can watch the fireworks display at the Stadium.  The game begins at 6 pm with tickets starting at $32 and up.  For tickets, visit http://m.mlb.com/dodgers/tickets/info/july4th

You can also watch the fireworks from Angel’s Point in Elysian Park which overlooks the stadium, but get there early if you plan to do so.

Dodger Stadium: 1000 Elysian Park Ave

16. Fireworks at Hollywood Bowl with Nile Rodgers & CHIC

There are three night of fireworks at the Hollywood Bowl beginning on Tue July 2nd and running through Thursday July 4th.  Legendary hitmakers Nile Rodgers and CHIC team up with the LA Phil for a three-night celebration. The concert begins with star-spangled American favorites by the orchestra. Then, Nile Rodgers & CHIC set things off with “Le Freak” and “Good Times,” plus some of Nile’s hits as a producer – including “I’m Coming Out,” “Let’s Dance,” and “Get Lucky.” 

Tickets are required and the website is a bit on the vague side about whether there will be fireworks all three nights, though it appears that way.  For more information visit https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/536/2019-07-02/july-4th-fireworks-spectacular-with-nile-rodgers-chic

You can also watch these from the Hollywood Bowl Overlook on Mulholland but you will want to arrive early.  Parking there is VERY limited.

Hollywood Bowl
2301 N Highland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90068

In addition to the post we mentioned above naming places to watch multiple fireworks displays, we also wrote one on unique places to watch multiple fireworks displays back on New Year’s Eve.  This names several additional points from which you can view fireworks all over the city!

We hope you enjoy your Independence Day holiday in Los Angeles.  Please remember that we are celebrating the freedom we once fought for and remember that if we don’t continue to watch for and remove those things that seek to destroy our freedom, we won’t have it much longer!