On any given holiday, Los Angeles plays host to a ton of events, and the 4th of July is no different. Whether you like parades, firework displays, street fairs or block parties, when you’re in the Los Angeles area, you have plenty to choose from. Here are just a few of the many events being held this 4th of July weekend.

  • July 4th Block Party at Grand Park – At the LA Civic Center, an 8 block party will beheld on Saturday the 4th, beginning at 4 pm. There will be dancers, musicians and other performers on two main stages, as well as mobile DJs and lots of food. What there will not be, though, is alcohol. Parking is $10, but it’s free to get in. Oh, and if you plan on trying to get there early – don’t. It doesn’t open until 3 pm.
  • If you feel that America’s Independence Day deserves more than a 1-day celebration, you’re not alone. Smokey Robinson will be hosting a 3-day celebration at the Hollywood Bowl that includes a fireworks display every night. It begins July 2nd (the day John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence) and ends the evening of the 4th (the day everyone else signed it). Tickets are anywhere from $15 to $243, and you can bid on them at ScoreBig.com.
  • Last but not least, we have one of the largest firework displays in Southern California during the 4th of July AmericaFest at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. There will be food, music, entertainment and vendors all day long. The parking lot opens at 10 am, and the food court opens at 2 pm. Tickets are $13 for general admission and $25 for reserved. Kids under 5 get in free.

No matter what you choose to do, whether you go out or stay home, remember to leave the fireworks to the professionals. LA County is a dry place at the best of times, and it’s even worse during this drought. In such a dry area, the tiniest spark can set off a disastrous fire, and law enforcement across the County have no problem bringing the hammer down on those who choose to light off illegal fireworks.