10 ways to catch spectacular fireworks shows for Fourth of July
Happy 243rd birthday, America! Looking for ways to ring in the Fourth this year? Here are 10 celebrations around the region with everything from piles of pancakes and pie-eating contests to ziplines and, of course, skytacular fireworks.
Cal Expo
July 4 Watch the night sky fill with fireworks at Cal Expo’s annual Fourth of July party. B.Y.O.P. (bring your own picnic) and head into the fairgrounds at 4:30 p.m. to catch performances by dance-fitness crew World of Dance U-JAM, country musician Rachel Steele and pop-rock quintet National Lines, all before the sky explodes with color at 9:30 p.m. in sync with musical accompaniment from radio station KUDL106.5, The End. Free ($10 reserved seating; $15 for parking). 4:30 p.m. Cal Expo. 1600 Exposition Blvd. 916-263-3000. calexpo.com
Carmichael
July 4 Kick off Independence Day with a stack of flapjacks at Carmichael Park, which is the perfect spot to catch the Elk Lodge’s 61st annual parade. Head to the La Sierra Community Center at 7 p.m., where kids can bounce around in the inflatable jump house while listening to the classic rock and soul stylings of The Count (known for renditions of Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers Band tunes). Settle onto the soccer field to ooh and ahh at the 9:30 p.m. fireworks display for a send-off with a bang. Prices, times and locations vary by event. Carmichael. 916-485-5322. carmichaelpark.com
Davis
July 4 Celebrate our country's freedom at Davis' Community Park, where festival-goers can try their luck at ring toss, float in the pool and watch the Central Valley Vintage Base Ball club play a 19th-century version of the all-American pastime. Bands like Rock Band University, the T Sisters and Midnight North will take the main stage from 5-9:30 p.m. before the fireworks take off. Free. 4-10 p.m. Davis Community Park. 1405 F Street. Davis. 530-757-5602. cityofdavis.org
El Dorado Hills
July 3 The Fireworks & Freedom Concert at El Dorado Hills Town Center returns for its 10th year with a dazzling display designed by Pyro Spectaculars—the California company behind shows at Disneyland and Disney World and the Olympics in ’96, ’02 and ’04—as well as two venues featuring performances by acts like Thunder Cover and Lost in Suburbia. Stop by pop-ups from Ruffhaus Dog & Burger Pub and Pete’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, and swing the little ones by the kids’ zone, which will feature 10 bounce houses, face painting and balloon artists, before the first fuse is ignited at 9:30 p.m. Free ($15 per child for kids' zone). 6-11 p.m. El Dorado Hills Town Center. 4364 Town Center Blvd. El Dorado Hills. 916-933-3013. edhtowncenter.com
Elk Grove
July 4 Deck out your six-speed in Fourth of July regalia while pedaling through Elk Grove Regional Park during its annual bike and stroller parade. Kids, teens and adults can partake in a pie-eating contest before taking in a set of high-energy ’80s classics from Sacramento band The Spazmatics, who will rock out until the fireworks fly at 9:40 p.m. Free ($10 for parking). 4-10 p.m. Elk Grove Regional Park. 9950 Elk Grove Florin Rd. Elk Grove. 916-691-2489. elkgrovecity.org
Lincoln
July 4 The Fourth of July festivities in Lincoln start with a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast at the Lincoln Veteran's Hall before a parade takes over the downtown streets at 9 a.m. For the rest of the day, McBean Park will play host to over 8,000 patriots, who can grab a frank from Dave’s Dawgs or shaved ice from Snowie King. Adults and kids alike can hop into the pool or onto the mechanical bull (a crowd favorite), before catching a ballgame via the California Collegiate League’s Lincoln Potters—where the final out signals the beginning of the fireworks. Prices, times and locations vary by event. 916-412-6861. lincolnca4thofjuly.com
Placerville
July 4 Pack in your own grub and grill for a family cookout or stop at the on-site food trucks like Smokin' Ron's for barbecued tri-tip or Morty’s Grill before cooling down with shaved ice from Snowie Magic at Placerville’s Fourth of July Family Blast. Expect a concert by classic rock band Dream and the Dreamer, as well as a face-painting and carnival games for the young and young at heart. Feeling like a winner? Try your hand at the water balloon toss or a bubble-gum-blowing competition before the fireworks start at dusk. $4 (kids 6 and under free; $7 parking). Gates open at 4 p.m. El Dorado County Fairgrounds. 100 Placerville Dr. Placerville. 530-621-5860. eldoradocountyfair.org
Raley Field
July 4 Forget the peanuts and Cracker Jacks during this annual celebration at the Sacramento River Cats' stomping grounds, and head for the warning track where local pop-up eateries such as Post Oak Barbecue and Buckhorn Grill will ply you with grilled and smoked eats, or soak up suds from local craft breweries at Knee Deep Alley. Take your pick between the bleachers and the field for the explosive show at 9:30 p.m. Or watch the fireworks from different spots along the waterfront, like Drake’s in West Sacramento's at the Barn and Old Sacramento. $12 (Free for ages 2 and under). 6-10 p.m. Raley Field. 400 Ballpark Dr. West Sacramento. 916-376-4722. ticketmaster.com
Rancho Cordova
July 3-4 Get a head start on the Independence Day festivities with a two-day fête at Hagan Park (with fireworks at the end of both nights at 9:30 p.m.). While each day will host exclusive events (like a Wednesday get-down with rock-funk band Apple Z and a Thursday morning community parade), both days will boast Ferris wheel rides, a zipline and a BMX freestyle show, as well as 15 food trucks on-site with sips and snacks. $2 ($10 parking). Hagan Park. 2197 Chase Dr. Rancho Cordova. 916-273-5701. ranchocordovajuly4th.com
Roseville
July 4 Roseville's celebration starts with the Run Crime Out of Roseville 5K and 10K fun run/walk, followed by a 9 a.m. community parade that kicks off at the intersection of Riverside, Vernon and Douglas Blvd. In the afternoon, the Capitol Pops Concert band will perform at Royer Park before the gates to @the Grounds open at 4 p.m., where attendees can grab grub from T-Bone's BBQ while the kids bounce in pop-up inflatables and await the fireworks that will blast off at 9:30 p.m. Free ($10 parking). Doors open at 4 p.m. @the Grounds. 800 All American City Blvd. Roseville. Times and locations for other events vary. 916-772-7529. roseville.ca.us/events
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