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From Alameda to Santa Clara and San Francisco, nearly every Bay Area city is hosting a parade, community picnic, firecracker run and other patriotic festivities. Add in the backyard barbecues, neighborhood potlucks and pool parties and you’ll need more than a single day to get your Fourth on.
How to pick and choose what to do? Easy. Here’s everything you need to know this Independence Day.
Parades, picnics and more
Whether you’re keen on the Green, Red, White and Blue celebration in Albany, or the World’s Shortest Parade in Aptos, you’ll find all the details on what’s what, when and where on this city-by-city schedule of Fourth of July events. A Star-Spangled Social in Calistoga? Yep! A Children’s Parade in Cupertino? Got it! The lineup includes more than 70 events in 50 cities and towns around the Bay Area.
Firework hot spots
Sure, you could watch that snap-crackle-pop extravaganza from a blanket in the park. But have you considered ooh-ing and ahh-ing upside down, from a kayak or with a symphony? Here are seven particularly cool viewing spots.
And check out how San Jose’s popular downtown fireworks show was spared after the Federal Aviation Authority almost shut it down.
Fourth of July travel tips
Independence Day may fall on a Wednesday this year, but that won’t stop many people from hitting the road. It’s not a one-day holiday, it’s a 5-day weekend, right? And whether you’re taking to the skies or the highways, some planning strategies can help make that journey smoother. You have questions — about airport travel tips, potty breaks and whether you can take that bottle of BBQ sauce through security. We have answers right here.
Patriotic desserts, barbecue inspiration
Of course, it wouldn’t be a summer holiday without some fab barbecue bites and plenty of red, white and blue treats. You’ll find five sensational Fourth of July dessert ideas and some BBQ inspiration here. Cocktails more your thing? Inspired by Jell-O shots, these layered Patriot Pops give Fourth of July cocktails a crazy colorful twist. And this sensational Berry-Cherry Sangria provides all the requisite patriotic hues, and it’s super easy to make. (Psst, the recipe includes instructions for a non-alcoholic version, too.)
Frantic pets
You may think those fireworks are a spectacle, but for many animals those loud pops and bangs are as scary as a thunderstorm. If you’ve got an anxious pup, here are a few ways to help Fido cope, from anxiety meds to calming distractions and the ThunderShirt (here’s what happened when our pets and wildlife columnist took one for a test drive).
