30+ Ways to Celebrate 4th of July with Kids in San Diego (2023)
- Jul 1, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 2, 2023
Celebrate July 4th in San Diego with one of these fun, FREE & cheap events!
ALL THE JULY 4th FUN FOR KIDS IN SAN DIEGO
There are SO many 4th of July events happening this year all over San Diego County! Some are fireworks only displays, drone displays, all-day or evening activities, community picnics, BBQs, and music fests, but all are lots of fun. This guide will help you plan ahead to make the most of your day that's right for your family this year.
TIPS:
Most are free and some have a fee, BUT to avoid crowds and parking jams...look for a quiet spot nearby! As long as you can look up into the night sky from nearby these locations you should have a good view.
If you plan to attend a fireworks show, someone in your party should scope out a good spot hours before the actual start time and plan to hang out there all day. It's a commitment.
My recommendation if you can, is to book a hotel room that faces the fireworks show and spend the night. Kids can watch from the hotel room in their pj's and then go straight to bed with no parking hassle for you.
(Disclaimer: Check details directly before you go...info is subject to change and to human error, but I do my best. ;)
Contents:
July 2nd & July 3rd Events
MIRA MESA - Hourglass Field Comm Park
💥 Sun 7/2 at 9pm. Cost? 4-9:30pm is a community picnic. Cost?📍 10440 Black Mountain Rd., San Diego, CA 92126 💻 website
MISSION BAY - Yacht Club
💥 Mon 7/3 at 9pm. Free. Tune your radio to @bigfmsd. BYO blankets & lawn chairs to watch from all around Mission Bay. The best views are from Santa Clara Point to Fanuel Street Park and along Rivera Drive, the shoreline with a view of Sail Bay will offer the most ideal views of the show. (see map online linked below). The Bahia Belle Sternwheeler is offering firework viewing cruises from $35-$45/pp.📍 1215 El Carmel Pl., San Diego, CA 92109 💻 website
MISSION BAY - SeaWorld
💥 Mon 7/3 at 10pm. Cost: admission OR watch nearby for free (hint: Fiesta Island ;). 🏤 Possible hotel views from: San Diego Mission Bay Resort, The Dana, The Bahia Resort, Paradise Point Resort, Catamaran Resort & Spa, Holiday Inn Express San Diego SeaWorld, Fairfield Inn & Suites Pacific Beach (ask before booking if there are firework viewing rooms).📍 SeaWorld: 500 SeaWorld Dr., San Diego, CA 92109 Fiesta Island: 1590 E Mission Bay Dr., San Diego, CA 92109 💻 website
DEL MAR BEACH (Military Only)
💥 Mon 7/3 at 9pm. Cost? July 1-4 fun events all weekend. The Family Fun Zone is open 10am-3pm on Mon, July 3 and Tue, July 4. Live music will be provided by a DJ at the Del Mar Beach Stage from 4pm-7pm on July 3.📍 Bldg 2101841, 12th St, Oceanside, CA 92058 💻 website
OCEANSIDE - SoCal Sports Complex
💥 Mon 7/3 at 9pm. Free admission, $12/parking. Family fun zone, inflatables, entertainment, food trucks, 5:30-9p.📍 3302 Senior Center Dr., Oceanside, CA 92056 💻 website
Central San Diego, 7/4
SAN DIEGO - "Big Bay Boom"
💥 9pm. Free. Tune your radio to 101.5 KGB or watch at home on Fox 5. 4 barges will shoot off fireworks at various locations around the bay. BYO blankets & lawn chairs to watch from all around the Big Bay. These locations are best viewed from: Shelter Island, Harbor Island, North Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Marina District, Coronado Ferry Landing or take your Boat out on the water.
(I've heard that Seaport Village is the best location for access and leaving. I'd personally avoid Shelter & Harbor Islands because we got stuck in the parking lot for an hour one year trying to leave, never again unless you're staying at a hotel you can walk to.)
🏤 Possible hotel views from: there are lots! Look at the map of the San Diego Bay and search for the hotels all around, (ask before booking if there are firework viewing rooms).
👉 Get tickets to the Rady Shell 4th of July concert C&C Music Factory & DJ Prince Hakim (below) then watch the fireworks after the show.
📍 San Diego Bay 💻 website
SEAPORT VILLAGE/CONVENTION CENTER - Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
7pm. Cost: tickets. Dance to C&C Music Factory and DJ Prince Hakim at the Rady Shell and after the concert stay for the San Diego Big Bay Boom (above) viewable from The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.📍 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego, CA 92101 💻 website
MISSION BAY - SeaWorld
💥 9:30pm. Cost: admission OR watch nearby for free (hint: Fiesta Island ;). 🏤 Possible hotel views from: San Diego Mission Bay Resort, The Dana, The Bahia Resort, Paradise Point Resort, Catamaran Resort & Spa, Holiday Inn Express San Diego SeaWorld, Fairfield Inn & Suites Pacific Beach (ask before booking if there are firework viewing rooms).📍 SeaWorld: 500 SeaWorld Dr., San Diego, CA 92109 Fiesta Island: 1590 E Mission Bay Dr., San Diego, CA 92109 💻 website
OLD TOWN
11am-3pm. Free. Celebrate like the early San Diego settlers did in the 1800s with games, crafts & live music from Big Mountain Blue Grass Band.📍 4002 Wallace St., San Diego, CA 92110 💻 website
LA JOLLA Shores - Drone Show
👾 8:45pm. Free. 🏤 Possible hotel views from La Jolla Shores Hotel.📍 Kellogg Park: 8277 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, CA 92037 💻 website
OB PIER - Drone Show
👾 9:05pm, pre-show at 8:45pm. Free.📍 5091 Niagara Ave., San Diego, CA 92107 💻 website
North County - Coastal, 7/4
ANAHEIM - Disneyland
💥 9:30pm. Cost: admission OR watch from your nearby hotel room. 🏤 Possible hotel viewing from: Anaheim Marriott, Hilton Anaheim, JW Marriott, The Viv Hotel, The Westin Anaheim Resort (ask when booking if there are room with firework views).📍 1567 Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92802 💻 website
CARLSBAD - Legoland
💥 8:30pm, pre-show fun at 7:45pm. Cost: admission. Families can enjoy special limited-time treats, fun lawn activities, and DJ dance parties that will have everyone on their feet. End the night with an unforgettable fireworks display that explodes into 3D LEGO® bricks right before your eyes with special viewing glasses!
🏤 Possible hotel viewing from: Legoland Hotels, The Westin Carlsbad, Sheraton Carlsbad, The Cassara Carlsbad, Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach, Carlsbad By The Sea Hotel (ask when booking if there are room with firework views).
📍 One Legoland Dr., Carlsbad, CA 92008 💻 website
DEL MAR - Fairgrounds
💥 9pm. Cost: admission, extra cost for reserved grandstand seating. 🎡 Spend the day at the fair! Hrs: 11a-10p. 🏤 Possible hotel viewing from Hilton San Diego/Del Mar. 📍 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014 💻 website
North County - Inland, 7/4
TEMECULA - Ronald Reagan Sports Park
💥 9pm. Free. 🎉 Afternoon fun from 2-9pm. Food vendors and kids fun zone, entertainment, CRC Pool is open from 11am-3pm. 🏤 Possible hotel viewing from Embassy Suites by Hilton Temecula.📍 30875 Rancho Vista Rd., Temecula, CA 92592 💻 website
TEMECULA - Old Town
💃 10am Parade. 📍 Starts at the intersection of Old Town Front & 2nd Streets. 💻 website
VISTA - Brengle Terrace Park
💥 9pm. Free at Brengle Terrace Park, $5 at Moonlight Amphitheater (rsvp). Evening events run from 5-10pm. 📍 1200 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista, CA 92084. 💻 website
SAN MARCOS - Bradley Park
💥 9pm. Free. One of the most spirited 4th of July Celebrations in North County. This year’s festivities will include live musical performance by 80s cover band BetaMAXX at 5 p.m., carnival games, jumpers and on-site food sales. Guests should plan to bring beach chairs or blankets for lawn seating.
The fireworks display is fully funded by charitable donations. Please visit, https://gofund.me/b1494984 📍 1587 Linda Vista Dr., San Marcos, California92078 💻 website
ESCONDIDO - Grape Day Park
💥 9pm. Free. Play at the unique grape & vineyard-themed playground, brings blankets or chairs and some drinks or snacks to watch the fireworks.📍 321 N. Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025 💻 website
RANCHO BERNARDO High School - at Webb Lake
💥 9pm. $10-$20 donation. 💃 3:30pm Parade. 🎉 9a-9pm Events occur throughout the day and include: children's activities, crafts, community information booths, food booths & food trucks, Wheels of Freedom Motor Show, parade and evening live entertainment & music. 🏤 Possible hotel viewing from Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Rancho Bernardo.📍 11666 Avena Pl., San Diego, CA 92128 💻 website
POWAY High School
💥 9pm. Cost: $5 ages 12+, free under 12. Enjoy two spectacular firework shows as they light up the sky over the Poway High School Stadium and Poway Sportsplex at 9:00pm. Gates at Poway High School open at 6:00pm for games, activities, and a DJ spinning the tunes. No registration is required, please pay at the gate. Children ages 11 and under are free with a paid adult admission ($5). Please arrive early to allow plenty of time for parking.📍 15500 Espola Rd., Poway, CA 92064 💻 website 🅿️ parking map
Fireworks will also be set off over Poway Sportsplex (12349 McIvers Court). The Poway Sportsplex will not be open to view the fireworks.
Lake Poway is open to the public on July 4 and will stay open as a viewing area for the fireworks at the high school. Please be aware that viewing is limited from the lake this year as the ballfield is closed as part of the water infrastructure capital improvement program. Parking is $10 for non-residents. Residents and active military members (with ID) are free.
POWAY - Old Poway Park
10am-4pm. Free. 🎉 10a-4p All day family events. Old-fashioned family fun, free children's crafts, train displays, and old-fashioned games. Tasty treats and train rides will be available for a nominal fee. 📍 14134 Midland Rd., Poway, CA 92064 💻 website
East County, 7/4
LA MESA - Lake Murray
💥 9pm. Free. 🎉 11a-9p All day fun! Join us for a July 4th celebration to include a day of food, fun, bands, and fireworks. Fireworks will be launched at Lake Murray, and can be seen from anywhere you can see the lake. The music fest will be held on the San Carlos side of the lake at the Lake Murray Playground, but the La Mesa side will also be open throughout the day and evening for fireworks viewing.📍 7001 Murray Park Dr., La Mesa, CA 92119 💻 website
SANTEE - Town Center Comm Park East
💥 9pm. Free admission, $10/parking (advance purchase required). 🎉 2-10pm Santee Salutes all day celebration with music and food vendors. 📍 550 Park Center Dr., Santee, CA 💻 website
EL CAJON - Kennedy Park
💥 9pm. Free. Family activities and live bands.📍 1675 E Madison Ave., El Cajon, CA 92109 💻 website
RAMONA - Olive Pierce Middle School
💥 9pm. Free?/donation? 4-9pm BYO Family picnic on the lawn before the show. There will be food vendors, face painting, cornhole, carnival games and a live DJ (DJ Weber). NO alcohol is allowed.📍 1521 Hanson Lane, Ramona, CA 92065. 💻 website
JULIAN - Main Street
10am. Free. Parade starts at noon. The parade includes antique cars, vintage tractors, belly dancers, World War 2 Submariners, car clubs, beautiful horses and a variety of entries to complete a fun well rounded hometown parade.📍 2119 Main St., Julian, CA 92036. 💻 website
South County, 7/4
CORONADO - Spreckels Park
7:30a-9p. Free. All day events, parade at 10a from Orange Ave. from 1st St. to Churchill Pl. 7:30am-10am Pre-parade entertainment at each of the announcer stations on the parade route. Features MCs, music, dancing, plus chalk and other festive giveaways for kids. 10am-12pm Parade. 2pm Navy Leap Frogs Aerial demonstration. 3pm Kids Concert (at Coronado Golf Course 14th Fairway), 4-9 live bands. See schedule and locations online.📍 Spreckels Park: 601 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118. 📍 Coronado Golf Course: 2000 Visalia Row, Coronado, CA 92118 💻 website
CORONADO - Glorietta Bay
💥 9pm. Free. There are lots of great viewing areas around Glorietta Bay, including the golf course and all around the bay to Glorietta Bay Park with a kids playground. 🏤 Hotel viewing from Glorietta Bay Inn.📍 Glorietta Bay Park: 1975 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92155 💻 website
IMPERIAL BEACH - Pier
💥 9pm. Free. Tune your radio to 96.5 KYXY.📍 910 Seacoast Dr., Imperial Beach, CA 91932 💻 website
OTAY - Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
💥 9pm. Free. Possible viewing spots nearby: Mountain Hawk Park (has a playground & splash pad), Otay Lakes County Park (entrance fee), Otay Boat Rentals & Concession (these might be closed, check online or call them prior to making plans).📍 2800 Olympic Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91915 💻 website
💥 HAVE FUN! 💥
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