Festivals, fireworks to feature in local July 4 celebrations

As local communities prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks and activities ranging from parades to car shows, The Daily compiled a brief preview of the day’s prospective highlights.

Palo Alto: Just a short walk from campus, Palo Alto will host its 32nd Annual Summer Festival and Chili Cook Off at Mitchell Park today. Festivities and live music begin at noon, while chili tasting starts at 1:30 p.m.

Menlo Park will celebrate Independence Day with a parade starting at 11:45 a.m. on the corner of Santa Cruz Avenue and Chestnut Street. Music, face painting, rock wall climbing and laser tag are among the planned activities.

Mountain View: Integral to celebrating the Fourth of July, of course, are fireworks. Mountain View will host the San Francisco Symphony at the Shoreline Amphitheater for the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular today. The music will start at 8 p.m. and the fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. or by complete darkness.

Redwood City will offer an early start to the holiday, with a festival and car show opening at 9 a.m. The city’s parade starts at 10 a.m. but programming continues through a fireworks show off the Port of Redwood City that will start around 9:30 p.m.

Great America will host extended Independence Day celebrations this year, showing fireworks on July 5 and 6 and offering free admission and discounted guest passes for veterans over the Independence Day weekend.

San Jose will host its annual Rose, White and Blue Parade and Festival starting at 10 a.m., featuring floats, dancers, live bands, antique cars and more. A subsequent picnic at The Alameda will feature live music and food and drink from local restaurants, while the Santana Row shopping center will host a Summer Block Party.

San Francisco’s Pier 39 will offer music, food and activities all day starting at noon noon, culminating in a fireworks show that will begin around 9:30 p.m. just off the harbor.