4th of July 2023 Celebrations

4th of July 2023 Celebrations

Find the perfect 4th of July Celebration for your family in Santa Cruz County and nearby.

Aptos World’s Shortest 4th of July Parade – Tuesday, July 4, 10am. Come early. Roads close at 9:30am. Theme: Honor Our Parks! Come check out our awesome vendors at the 4th of July Party in the Park from 12-4 at the Aptos Village Park! Bring your lawn chairs and family down to the Party in the Park this 4th of July!

Boulder Creek 4th of July Parade – July 4, 10am, The cherished Boulder Creek 4th of July Parade fills the streets of Historic Boulder Creek Business Association cavalcade of mountain personalities. Stake out the perfect viewpoint along the route or participate with your organization, business, nonprofit, or dance group! The sky’s the limit as long as it’s family friendly and fun. Boulder Creek has held a July 4th parade for generations! This year we are expanding the parade by adding a block party with vendors and a band right after the parade procession has ended. We invite you to visit the vendor booths, check out local shops, and enjoy all of the events happening throughout the day! The Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department will kick off the day early with their famous pancake breakfast. The parade begins at 10:00 am. When the parade procession ends, the block party begins! The highway will remain closed until 2:00 pm, allowing folks to safely wander through vendor tables and dance to the band at the grandstand. The Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District will be hosting their annual BBQ at Junction Park, too, with even more vendors, music, food and fun! It’ll be a day to remember! Invite your friends and family from outside the area to join you – they won’t want to miss the true small mountain town spirit!

Simpkins Pool – Join us for FREE Recreation Swim, Tuesday, July 4th from 12:30-4pm. First come, first served! Únase a nosotros para la natación recreativa GRATIS, el martes 4 de julio de 12:30 a 4:00 p. m. Primero llegado, primero servido. https://www.facebook.com/SimpkinsFamilySwimCenter

The Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise is ecstatic to announce that the 38th edition of the Firecracker Race is back for 2023.  That means all three courses will be available – 10K, 5K, and a Kid’s 1K Fun Run – and hosted at Harvey West Park. The race is always held in the morning!  What a great way to kick off a holiday celebration of our nation’s Independence Day. Runners on the 10K will be treated to the challenging “Thrill of the Hill” in Pogonip Park before topping out on the Spring Trail that winds through the beautiful meadow by UCSC before dropping down into the neighborhoods before returning to Harvey West Park.  5K Runners will face a flat and fast course contained completely in the Harvey West Business Park Area.  The 5K course is Stroller, ADA and Wheelchair accessible. Everyone ends up in beautiful Harvey West Park for great music, post-race burritos and awards.  You don’t want to miss this! https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/SantaCruz/SantaCruzFIrecracker10Kand5K

Spirit of Watsonville 4th of July Parade, Tuesday, July 4, 12pm, The Spirit of Watsonville 4th of July parade proceeds down Main St. from St. Patrick’s Church to First Street. Thousands of spectators line the route five to six people deep. Those wanting a front row seat, place their chairs along the route early in the morning of the parade date. Those interested in participating in the parade should submit an entry form soon after they are made available. https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/1124/Spirit-of-Watsonville-4th-of-July-Parade

Saratoga July 4th Celebrations:- Tuesday, July 4, 12:30pm, McCartysville Band Patriotic Concert & Family, Kevin Moran Park, 12415 Scully Ave., Saratoga,  An all-volunteer event first organized in 2003, the Saratoga July 4th program is an annual, old-fashioned Independence Day celebration honoring our nation’s birthday with a patriotic family program intended to unite our diverse community, and to remind us of our founders and freedoms. “Bring the family to a free concert of patriotic tunes performed by the McCartysville Volunteer Band. “Be part of the celebrations by dressing up as a historic character.

Morgan Hill Freedom Fest – A Star Spangled Celebration!” Patriotic Sing & Family Music Fest Freedom Fest Morgan Hill July 3^rd, 10:30pm, Downtown Morgan Hill between Main Street and Dunne Street, Come out and join the Family Music Fest on Monterey Road between Dunne and Main Avenue. Come join our community for a relaxing fun-filled evening to begin our holiday celebration. This includes three music stages, over a dozen food trucks and new this year a kids’ zone which will include bounce houses, chalk zones and lawn games. https://morganhillfreedomfest.com/family-music-fest
Main Stage – West 4th Street and Monterey Road

6:00 pm VFW Honor Color Guard and Pledge of Allegiance
6:05 pm National Anthem sung by Alison Turner
6:10 – 6:30 pm Alison Turner
6:40 – 7:15 pm The Usual Suspects
7:15 – 7:30 pm Patriotic Singers
7:30 – 10PM pm The Usual Suspects

3rd Street Stage – East 3rd and Monterey Road
6:30 – 9:30 pm Dance with DJ D-RAM

5th Street Stage
6:30 – 9:30 pm The Country Cougars

Morgan Freedom Fest Walk/Run/Roll & Kids’ Run: Kids’ 1 Mile 7:45 a.m.; 5K Walk/Run – Tuesday, July 4, 10am – 2pm, Corner of Peak and Dunne, FINISH – 17575 Peak Ave,
“Ready to lace up your athletic shoes and be ready for a 1 mile or 5k run/walk/roll. Participants will get a free race shirt if registered early, treats after the run and the thrill of running the parade route with music on all streets and cheering crowds. https://morganhillfreedomfest.com/freedom-run

Morgan Freedom Fest Parade: Tuesday, July 4, 10am, Downtown – Come see the 147th consecutive Morgan Hill July 4th Parade going through beautiful Morgan Hill.  With over 9 marching bands, 4 equestrian groups, a dozen floats, special surprise entries and of course the sweet ending of a popsicle for all the kids; this will be the most interactive and exciting parade yet. Also new this year is food booths along the parade route from local Morgan Hill Restaurants.  https://morganhillfreedomfest.com/parade

“Parking is $10 and must be purchased in advance from MorganHillFreedomFest.com.”

Morgan Hill Freedom Fest Entertainment on the Green: July 4, 3pm, Live music starts 5pm, https://morganhillfreedomfest.com/fireworks
Gates open at 3pm for a full day of food, fun and music. We are excited to have three acts in our line-up this year. The Hitmen will be joining Arena and our beloved Patriotic Singers! The show begins at 5:30pm and goes through until the fireworks start at 9:30pm. That’s over three hours of live music!
We open with Arena performing arena rock classics and R&B dance music from the 70’s to today’s latest hits—older songs that are already classics and new ones that will be—all presented with extremely strong vocals, excellent instrumental skills and dynamic stage presence. Following Arena, we will conduct our annual, Gizdich Ranch pie eating contest (thank you Gizdich Family!!). If you have someone in your group that would like to gorge themselves by trying to beat eleven others eating a pie without the aid of their hands then be one of the first twelve people to sign up for the contest at our Independence Day Celebrations, Inc. headquarters table.
Of course, no Fireworks on the Green festival and show would be complete without the Patriotic Singers. Karen Crane and the Patriotic Singers make a return appearance to give everyone a chance to catch a glimpse of the wonderful program they performed the night before, kicking off our Freedom Fest celebration. Then, The Hitmen will take the stage. They’re funky, soulful and will leave you in a cold sweat. They have been performing together for more than 20 years and their tight-knit group consistently delivers high-energy dance music to audiences at public and private functions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Finally, we will finish off the evening with our fireworks display…BOOM!!

Scotts Valley July Parade & Flyover, Tuesday, July 4, 1pm, Independence Day Parade, Flyover, No Fireworks this year, Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA, https://www.scottsvalley.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=192

Roaring Camp Railroads. July 2-4, This Fourth of July, take either the Redwood Forest Steam Train or the Santa Cruz Beach Train. Join us in the Town of Roaring Camp for family-friendly activities, Live Music, Kids Club Activities, Chuckwagon BBQ, https://www.roaringcamp.com/events

Red, White and Blue Block Party, Main Street, Half Moon Bay – Monday, July 4, 12pm –  ‘Ol Fashioned July 4th
Pancake breakfast: 8 a.m. – 12pm City Hall parking lot, 501 Main St, The Half Moon Bay Lions Club will be hosting its annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast in the City Hall parking lot (501 Main Street) from 8am to 12pm. Adding to the festivities are the Red, White and Blue Block Party with Libations tent selling wine and beer hosted by the Chamber of Commerce plus the IDES 4th of July Fest
Parade: 12 p.m. Main Street, Let the good times roll! This year marking it’s 52nd rendition, Half Moon Bay’s beloved Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Block Party takes over Main Street, transforming the charming downtown into a festive Red, White and Blue celebration. A time-honored, home-spun tradition, the parade celebrates Independence Day in small town America with an entertaining array of whimsical floats, marching bands, horses, community service groups, classically cool cars, decorated trikes and bikes, parading pooches, youth sports teams, dance and theatre troupes, photos and fun with the delightfully rotund, playful and mischievous Pumpkin Festival mascot “Gourdy”, a Color Guard by the American Legion, and local dignitaries and celebrities slowly winding their way through the crowded downtown along Main Street between Filbert and Mill Streets. Honoring Half Moon Bay’s western heritage and always a parade highlight, there will be a large number of equine entries with prizes awarded in several categories. Half Moon Bay’s famous, 40-member strong “Sitting Marching Band” will be in their usual perch at Main and Kelly playing an array of patriotic ballads during the parade.

Los Gatos 4th of July Symphony in the Park, Monday, July 4, 11am -3:30pm,  Oak Meadow Park, San Jose Wind Symphony, Flag Raising Ceremony; Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Face Painting, Jump Houses & Inflatable Slide, Food Trucks, Beer & Wine Garden.  https://www.losgatosca.gov/339/4th-of-July-Symphony-in-the-Park

Wilder Ranch State Park July 4, 11am – 4pm, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz  All are welcome to join in an early 1900s-style Independence Day celebration! Join the parade through the ranch at high noon. Ongoing events include lawn games, and machine shop and blacksmith demos. There will be live music throughout the day, fresh baked goods and hand-cranked ice cream, living history demos, crafts, games, “The Star-Spangled Banner” sing-along, and more! Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.  Details

Gilroy Fireworks Show – Monday, July 4, approximately 9:30pm, Gilroy High School, 750 W 10th St., Gilroy, One of the safest ways to celebrate the 4th of July and enjoy fireworks is through Gilroy’s annual fireworks show.  Fireworks can be viewed from nearby neighborhoods and at Christmas Hill Park. https://www.cityofgilroy.org/910/Fireworks-Information

Spreckels 4th of July, 10am – 4pm, Join us for the return of the beloved Spreckels  4th of July event! We will have amazing food and craft vendors, a live band, our highlighted parade and a car show right at the park! Parade line up at the VFW hall 10-11:30am; Parade starts at Noon! Details