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4th of July 2025 Celebrations
July 3 @ 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
4th of July 2025 Celebrations: Friday, July 4 unless otherwise noted
We celebrate America’s Independence Day and all the freedoms we are privileged to enjoy! Find the perfect 4th of July Celebration for your family in Santa Cruz County and nearby.
Abbott Square 4th of July Festival – Friday 8am – 8pm, It’s a come-and-go-as-you-please kind of day with something for everyone—great food, live music, cool cars, zany party games for the kids like oversized horseshoes and spin art you can take home, and the unbeatable energy of downtown Santa Cruz in summer. Abbott Square and Cooper Street in Downtown Santa Cruz, Details
Alba School House – Friday 11am-3pm, The Alba Road community has been coming together to celebrate the Fourth of July since 1895. Please join us for our 130th Fourth of July Celebration! Please consider attending and donating. It will be super fun! Join us as we start a new journey to rebuild! 12070 Alba Rd, Ben Lomond, Details
Aptos World’s Shortest 4th of July Parade – Friday 10am. Come early. Roads close at 9:30am. Theme: Honor Our Parks!
Aptos Party in the Park – 12-4pm at the Aptos Village Park, Come check out our awesome craft vendors, awesome food and refreshing beverages and fun-filled kids zone. Family-friendly! Bring your lawn chairs and family, Details
Boulder Creek 4th of July Pancake Breakfast – 7am-12pm or while supplies last, Come join us for a breakfast full of pancakes, eggs, sausage or bacon and fruit. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 3-12 years old. All money raised goes towards the purchase of medical and rescue equipment, Details
Boulder Creek 4th of July Parade – July 4, 10am, We are excited to partner this year with the Boulder Creek Business Associationto bring this town an entire day of fun on the 4th of July. “Get to town early to secure a good spot to view the parade. “During the parade and continuing until 2 pm, the community is invited to a vibrant community block party on Forest Street by the Odd Fellows building with local vendors and purveyors of tasty treats! At noon, live music will get your feet dancing! There will also be vendors and merchants setting up booths and sales along the highway just after the parade procession is done. Boulder Creek Business Association
Boulder Creek After Party at Junction Park is free to attend, 12-5pm; Music, beer, wine, cider & food is for sale. Kids activities, including panning for gold is $5 each 12pm-3pm ONLY. Details
Firecracker Race – Friday, July 4, Kids 1K 8am; 10K 8:30am; 5K 8:40am, The Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise is ecstatic to announce that our full Firecracker race is back for 2025. That means all three courses will be available: 10K, 5K, and a Kid’s 1K Fun Run will be hosted at Harvey West Park. Its all here and waiting for just for you! The race is always held on July 4th in the morning! What a great way to kick off a holiday celebration of our nation’s Independence Day. All the Details
Gilroy Fireworks Show – Friday, approximately 9:30pm, One of the safest ways to celebrate the 4th of July and enjoy fireworks is through Gilroy’s annual fireworks show. The show will take place, with the fireworks beginning around dusk at approximately 9:30 PM and originating from Gilroy High School located at 750 W 10th Street. Fireworks can be viewed from nearby neighborhoods and at Christmas Hill Park. Residents are encouraged to avoid the traffic by walking or biking to see the show. Details
Half Moon Bay Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade, Block Party & Festival – Let the good times roll! With 2025 marking it’s 54th rendition, Half Moon Bay’s beloved Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade along with a Pancake Breakfast, Block Party & Festival takes over Main Street, transforming the charming downtown into a festive Red, White and Blue celebration. The parade starts at 12 noon and lasts approximately 90 minutes. 500 Main St. https://sf.funcheap.com/4th-july-small-town-parade-moon-bay/
Los Gatos 4th of July Symphony in the Park – Friday, 10am – 1pm, The Town of los Gatos presents: 4th of July – Symphony in the Park! Oak Meadow Park, Enjoy Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Carousel, Inflatables, Food Trucks, Beer & Wine Garden, and More!!
Schedule of Events: 10am – 10:30am – Town Council Welcome, Veterans Memorial & Support, Foundation Speaker, Raising of the Flag Ceremony and National Anthem, Children’s Bike & Stroller Parade, 11am –1pm, San Jose Wind Symphony, Details
Morgan Hill Freedom Fest – Thursday & Friday, July 3 & 4, See each event for times, Our vision is for everyone to enjoy the July 4th traditions that have been a part of Morgan Hill since 1876 and to continue that tradition long into the future. Freedom Fest was founded and continues to operate on the core value that everyone has the right to celebrate the birth of this country.
Morgan Hill Freedom Fest, July 3 & 4
Patriotic Sing, July 3, 6pm
Family Music Fest, July 3, 6pm
Freedom Run 5K, 1K, July 4, 7:30am
Cruise and Car Show Check website.
Parade, July 4, 10am, July 4, 9pm
Fireworks on the Green, July 4, 9pm
Youth Essay Contest, Due April 1
Half Moon Bay 4th of July
4th of July Pancake Breakfast, 8 – 11:30am, Enjoy a 4th of July pancake breakfast tradition of sausage, pancakes and orange juice. Details
Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade, 12 noon, Main Street, 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 mischievious Pumpkin Festival mascot “Gourdy”, a Color Guard by the American Legion slowly winding their way through the crowded downtown.. Details
I.D.E.S. 4th of July Festival, 10am – 4pm Mural Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2:15pm, Live Music, Festive Food including “Chamarita” Beef & Linguisa Sandwiches & Hot Dogs, Frosty Treats including Root Beer Floats, Beverages including Beer, Wine & Soft Drinks, 20+ Local Artisans displaying their wares, Kids Corner with activities including a dime toss game, Jump Houses, Face Painting & Henna Tattoos, Tons of Fun for the Family! Details
Roaring Camp Railroads. July 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
Scotts Valley 4th of July Parade and Flyover 11am; Kids Zone & Post Parade Party 9am-3pm with Music by Anthony Arya & Band, Bounce Houses, Food Trucks, Beer Garden.
Scotts Valley July Parade & Flyover 11am, Please join us for 4th of July Parade and Flyover on Scotts Valley Drive! Parade: Parade Check-In starts at 10:00 AM on Carbonero Way; Parade starts at 12:00 PM! ADA Parking and Viewing is located at 5007 Scotts Valley Dr. New extended route (Civic Dr. to El Pueblo); New this year! 10 – 11:45am; “New FREE Kids Zone” Boys and Girls Club & Scotts Valley Recreation are hosting a “FREE kids Zone” games, activities and food trucks before the parade and until 3pm! Be sure to stop at the Boys & Girls Club (5060 Scotts Valley Dr.). https://www.scottsvalley.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=192
Simpkins Pool – Join us for FREE Recreation Swim, Friday, 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
Spirit of Watsonville 4th of July Parade, Thursday, July 4, 12:30pm, 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
Spreckels 4th of July, 2025 is cancelled.
Wilder Ranch State Park July 4, 1 – 6pm, 1401 Coast Road, Santa CruzAll 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
However you chose to celebrate, please remember to stay safe, pack your trash, and DO NOT use fireworks. All fireworks are prohibited in the City of Santa Cruz, even “safe and sane.” And from July 4 – 7, the City of Santa Cruz will implement a Safety Enhancement Zone where violators will be subject to triple fines. For more information, please see this message from the Santa Cruz Police Department.
