It’s a Weekend for Fireworks and Fair Skies

More than two dozen fireworks displays have been scheduled in the San Diego area for tonight, Friday and Saturday in celebration of Independence Day.

A rundown of the holiday festivities:

- There will be displays Friday at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium after the Padres baseball game and at Sea World at 9:30 p.m. The Sea World display will be preceded by the San Diego Chamber Orchestra playing a selection of patriotic music and a display of floating neon light sculptures. Admission to Sea World is $14.95 for adults and $10.95 for children. On Saturday, there will be another round of sparks and smoke at Sea World at 9:30 p.m., and at Seaport Village after a “Salute to Liberty” concert at 7:30 p.m. by the 22-piece Seaport Village Concert Band and the 200-voice Del Cerro Baptist Church Choir.

- In La Jolla on Friday there will be displays at the La Jolla Country Club and at La Jolla Cove, both at 9 p.m. The cove display, sponsored by local businessmen George Ellis and George Hauer, was revived last year after being dormant for more than a decade.

- In Rancho Bernardo, Fourth of July celebrations will kick off at 11:30 a.m. and stretch throughout the day, including musicians, dancing groups, a parade and beauty queens. A fireworks display will start at dusk in Rancho Bernardo Community Park, just west of Interstate 15.

- At Hospitality Point on Mission Bay, rockets will soar at 9 p.m. Friday after the San Diego Symphony Pops concerts. Another display will be fired simultaneously from the Mission Bay Yacht Club

In Chula Vista, there will be two displays Friday: at 9 p.m. at the San Diego Country Club and at dusk at the J Street Pier.

- Coronado will have two displays Friday: the first is at dusk at Glorietta Bay, followed by one at North Island at 10 p.m. Earlier at Glorietta Bay there will be a parade, rough water swim, and air and sea demonstrations by the Navy.

- In Escondido, the fireworks display will be at 8:45 tonight at Escondido High School.

- In Santee, fireworks will be Saturday at Santee Lakes at 8:30 p.m.

- At Imperial Beach, the festivities won’t be held until July 12 at 9 p.m. at the pier.

Other displays Friday night:

- Carlsbad: Plaza Camino Real shopping center at 9.

- Borrego Springs: La Casa del Zorro at dusk.

- Del Mar: Fairgrounds at 9.

- El Cajon: Granite Hills High School at 9.

- Lakeside: Rodeo Grounds at 8:30.

- Mira Mesa: Mira Mesa High School at 9.

- National City: Kimball Park at 10.

- Ocean Beach: on the pier at 9.

- Oceanside: at the pier at 9.

- San Marcos: Linda Visto Park at 9.

- Spring Valley: Spring Valley Park at 9.

- Vista: Brengle Terrace Park at 9. Earlier in the day there will be volleyball tournaments, games, music and food.

Capt. Al Macdonald of the San Diego Fire Department urged residents to attend public displays rather than try to light their own fireworks. All types of fireworks, including those labeled “safe and sane” are illegal in San Diego County, and police and fire officials will be patrolling all weekend to confiscate any fireworks they find.

“The use of fireworks is a misdemeanor carrying a mandatory court appearance and up to $500 in fines, and it is a law we mean to enforce,” Macdonald said.

Macdonald said that all show times are approximate, so onlookers may want to arrive early. “If they want to fire up early, we’re not going to stop them,” he said. “The only requirement is that it’s all over by 11 so people can get some sleep.”

DR, Los Angeles Times