Star-Spangled Fireworks, Sousa Marches to Light Up July 4 Festivities

The following is a list of Independence Day weekend activities throughout the county, including everything from athletic exploits to bikini contests and, of course, dozens of fireworks displays. Everything listed will occur Monday unless otherwise noted.

Balboa Park: There will be two concerts of patriotic music at 2 p.m. Sunday: Organist Robert Plimpton will perform at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot band will play on the stage of the House of Pacific Relations, followed by an open house in the U.S. Cottage.

Carlsbad: The Batiquitos Orchestra, directed by Matthew Garbutt, will present a program titled “Red, White and Rhapsody in Blue” at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Sammis Pavilion, 285 Winrose Circle, followed by fireworks. On the 4th of July there will be fireworks at Tamarack Beach at 9 p.m.

Chula Vista: Fireworks will be launched from a barge in the bay across from the Chula Vista Marina on July 4th at 9 p.m. A shuttle bus will run from the H Street and the Palomar trolley stations to the bayfront from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Coronado: A half-marathon run will start at 6:30 a.m., and a two-mile Fun Run/Walk at 6:45 a.m., both from 7th Street and G Avenue. Registration begins at 5 a.m. A two-hour parade with the theme “America’s Historical Landmarks” will begin along Orange Avenue at 10 a.m. At 1 p.m. Coronado’s 30th annual rough-water swim will take place in the water off North Beach. There will be a Navy air and sea demonstration in and over Glorietta Bay at 2 p.m., including parachutists, helicopter and boat operations, and Navy SEAL divers. Phil Andreen and the Crown City Dixieland Band will perform in Spreckels Park at 4:30 p.m., and the 40th annual Coronado fireworks display will take place over Glorietta Bay at 9 p.m.

Del Mar Fair: The final day of the fair will feature concerts by Johnny Cash on the Grandstand Stage at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Twenty-five hot air balloons will be launched from the grandstand infield at 7 p.m., before the last concert, and fireworks will follow the show.

El Cajon: The El Cajon Firefighters Assn. will sponsor a picnic with games, live entertainment, helicopter landings and refreshment booths, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Kennedy Park. There will be a fireworks display at 9 p.m. at Granite Hills High School.

La Jolla: There will be fireworks over La Jolla Cove at 9 p.m.

La Mesa: A Navy band will play patriotic marches and big band tunes in La Mesita Park at 3 p.m.

Mira Mesa: The Independence Day Music Festival and Square Dance will take place Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Canyonside Park on Black Mountain Road, followed by a light show. On the 4th of July a parade will start at Mira Mesa Boulevard and Greenford Street at 11 a.m. There will be games, booths and entertainment all day at the Gil Johnson Recreation Center on New Salem Street, and fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. at Mira Mesa High School.

Mission Beach: The Save the Coaster Committee will be host to a birthday party for the Giant Dipper roller coaster at Belmont Park, which officially opened to the public on July 4, 1926. The festivities will start at 11 a.m. with a “Ms. and Mr. Coaster Curves” contest, a “scariest coaster stories” contest will be held at 12:30 p.m., a “male hairy legs contest” at 2:45 p.m., the “male and female tan line contests” at 1 p.m., a “best lift hill screams” competition at 3:30 p.m., a bikini contest at 4 p.m., and local magician Loch David Crane will perform a straitjacket escape at 5 p.m. Roads leading to the beach will be closed between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; the San Diego Transit Sun Runner trolley will run between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., stopping at every bus stop on Garnet Avenue and Mission Boulevard, for 25 cents a ride.

National City: The Lions Club annual 4th of July celebration, with booths, rides and games, will take place in Kimball Park all weekend. There will be a fireworks display on the 4th of July at 10 p.m. at Kimball Park.

Ocean Beach: Fireworks will start at 9 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Pier.

Oceanside: The 1st Marine Division Band from Camp Pendleton will perform in the waterfront band shell just south of the pier at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. over the pier.

Old Town: There will be a parade and flag-raising ceremony in Old Town’s State Historic Park at 11 a.m. Soldiers, sailors, Scouts and infantrymen, all authentically dressed in uniforms of the 1800s, will be on hand along with displays and demonstrations of antique military equipment. In Heritage Park, turn-of-the-century San Diego will be the theme, with music, costumes and an antique car showing. There will be an old-fashioned “Country Fair” on San Diego Avenue, featuring an “American Beauty” baby contest, a pie-baking contest, photos with “Uncle Sam”, music, activities, games and prizes. At the Theatre in Old Town, the USIU International Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m.

Rancho Bernardo: The 19th annual Rancho Bernardo 4th of July celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Del Webb Park, with booths, games, and music. There will be a community parade at 2:30 p.m. on Lomica Drive.

Rancho Santa Fe: Festivities will include a parade, a community barbecue, and a concert on the green by the Coastal Communities Civic Band at 1 p.m.

San Diego Harbor Excursion: There will be a dinner-dance party cruise on board the Victorian stern-wheeler The Monterey to watch the fireworks on Glorietta Bay. The cruise costs $39.95 a person and boards at 7 p.m. Another cruise aboard The Cabrillo boards at 8 p.m., for $10 a person. Both depart from the Bay Cafe at the foot of Broadway.

San Diego Symphony Orchestra Summer Pops: A Saturday evening program , “America the Beautiful,” conducted by Walter Noona, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. at Hospitality Point, Mission Bay, followed by fireworks.

San Marcos: Festivities at Bradley Park include an all-day, over-the-line tournament beginning at 8 a.m., children’s games and food and drink concessions from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., a mounted color guard presentation at 6 p.m., live music at 7:30 p.m., and a fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Santee: There will be fireworks at 9 p.m. at the ballpark at Mission Gorge Road and Cuyamaca Street.

Scripps Ranch: The 11th annual 10-kilometer run and two-mile Fun Run will start at 7 a.m. at Scripps-Miramar School on Red Cedar Drive; registration begins at 6 a.m. There will also be two bike rides: a 50-mile round-trip course around North County beginning at 7 a.m., and a 10-mile Fun Ride starting at 8 a.m., which will go around Miramar Lake. A parade will start at 10 a.m. at Ironwood Street and Red Cedar Drive. The Scripps Ranch Civic Assn. will host a community picnic at 11 a.m. at Hoyt Park.

Sea World: Fireworks over Mission Bay will take place at 9 p.m., synchronized to music from radio station KKLQ, FM 106.5 and AM 600.

Vista: The 4th of July celebration at Brengle Terrace Park will start with an over-the-line tournament at 8 a.m. There will be a picnic and games at 2 p.m., sky divers and live music at 4:30 p.m., a fund-raising dinner for $25 a person at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m., followed by a dance in the park.