San Gabriel Valley to Sparkle for Fourth of July

From small-town picnics and fairs to carnivals and, of course, fireworks shows, the San Gabriel Valley will sizzle with Fourth of July festivities Wednesday.

Pasadena’s AmericaFest, billed as the largest fireworks-based entertainment event west of the Mississippi River, will feature aerialists along with Roman candles in its 66th extravaganza at the Rose Bowl.

Choreographed fireworks also will go off at the Pomona Fairplex, where a chili cook-off and face painting will be part of the third annual Kaboom Celebration.

Revelers in the mood for sky divers or a demonstration of dogs retrieving Frisbees can head for the stadium at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. The city is jointly sponsoring the entertainment and a fireworks display with the West Covina Jaycees.

Youngsters in Arcadia will get to create their own patriotic messages July 5 in a drawing contest on the sidewalk. The city’s Recreation Department will be handing out colored chalk to children from the first to ninth grades at Arcadia’s 19th annual Independence Day Chalk-In on Baldwin Avenue at Duarte Road.

“They wear scruffy clothes and bring their rags,” said Laura Mitchell, a class coordinator in the Recreation Department. About 30 to 40 young artists are expected for the event, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m., she said.

Fireworks are prohibited in most of the San Gabriel Valley’s 29 cities as well as in unincorporated areas, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Pyrotechnics deemed “safe and sane” by the state fire marshal, such as sparklers and cones, are permitted in Alhambra, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte, El Monte, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, South El Monte, Temple City and Walnut.

In Duarte, fireworks are banned north of Royal Oaks Drive, except for Royal Oaks Park.

All events are July 4 and free unless otherwise indicated.

Alhambra

Carnival, fireworks; 2 to 10 p.m.; Almansor Park, 800 S. Almansor St.

Arcadia

Independence Day Chalk-In drawing contest for first- to ninth-graders; 1:30 p.m.; sidewalk corner of Baldwin Avenue and Duarte Road.

Baldwin Park

Fireworks; 8 p.m.; Sierra Vista High School, 3600 Frazier Ave.

Claremont

Carnival; 10 a.m.; Memorial Park, 840 N. Indian Hill Blvd.

Parade; 4 p.m. from Memorial Park to El Roble Junior High School, 665 N. Mountain Ave.

Fireworks; 6:30 p.m.; Pomona College Alumni Field, 228 E. 6th St. $4.

Covina

Carnival; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Covina Park, 4th Street and Badillo Avenue. The Covina Concert Band will perform at 8 p.m.

El Monte

Music, pony rides, fireworks; 6:30 p.m.; Arroyo High School, 4921 N. Cedar Ave.; adults $1, children 12 and under, 50 cents.

Fireworks; 9 p.m.; Mountain View High School, 2900 Parkway Ave.

Glendora

Carnival, fireworks; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m; Citrus College, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd.

Games, music; noon to 3 p.m.; Finkbiner (cq) Park, 159 N. Cullen Ave.

Irwindale

Fiesta with mariachi, Latin dance bands; 1 to 9 p.m.; 5050 N. Irwindale Ave.

La Puente

July 3. Fireworks, music; 5 p.m.; La Puente High School, 15615 E. Nelson Ave.

La Verne

Country Fair with food, games; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Las Flores Park, 3175 Bolling Ave.

Parade; 10 a.m.; from Las Flores Park through Old Town La Verne, returning to the park.

Fireworks, show; 7 p.m.; Bonita High School, 3102 D St.; adults $4, children 5 to 12 $3.

Monterey Park

Fireworks; 8:30 p.m.; Barnes Park, 320 W. Newmark Ave.

Pasadena

Fireworks, show; 5 p.m.; Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive; adults $12 to $16, children $6 to $8.

Union Brass Band; 1 to 3 p.m.; Heritage Square, 3800 Homer St.; adults $4.50, seniors and youths 12 to 17 $3.

Pomona

Carnival, fireworks; 3 p.m.; Fairplex Park, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.; adults $5, children 5 to 12 $3.

Rosemead

Baby contest; 9 a.m.; Rosemead Park, 4343 Encinita Ave.

Carnival, rides; noon to 10 p.m.; Rosemead Park, 4343 Encinita Ave.

San Marino

Parade; 5 p.m.; from Huntington Drive and San Marino Avenue to Lacey Park, 1485 Virginia Road. Music starts in park at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.

Sierra Madre

Parade; 10 a.m.; from Sierra Madre Boulevard and Sunnyside Avenue to Sierra Vista Park, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Picnic, music; noon; Memorial Park, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

South El Monte

Contests, music; 4 p.m.; New Temple Park 1450 Lidcombe Ave., fireworks at 9 p.m.

South Pasadena

Parade, carnival; 10:30 a.m. east on Mission Street from Meridian Avenue to Garfield Park, Mission Street and Marengo Avenue.

Fireworks; 9 p.m.; South Pasadena High School, 1401 Fremont Ave. $3.

Temple City

Picnic, games; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Live Oak Park, 10144 Bogue St.

Walnut

Fireworks, show with sky divers; 5 p.m,; Mt. San Antonio College, 1100 N. Grand Ave.; adults $7, seniors and children 6 to 14 $3.