Seeing the Lights

The sky will be aglow Friday night with fireworks, following a day packed with Fourth of July festivities around the Southland. Here is just a sample of the Independence Day celebrations, ranging from community picnics to pyrotechnic extravaganzas. Consult your local fire department for information on other fireworks displays, then grab a blanket, a picnic basket and prepare to watch the sparks fly.

What’s more American than baseball? Fireworks and baseball, following the Angels-Seattle Mariners game in Anaheim. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Anaheim Stadium, 2000 Gene Autry Way. Only $7-$8 seats remain. (714) 634-2000

Beverly Hills’ Fourth of July festivities include family games and entertainment in Roxbury Park, 471 S. Roxbury Drive, 1-4 p.m., with a concert by the Doctors’ Symphony Orchestra at 3 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza, 455 N. Rexford Drive (across from City Hall). Free. (310) 550-4761.

Burbank’s Starlight Bowl is the site of “Catch the Stars,” with fireworks and a concert. Beachfront Property headlines, preceded by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra at 7 p.m. Only $10 tickets left. 1249 Lockheed View Drive. (818) 238-5300.

The Jennifer York Quartet, the country music band Carne Country, big band tunes and children’s music are all part of the annual Tri-City Independence Day celebration at Cal State Northridge North Campus. Food booths, children’s rides and games, skydivers and a fireworks display. Gates open at noon. Tickets, $8; children 5-11 and seniors, $5. Parking after 4 p.m., $3. (818) 349-5680.

In Camarillo, the Pleasant Valley Lions Club will host an afternoon of music, food and fireworks at the Camarillo Airport. Entertainment will include magicians, live music and games for kids. The Confederate Air Force will display a World War II aircraft, and the U.S. Navy will send an F-14 to fly over the crowd. Gates open at 2 p.m.; activities start at 3:30 p.m. Picnics are encouraged. Parking and all events are free. Call (805) 388-4274.

Fireworks and music will combine for “Heritage of America,” a “pyromusical” celebration at the Castaic Lake Recreation Area, 32132 Ridge Route Road. The Cal State Northridge water-ski team will give an exhibition on the lake. Tickets: $15 in advance per vehicle; $20 at the gate. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. (805) 257-4050.

The annual Sespe Creek Regional Chili Cook-off and Car Show will be held in Fillmore’s downtown area from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be lots of live music, arts, crafts, food vendors and all that chili and fancy cars. A free fireworks show will be at the Fillmore High School football stadium. Gates open at 6 p.m. Call (805) 524-0351.

Tickets are going fast for the Fourth of July celebration over three days at the Hollywood Bowl. This year, the “Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular” features Trisha Yearwood in concert with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by John Mauceri, and the U.S. Marine Corps Band. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $3-$67. Children get in for half price. (213) 480-3232 for tickets and (213) 850-2000 for information.

Independence Hall outside Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, will be open for free Fourth of July festivities Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. “Patrick Henry” will give his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech there. Fireworks (visible inside and outside the park) will be shown both days at 9:30 p.m. (714) 220 5200.

An evening of entertainment, starting at 6 p.m., is followed by the city of Lancaster’s fireworks display at Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 155 E. Ave. I. Free. (805) 723-6077.

Long Beach Firefighters Memorial Assn. presents “The American Journey” fireworks show at Long Beach Veterans Stadium, 5000 Lew Davis Drive. Music and canine demonstrations are included. Activities begin at 5:30 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. $7; seniors and ages 5-11, $5. No coolers. (562) 493-9069.

The city of Moorpark will offer the “Concert in the Sky Fireworks Show” today at Arroyo Vista Community Park starting at 9 p.m. A concert featuring the Hodads will precede the fireworks at 7 p.m. Free. Call (805) 531-9100.

In Ojai, an Independence Day parade will commence at 10 a.m. at Ojai Avenue and Country Club Drive. The procession will continue along Ojai Avenue, concluding at Sarzotti Park where music and entertainment will be held into the afternoon. As part of the same city-sponsored festivities, the second annual 4th of July Freedom Run for youth will be held at 9:30 a.m. Register before 9 a.m. at the Libbey Park fountain. Activities continue at Nordhoff High School stadium at 4 p.m., including food, rides and music until the 9 p.m. fireworks show. $4 adult, $6 at the door, $10 pre-sale family pass. Ticket information: (805) 649-2729 or (805) 646-4295.

The city of Oxnard plans no fireworks this year, but will present the sixth annual Heritage Square Summer Concerts Series, featuring the Cajun and zydeco band Acadiana from 6 to 8 p.m. at Heritage Square. The Oxnard band includes washboard, harmonica, accordian and fiddle performers. $1 plaza seating, free lawn seating. Call (805) 483-7960.

Fireworks will explode over the Queen Mary and Long Beach Harbor on Friday and Saturday, followed by the KBIG-FM disco dance party on board both evenings. Friday, 9 p.m.-midnight; Saturday, 8:30 p.m.-midnight. $12; seniors and active military, $10; ages 4-11, $8; party, “Titanic” exhibit and behind-the-scenes tour, $20. (310) 435-3511. Fireworks cruises in the harbor are offered from Belmont Pier, 7:30-10 p.m. $12; ages 12 and younger, $7.50; reservations: (562) 434-6781.

The Rose Bowl isn’t offering its usual grounds show and fireworks display, but fireworks will follow the Galaxy soccer game Friday vs. the New England Revolution. Game time is 7:30 p.m., fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. General admission, $9; children, $7; reserved seating, $14-$17; children’s reserved seating, $7-$12. Ticket office opens at 3:30 p.m.; gates open 5:45 p.m. Parking, $5. Ticketmaster: (213) 480-3232. Information: (818) 577-3100, Ext. 5.

In Santa Paula, festivities will be at Veterans Memorial Park starting at 11 a.m. There will be food booths, games and live music all day. Awards will be given for the best decorated bicycle or tricycle in five age divisions. Entrants can join the Push’em-Pull’em Parade through the park. Other attractions include an antique plane display, trolley and airplane rides, a petting zoo and a fireworks show. Free. (805) 525-5561.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley will celebrate the holiday with a day of food and patriotic activities. Three bands are scheduled to perform. Storytelling, contests and carnival games are planned. The library museum’s “Tokens and Treasures of Twelve Presidents” exhibit will be open, featuring a historical collection of presidential gifts. Free. Call (805) 522-8444.

Festivities will also be going on at Simi Valley High School, 5400 Cochran St., beginning at 11 a.m. There will be a car and motorbike show, arts and crafts, food vendors and more. A fireworks show is scheduled to begin at dusk. Free. Call (805) 526-3900.

Fireworks at Six Flags Magic Mountain are included in park admission: $35; children under 48 inches, $18; seniors, $20; ages 2 and younger, free. 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, exit off Interstate 5, Valencia. (805) 255-4111.

The Oaks mall parking lot in Thousand Oaks will offer the best viewing of a 9 p.m. fireworks show. KCLU-FM 88.3 will broadcast a patriotic program to accompany the event. Free holiday activities will be held at several locations and include: morning nature walk (Wildwood Park, 7-9:30 a.m.); pancake breakfast (Borchard Community Center, 8-11 a.m., $3); home-run derbies for men, women and seniors (Borchard Park, 8:30 a.m.); family swim (Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks high schools, noon-4 p.m.) Call (805) 381-2747. Conejo Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Elmer Ramsey, will perform a patriotic program at Conejo Community Park beginning at 5 p.m. Special guests, the Sherwood Singers. Free. Call (805) 381-2747.

In Ventura, the annual Fourth of July Street Fair will be held downtown from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food, music and more than 400 artisans will span an eight-block area. The holiday celebration will start off with a children’s “Old McDonald’s Farm”-themed parade at 10:30 a.m. Children will march down Main Street from Hemlock to Chestnut streets. Leading the parade will be the Great Ventura All Star Marching Band, kazooing their rendition of “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Free. Call (805) 654-7830 or (805) 654-7788.

Also in Ventura, Fourth of July Fireworks and Family Picnic festivities are set to begin at 5 p.m. at Ventura College. Food, games, and entertainment, including the Johnny Olin Band, will be followed by a 9 p.m. fireworks show. Kazoos will be sold for those wishing to participate in the Kazoo Band and family sing-along. $8 adults, $5 children under 12.

Carnival games, entertainment, children’s activities and refreshments are planned in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. The Plummer Park Drill Team, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters will be on hand. Free. (213) 848-6530.

The Westlake Village Junior Women’s Club will hold its 28th Annual Fourth of July Parade, beginning at the former Westlake Medical Center parking lot, at the corner of Agoura Road and Lakeview Canyon Road. Participants will gather at 9:45 a.m. with their patriotically decorated bicycles, strollers, scooters and other non-motorized vehicles. The four-block parade will begin at 10 a.m. No pets please. Free. Call (805) 496-5630.

A tip for anyone who parties too hearty: The Automobile Club of Southern California will provide a free ride home for drinking drivers as well as their vehicles. Any time on Friday, motorists, bartenders, restaurant managers, party hosts or passengers of a drinking driver in the 13 Southern California counties that the Auto Club serves may call (800) 400-4AAA for a free tow home of up to seven miles.