Where to See Your Favorite 4th of July Parade

Love a parade? On the Fourth of July, so do communities across Los Angeles County, which are trotting out an array of marching bands, barbecue fare and other Americana. All events listed take place Friday, unless otherwise noted.

Artesia: Activities begin at 9 a.m. in Artesia Park, 18750 Clarkdale Ave., including volleyball tournament, games for kids, food booth. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Free admission except for over-the-line baseball tournament, $12; preregister at Recreation Office, 18750 Artesia Blvd.

Avalon: Island residents kick off a “Glory Days” parade featuring the USC marching band at 1 p.m. It will be followed by a dance, barbecue and a fireworks display over the bay.

Alhambra: Almansor Park is the site of a festival with food, games and entertainment followed by fireworks. 800 S. Almansor St., 3-9 p.m.

Baldwin Park: Musical entertainment begins at 6 p.m. at Sierra Vista High School, 3600 Frazier Blvd., followed by a fireworks show.

Bell Gardens: Four-day carnival with rides, food booths, entertainment opens today at 5 p.m. at John Anson Ford Park, 8000 Park Lane. Continues Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fireworks Friday at 9 p.m. Free admission. Information: (562) 806-7650.

Beverly Hills: Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Roxbury Park, 471 S. Roxbury Drive, there will be a Dixieland jazz band, arts and crafts projects for children, and a patriotic costume contest. Also, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m, the Doctors Symphony Orchestra will hold a free concert at the Civic Center Plaza, adjacent to Beverly Hills Library at north Rexford Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard.

Cerritos: Festivities begin at Cerritos Park East, 13234 E. 166th St., at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast, followed by celebration including food and game booths, entertainment and an antique car show. Ceremony at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Free.

Claremont: Celebration begins at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast followed by a 5K run at Memorial Park, 840 N. Indian Hills Blvd. A festival in the park begins at 10:30 a.m. with a parade through town scheduled between 4 and 5:15 p.m. and topped by a fireworks show at Pomona College. Admission is $8.

Commerce: Celebration at Veterans Park, 6364 Zindell Ave., from noon to 6 p.m., featuring The Esquires singing group, food, games and entertainment. No fireworks. Free.

Culver City: Gates at the high school open at 5 p.m. for a barbecue (bring your own food). A country rock band starts playing at 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks at sunset. No alcohol, dogs, or weapons allowed. Admission is a suggested $2, with $2 for parking. 4300 Elenda Ave.

El Segundo: Food and game booths open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; live music begins at 2:30 p.m. Fireworks begin 10 minutes after dusk at Recreation Park, 401 Sheldon St. Free.

El Sereno: 41st annual Independence Day Community Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. featuring antique cars, floats, bands, equestrian units and grand marshal Richard Alatorre. Parade starts at the corner of Huntington Drive and Portola Ave.

Gardena: Field events, food and game booths open at noon. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. at Rowley Memorial Park, 13220 South Van Ness Ave. Free.

Huntington Park: Fireworks at 8 p.m. at Huntington Park High School, 6020 Miles Ave. Free.

Inglewood: Food booths, entertainment and dancing open at 10 a.m. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. at Edward Vincent Park, 700 Warren Lane. Free.

Irwindale: A celebration at Irwindale Community Park, 5050 N. Irwindale Ave., will begin at 1 p.m. Mariachi Jalisciense performs from 2 to 5 p.m., followed by a dance performance from 5:15 to 6 p.m. The band Sabor will perform from 6 to 9 p.m., followed by a fireworks show after 9 p.m.

La Mirada: The Kiwanis Club of La Mirada sponsors its annual celebration today at the La Mirada High School stadium, 13520 Adelfa Drive, at 5:30 p.m. Includes hayrides, snack bar, musical entertainment. Fireworks begin at 9:10 p.m. Admission: $5 donation requested for adults; $3 for children under 6; $15 for family of two adults with children.

La Puente: A concert will precede a fireworks show tonight at La Puente High School, 15615 E. Nelson Ave. Gates open at 5 p.m. with games for the kids.

La Verne: Fireworks show at Bonita High School, 3102 D St. Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission $6 for adults and $5 children.

Lancaster: Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, Division Street and Avenue I. Gates open at 6 p.m., entertainment at 6:15 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free.

Lawndale: Live music, game and food booths open at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. at Leuzinger High School Stadium, 4118 W. Rosecrans Ave. Free.

Long Beach: Long Beach Firemen’s Memorial Assn. will sponsor celebration and fireworks at Veterans Memorial Stadium, at East Conant Street and Clark Avenue; activities start at 5:30 p.m., fireworks shortly after 9 p.m. Admission: Over 12, $7; over 60, $5; ages 5-11, $5; under 5, free. Gates open 5 p.m. Tickets on sale at 3559 Clark Ave. through Friday. Ticket booth hours, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Lynwood: International Unity Festival starts at 11 a.m. at 3798 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., across from the Lynwood Transit Center. Features carnival rides and musical acts including Tierra, the Drifters, the Shirelles and Jambalaya. Fireworks at 8:30 p.m. Free admission.

Manhattan Beach: Blast Off Barbecue and games and events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Foster A. Begg Pool, Manhattan Beach Intermediate School, Manhattan Beach Boulevard at Peck Avenue. (Peck is just north of Redondo Avenue.)

Maywood: Parade starts at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 4319 E. Slauson Ave. Fireworks at 8:30 p.m. at Maywood Park, 4801 E. 58th St. Free.

Monrovia: Family festival with kiddie rides, music and craft and food vendors in downtown Monrovia on Myrtle Avenue from 5 to 9 p.m.

Montebello: Fireworks at 9 p.m., Grant Rea Park, 600 North Rea Drive. Free.

Monterey Park: Celebration begins at 1 p.m. in Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Ave. Fireworks will start about 9 p.m.

Palmdale: Family entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. at Palmdale High School, 2137 E. Avenue R, followed by a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Free.

Palos Verdes Estates: Old-fashioned celebration with decorated bicycle parade, apple pie contest, puppet show, community awards and live music from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rolling Hills Prep School, 300A Paseo Del Mar. Free.

Pico Rivera: Celebration including entertainment and food starts at 5 p.m. at El Rancho High School, 6501 S. Passons Blvd. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission: $3 presale tickets can be purchased at parks and recreation department, 6767 S. Passons Blvd., Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. At the door: $4, children 2 and under free.

Rancho Palos Verdes: Music, dancing, crafts and games from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Point Vicente Park, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd. Free.

Redondo Beach: Live music gets underway at 4 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Pier. Free.

Rosemead: “Rosemead Salutes Seniors” parade on Valley Boulevard begins at 10 a.m., followed by food, rides and fireworks at Rosemead Park, 4343 Encinita Ave. Admission is $3 for adults, kids free.

San Marino: A community parade begins at 5 p.m. at Monterey Road and Huntington Drive, and continues to Lacy Park, where Dixieland music will be performed. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

San Pedro: Community celebration begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Korean Friendship at 37th and Gaffey St. The bell is rung 13 times in commemoration the original 13 colonies. Fireworks begin at Cabrillo Beach at 9:15 p.m. at Pacific Ave. and Stephen White Dr.

Santa Fe Springs: Fireworks at 9 p.m., Los Nietos Park, 11143 Charlesworth Rd. Free admission.

Santa Monica: Will feature a stroll in the Palisades Park, from Arizona Avenue to Colorado Boulevard from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Entertainment will include a barbershop quartet, a bluegrass band and an African dance music group, as well as a roaming procession of puppets.

Sierra Madre: More than 100 unrehearsed musicians calling themselves the Sierra Madre College Marching Band highlight the parade at Sunnyside Avenue and Sierra Madre Boulevard beginning at 10 a.m., and followed with an all-day festival at Memorial Park, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Movies at dusk will feature the 1956 “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” filmed in the town.

South Gate: Fireworks nightly at 9 p.m. July 3 through 6 at South Gate City Park on Tweedy Boulevard. Entertainment by the L.A. Symphonic Band and South Gate City Youth Band on today 5-10 pm., Friday noon to 11 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 10 p.m..

South Pasadena: A parade to launch the “Pioneer Spirit” will start at Meridian and Mission streets at 11 a.m. and end at Garfield Park, 815 S. Mission Ave., where there will be food and game booths. The gate opens at 5:30 p.m. for musical entertainment at the high school stadium. Fireworks follow at 9 p.m. Admission is $4 at the gate.

Torrance: Entertainment, food and game booths, mini-steamer train rides. Daylong celebration gets underway at 11 a.m and concludes with fireworks at 9 p.m. Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd. Parking and shuttle service available at Del Amo Fashion Center and the Torrance Civic Center. Free.

West Covina: Festivities begin with a pancake breakfast followed by games, arts and crafts and a barbecue at Cameron Park at Cameron and Lark Ellen streets from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. A fireworks show with entertainment will be held across the street from the park at West Covina High School stadium. Gates open at 5 p.m. Free.

West Hollywood: Warner Bros. cartoon characters, face painting, free hamburgers, and a barbershop quartet will mark the celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. at Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd.

Westlake Village: Parade beginning at the former Westlake Hospital (now closed) on Lakefield Road at 9:45 a.m. and ending with a celebration at Berniece Bennett Park, 31800 Village Center Road.

Whittier: Picnicking and entertainment at York Field, corner of Mulberry Drive and Santa Fe Springs Road, gates open at 5 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.. Admission: Adults over 60, free; children under 10, free; all others, $5.

Compiled by researcher Cecilia Rasmussen and correspondents Susan McAllister, Joseph Hanania, Richard Winton, Michael Krikorian and Tracy Johnson.