Rocket science

L.A. Times Archives

June 28, 2007 12 AM PT

THE Fourth of July is about freedom, democracy and independence -- great ideals that get celebrated with flags, parades, music, and red, white and blue bunting draped from anything that will hold it. Toss in a few hot dogs and hamburgers and you’ve got yourself one fine American tradition.

But it’s not a real celebration until the sun sets, the blankets are spread on the ground and the sky lights up with a thousand breathtaking points of exploding light. There is no shortage of firework displays this year. Here is a sampling of the Southland’s best.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Events are free and taking place Wednesday unless noted otherwise.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Artesia Fireworks at 9 p.m. Artesia Park, Elaine Avenue and South Street. (562) 860-3361.

Baldwin Park Festivities begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Sierra Vista High School, 3600 Frazier St. (626) 813-5245.

Bellflower The city’s Independence Day carnival runs July 1-3, Sun., noon-10 p.m.; Mon., 5-11:30 p.m.; Tue., noon-11:30 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Tuesday only. Thompson Park, 14001 Bellflower Blvd. (562) 866-8614.

Calabasas Gates open at 5 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Calabasas High School, 22855 Mulholland Highway. $10. (818) 222-2782.

Castaic Lake Holiday festivities begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. All-day entrance to the park is $25 per car or $5 per person. Castaic Lake Recreation Area, 32132 Ridge Route Road, Castaic. (661) 257-4050.

Catalina Island Fireworks at 9 p.m. can be seen from anywhere in Avalon. (310) 510-1520.

Cerritos Fireworks at 9 p.m. Cerritos High School, 12500 183rd St. (562) 924-3336.

Claremont Holiday festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with live music and other attractions; fireworks at 9 p.m. Pomona College, 340 N. College Ave. $6-$8. (909) 399-5460.

Commerce Fireworks at 9 p.m. Rosewood Park, 5600 Harbor St. (323) 887-4427.

Cudahy Festival starts at 3 p.m. fireworks at 9 p.m. Cudahy Park, 5220 Santa Ana St. (323) 773-5143.

Diamond Bar Fireworks at 9 p.m. Diamond Bar High School, 21400 Pathfinder Road. (909) 594-1405.

Dodger Stadium Fireworks after the game between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. Game time is 6:10 p.m. Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., L.A. $8-$500. (323) 224-1459.

Hollywood Bowl This year’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular features the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the cowboy singing group Riders in the Sky. Edwin Outwater conducts. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. Mon.-Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9-$111. (323) 850-2000.

Huntington Park Festivities begin at 6 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Huntington Park High School, 6020 Miles Ave. (323) 584-6218.

Irwindale Gates open at 4 p.m.; races start at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks. Irwindale Speedway, 13300 E. Live Oak Ave., Irwindale. $7-$20; 5 and younger, free. (626) 358-1100.

Lakeview Terrace All day festivities will conclude with fireworks at about 9 p.m. Hanson Dam Amphitheatre, 11770 Foothill Blvd. (888) 527-2757.

Lancaster Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; music begins at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m. Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, Avenue H at California 14. (661) 723-6077.

Lakewood Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Lakewood Center Mall, Lakewood and Del Amo boulevards. Sat. (562) 633-0437.

Long Beach A Beatles tribute band and others will perform starting at noon followed by fireworks. Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, Pier J. $11.95-$25.95; 4 and younger, free. Other activities may have additional charges. (562) 435-3511.

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum A festival and jazz concert in Leimert Village at the Vision Theater, 4325 Degnan Blvd., will run from 1-7 p.m., followed by fireworks from the Coliseum at dusk. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3911 S. Figueroa St., L.A. (213) 485-7616.

Marina del Rey Fireworks at 9 p.m. Fisherman’s Village, 13755 Fiji Way. (310) 305-9545.

Palmdale Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; music starts at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks. Palmdale High School, 2137 E. Ave. R. (661) 267-5611.

Pasadena A family festival begins at noon. At 7 p.m., Victor Vener conducts the California Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert followed by fireworks. Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive. $12; 7 and younger, free. (626) 577-3101.

Pico Rivera Festival starts at 4 p.m.; music at 7 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Smith Park, 6016 Rosemead Blvd. (562) 942-7004.

Pomona The 21st annual “Kaboom!” July Fourth celebration with monster trucks, motorcycle daredevils and fireworks. Show starts at 8 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. $12.50-$19.50; 2 and younger, free. (909) 623-3111.

Redondo Beach Fun begins at 4 p.m. with music and other attractions; fireworks at 9 p.m. Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Way. $10-$250. (310) 318-0681.

Rosemead Holiday carnival with live music, rides, games, entertainment and other attractions begins at noon; fireworks at dusk. Rosemead Park, 4343 Encinita Ave. (626) 569-2256.

Santa Fe Springs Festivities with live music, rides, games, food and other attractions begins at 2 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Los Nietos Park, 11143 Charlesworth Road, Santa Fe Springs. (562) 948-1986.

Santa Monica “Celebrate America” will feature live entertainment and other attractions. Picnics welcome. Gates open at 5 p.m.; entertainment at 6; fireworks at dusk. Corsair Field at Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd. Sat. (310) 434-3000.

Six Flags Magic Mountain The park is open 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; fireworks at dusk. Six Flags Magic Mountain, 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia. $29.99-$59.99; 2 and younger, free. (661) 255-4100.

South El Monte All day festivities are capped by fireworks at 9 p.m. South El Monte High School, 1001 Durfee Ave. (626) 579-2043.

South Gate Fireworks at 9 p.m. South Gate Park, 9520 Hildreth Ave. (323) 563-5445.

Studio City Studio City’s Fourth of July festival will feature a Summer of Love theme with live music from the 1960s followed by a fireworks show. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.; music begins at 5 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. CBS Studio Center, 4024 Radford Ave. $8-$20, 5 and younger, free; $50-$100 VIP tickets. (818) 655-5916.

Torrance Fireworks at 9 p.m. from a barge off shore of Torrance Beach, Torrance Beach, Torrance Beach Paseo de la Playa. (310) 372-2166.

Torrance Fireworks at 9 p.m. Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd. (310) 372-2166.

Valencia Fireworks at 9:15 p.m., off the roof of a parking structure, can be seen from the Valencia Town Center parking lot, 24201 W. Valencia Blvd. (661) 287-9050.

Walnut Festivities begin at 4 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Suzanne Park, 625 Suzanne Road. (909) 598-5605.

Woodland Hills Don Sweeney and the SRO Big Band along with the Swing Dolls will perform at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks. Warner Park, 5900 Topanga Canyon Blvd. (818) 704-1358.

ORANGE COUNTY

Aliso Viejo Community festival with live music, food, games and fireworks. Gates open at 6 p.m. Fireworks at dusk. Grand Park, Aliso Viejo Town Center near Aliso Creek Road and Pacific Park Drive. (949) 448-5922.

Anaheim Canyon Hills community’s all-day celebration features food, games, live entertainment and other attractions, beginning at 2 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Peralta Park, 115 N. Pinney St. (714) 283-6653.

Dana Point Harbor Fireworks at 9 p.m. will be shot off a barge in the harbor. Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point Harbor Drive. (949) 248-3530.

Disneyland The park will be open 8 a.m.-midnight and will have a patriotic finale in addition to its regular fireworks show at 9:25 p.m. Disneyland, 1313 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim. $53-$63. (714) 781-4565.

Fullerton The 18th annual community fireworks show at Fullerton High School Stadium. Also music, games and food. Gates open at 5 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Fullerton High School, 201 E. Chapman Ave. (714) 738-6545.

Huntington Beach All-day community July Fourth celebration culminates in a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Huntington Beach Pier Plaza, Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street. (714) 374-1535.

Knott’s Berry Farm The park will be open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and have a fireworks display about 9:15 p.m. Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. $18.95-$48.95. (714) 827-1776.

Laguna Hills Live music, food, games, contests, rides and other attractions. Gates open at 4 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills. (949) 707-2680.

Los Alamitos Gates open at 4 p.m.; family-style entertainment begins at 4:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Valid ID will be required for adults. Joint Forces Training Base, Katella Avenue and Lexington Drive. (714) 229-6780.

Mission Viejo A street fair with crafts, rides, food and entertainment starts at noon and fireworks at 9 p.m. Olympiad Road between Marguerite Parkway and Melinda Road. (949) 830-7066.

Newport Beach All-day festivities, including rides, crafts, games, contests, music and other attractions, begin at 11 a.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive. $30 per car. (949) 729-3863.

Orange The city’s 11th annual July 3 celebration, featuring games, live music, rides, food and other attractions, will start at 4 p.m. and ends with fireworks about 8:30 p.m. Fred Kelly Stadium at El Modena High School, 3920 Spring St. Tue. $5; 2 and younger, free. (714) 744-7278.

San Juan Capistrano Rides, games, exhibits, live music and other attractions 4-9 p.m.; fireworks at dusk. San Juan Capistrano Sports Park, 25925 Camino del Avion. (949) 493-5911.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheater The Pacific Symphony, Papa Doo Run Run and others will perform beginning at 8 p.m. The evening concludes with fireworks. Bring a picnic or buy a boxed meal there. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. $10-$101. (714) 755-5799.

Yorba Linda Gates open at 4 p.m. with food, games and other attractions; music by the Skinny Little Twits at 5 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Yorba Linda Middle School, 4777 Casa Loma Ave. (714) 961-7100.

VENTURA COUNTY

Camarillo Food, raffles, jolly jumpers, live entertainment and other attractions, 3-9 p.m. The fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Adolfo Camarillo High School, 4660 Mission Oaks Blvd. $1-$2. (805) 388-5396.

Oxnard All-day festivities, including a parade, live entertainment, arts, crafts, rides, games and food, will culminate with fireworks over the harbor at 9 p.m. Channel Islands Harbor Oxnard, Victoria Avenue and Channel Islands Boulevard. (805) 985-4852.

Simi Valley Gates open at 3 p.m. with games, live entertainment and other attractions. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, 5005 Los Angeles Ave. (805) 584-4400.

Thousand Oaks A daylong celebration concludes with fireworks at 9 p.m., with best viewing from the Oaks Mall and Janss Marketplace parking lots. The Oaks Mall, 222 W. Hillcrest Drive. (805) 381-2747.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Indio Festivities, including music, rides and food, begin at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Riverside County Fairgrounds, 46-350 Arabia St. at U.S. 111. (800) 811-FAIR.

Moreno Valley All-day festivities; 1960s pop acts Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night) head the entertainment lineup. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Morrison Park, Dracaea Avenue and Morrison Street. (951) 413-3281.

Palm Desert Concert starts at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Palm Desert Civic Center Park, Fred Waring Drive and San Pablo Avenue. (760) 346-0611.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Chino Freedom celebration will feature games, arts, crafts, live music and more. Festivities start at 4 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Ruben S. Ayala Community Park, Central and Edison avenues. Sat. (909) 591-0822.

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