Parades, fireworks and community events are scheduled throughout this July 4th as San Diego celebrate the nation’s 238th birthday.
Holiday activities begin as early as 7 a.m. in Coronado, Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch with these events:
— Coronado hosts a 15K run and 5K walk at Tidelands Park, followed by an art show at Orange Avenue and Sixth Street, and the annual parade beginning at 10 a.m. along Orange Avenue
— Mira Mesa offers a pancake breakfast at Epicentre, followed by a family fun day at 11 a.m. at Mira Mesa Community Park, and the annual parade at 11:30 a.m. along Mira Mesa Boulevard
— Scripps Ranch plans the Old Pros bicycle rides — with three routes up to 50 miles long —paired with 2K or 10K runs, beginning at the intersection of Scripps Ranch Boulevard and Hibert Street, followed by a 10 a.m. parade going from Ironwood Road and Red Cedar Drive to Hoyt Park on Aviary Drive.
Chula Vista firefighters will hold their sixth annual July 4 pancake breakfast, with proceeds benefiting the Chula Vista Firefighters Foundation, at 8 a.m. at Fire Station Seven, 1640 Santa Venetia St.
Special July 4 events are also being held throughout the day at Camp Pendleton, SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California.
The biggest of the pyrotechnics displays tonight will be over San Diego Bay, where the annual Big Bay Boom will take place about 9 p.m. The best places to watch are the Coronado Ferry Landing, Harbor Island, Seaport Village, Shelter Island and points along the downtown waterfront.
The show will be broadcast live on Fox5 San Diego and KTLA in Los Angeles, with musical accompaniment from The Walrus 105.7 FM.
“Thanks to the folks at Fox 5 and KTLA, we are able to reach a huge audience with our message of celebration for our nation’s birth,” said the show’s executive producer, Sandy Purdon. “And we will be able to honor and financially support again our military families and wounded warriors who get great support from the Armed Services YMCA.’
Event organizers say parking on Shelter Island usually fills up by 1 p.m. and the last spots on Harbor Island are often filled by 5 p.m. Shuttle buses will run from the Port of San Diego’s administration building at 3165 Pacific Highway to Harbor Island.
The show made national headlines two years ago when a computer caused all of the fireworks to explode at once, about five minutes before the show was scheduled to begin. Officials at Garden State Fireworks quickly took responsibility for the massive mishap, and the company returned last year, and the show went off without a hitch.
Other fireworks displays are scheduled at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, Legoland California in Carlsbad, SeaWorld San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Kennedy Park in El Cajon, Grape Day Park in Escondido, Del Norte High School in 4S Ranch, the Imperial Beach Pier, Mira Mesa High School, Kimball Recreation Center in National City, the Ocean Beach Pier, Poway High School, Olive Peirce Middle School in Ramona, Bernardo Heights Middle School in Rancho Bernardo, Westview High School in Rancho Penasquitos, Bradley Park in San Marcos, Town Center Community Park in Santee and Brengle Terrace Park in Vista.
The annual fireworks show at La Jolla Cove, embroiled in litigation for several years, is scheduled to go on. Organizers thought it was too late once the lawsuits were resolved to contract with a fireworks company, but one stepped in a couple of weeks ago.
The pyrotechnics shows around the county are generally set to start about 9 p.m., and many will be preceded by barbecues, family activities and live entertainment.
— City News Service
