Bay Area fireworks forecast and shows
Weather Forecast
KTVU's Bill Martin says it will be foggy for fireworks in San Francisco tonight. He says luckily the fog bank is 2,000 feet deep. Since the fog will be over the coastal hills, the fireworks will be under the fog, so it should still be quite the show. The fireworks will reflect off the fog layer.
He says it will be cool at the coast. Conditions for fireworks inland should be clear.
San Francisco Fireworks Show
The July 4th fireworks show in San Francisco will go on - with or without the fog. At Pier 50, crews were busy with last minute preparations for the big event.
“They're finishing up unloading all the aerial shells into the tubes, making the electrical connections to the network and putting out our low level effects that will perform at a lower altitude," said Jeff Thomas, of Pyro Spectaculars by Susan. The 23 minute show is run on a computer based firing system. There are about 5,000 on two separate barges. One will be near Pier 39. The other will be near Aquatic Park. Showtime is at 9:30pm. The producer hopes the fog will clear by then but said they're prepared for anything.
"We know that the possibilities are there so we plan for that using some lower level effects that will normally perform under the layer of fog. We can't do it throughout the entire show so we mix up the altitudes, and it usually works out pretty well," said Thomas.
At Fisherman's Wharf, families were eagerly anticipating the big show and the celebration of America's freedom.
"To me, it's all about independence. I am a disabled vet," said Carl Durham, of Kokomo, Indiana. "It's just a special moment, defending your country and all."
"Growing up we just had so much fun with fireworks. It's just a tradition we want to pass along to our kids, and it's once a year you can be around all these people and enjoy what this great nation has to offer," said Elizabeth Quillon, who was visiting from Charlottesville, Virginia.
And at Aquatic Park, music was playing, and thousands had staked out prime viewing spots along the waterfront by late afternoon.
Here are a look at some of the Fourth celebrations happening around the Bay during the holiday weekend:
Alameda
4th of July Festival at Alameda South Shore Center. The event starts Monday at 3 p.m. and will feature live music by the Sun Kings. The event will also feature a petting zoo, face painting, games and raffels. The event will follow the Alameda Mayor's 4th of July Parade. Over 170 floats and 2,500 participants are expected to attend.
Aptos
A pancake breakfast is scheduled 7 -10 a.m. in the Aptos parking lot (cost TBD). The city's self-proclaimed "World's Shortest Parade" will be held from 10 a.m. - noon. Immediately after the parade, celebrations will continue at Aptos Village Park for the Party in the Park featuring local vendors, food, music, and activities till 4 p.m.
Concord
ConcordA 5K /Kids run begins at 8 a.m. The parade is scheduled to start from Mt. Diablo High School. Starting at 4 p.m. the gates will open for the third annual 4th of July Festival with a kids carnival, food booths, vendor exhibits, and live entertainment - The Police tribute band, Stung. The day will conclude with the city's big fireworks display scheduled to begin at about 9 pm.
Corte Madera/Larkspur
A parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Redwood High School, Larkspur. It ends at the Corte Madera Town Center where the events will be until 5 p.m. There will be live entertainment, activities for the kids and arts and crafts.
Cupertino
A pancake breakfast and other festivities will be held at Memorial Park starting at 7 a.m. Residents are also invited to Blackberry Farm for a free day of swimming, live music, and a BBQ for its annual July 4th celebration. (Due to facility, safety, and water conservation considerations, fireworks will not be held as part of this event.)
Danville
The hometown parade will be held downtown starting at 9 am. The parade route runs from the corner of Hartz Avenue and Railroad Avenue, continues down Hartz and San Ramon Valley Boulevard, and ends at the corner of San Ramon Valley Boulevard and Sycamore Valley Road.
Emeryville
4th of July Party in the Park & 4K Fun Run will be held at the Emeryville Marina. (Check in and registration will start at 7 am, Marina Site A.) The race is set to start at 8 a.m. The celebration includes live music and local food cars. The location offers some good vantage points for many of the surrounding firework shows.
Foster City
An all-day event will take place at Leo Ryan Park. There will be games, food, entertainment, family and dog parade, a grand fireworks display.
Martinez
A parade route is along Main Street and is set to begin at 9 am. The festivities end with a big fireworks show over the waterfront. Fireworks will light up the night sky at Martinez Shoreline Park. The pyrotechnics begin around 9:30 p.m. and will last approximately 25 minutes. Waterfront Park will be closed to cars at 6 p.m.
Moraga
Festivities take place all day at the Moraga Commons Park - 1425 St. Mary's Rd. - this includes a fun run and live music. A fireworks show is scheduled to start around 9:30 p.m.
Morgan Hill
Freedom Fest Fireworks & Parade includes the Patriotic Sing, Family Street Dance, Freedom Run, Parade, Freedom Car Cruise and Show. The celebrations will culminate with a fireworks and entertainment show entitled Fireworks on the Green. Fireworks on The Green will be at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center, 16500 Condit Road, located between Tennant and E. Dunne Avenues. Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. so spectators can set up a good viewing spot for the fireworks show, set to begin around 9:30 p.m.
Napa
Festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with a parade at Second and School streets. At noon the Kid's Zone at Oxbow Commons will open which will include fun activities for the whole family including games, a DJ, and inflatables for jumping. The kids zone will be open until 7 p.m. Entertainment will be featured at Veterans Park before the fireworks begin. The fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. The best spots to watch them include Oxbow Commons, downtown and Veterans Park.
Oakland
Jack London Square July 4th Festival of Family Fun from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The festive day will include waterfront festivities and entertainment for both for the whole family. The event will also feature food, live music and much more! (There will be no fireworks this year.)
Pleasant Hill
A 4th of July Parade, Festival & Fireworks 40th annual celebration. Festivities include the Firecracker 5K Fun Run and a parade. Pleasant Hill Rec will add to the Party in the Park by having the Park's Spray ground and swimming pools OPEN FREE to kids from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The site of the spectacular fireworks show will again be College Park High School. The music will begin at approximately 7:15 pm. The fireworks begin at dusk, around 9:10 pm.
San Jose
The 3rd Annual Family Fun Festival and Firework Show will take place at Almaden Lake Park on the 4th of July from noon to 9 p.m. The Rotary Fireworks Show is back in this year, celebrating Independence Day at Discovery Meadow, plus Park Ave./Almaden Ave., in downtown San Jose. A live fireworks show is scheduled starts at 9:30 p.m.
San Francisco
City of San Francisco Independence Day Live Entertainment and Fireworks Extravaganza. There will be special exhibits west of the PIER 39 Entrance Plaza from 11 am-5 pm.FREE music starts at 6:00 p.m.
The City of San Francisco will hold its big waterfront Fireworks display at starting at about 9:30 p.m. Spectators can view the show from Aquatic Park and PIER 39
Santa Clara
4th of July All-City Picnic and Fireworks Extravaganza Show from noon to 10 p.m. Both events will be held in at Central Park, 909 Kiely Blvd, Santa Clara. The family fun event includes carnival games, hands-on crafts, face painting and free swimming at the International Swim Center. The day's finale will be the Fireworks Extravaganza at 9:30 p.m. on the lawn area adjacent to the basketball courts.
Scotts Valley
A parade and flyover start at 3 p.m. along Scotts Valley Drive with festivities at Skypark beginning at 4 p.m. Fireworks will start at 9:15 p.m.
Copyright 2016 KTVU-TV/FOX 2. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.