4th of July 2019 in the South Bay

Check out the South Bay Events’ full listing of what’s going on in the South Bay for the 4th of July, 2019! This year the holiday lands on a Thursday, which may lead to a clear majority of the workforce calling in “sick” on Friday.

Independence Day Weekend in the South Bay

The 4th of July weekend is already upon us! With summer in full swing, the South Bay is notorious for being one of the best spots in the country to enjoy the holiday.  Once again, the South Bay will party like diligent patriots armed with red cups and a gaggle of beach hermosa 4th of julycruisers because it’s the Fourth of July around the Beach Cities. The legendary Ironman is on again for the 45th year, the only time alcohol is accepted on the beach (under heavy police presence, of course).

What you will read next is a curated laundry list of all the activities that make Independence Day in the South Bay such a spectacular event.

Wednesday, July 3 is shaping up to be a big day at the Pier, with many bars expecting huge crowds and people taking the day off work. Watermans, Sharkeez, American Junkie, Tower 12 and Patrick Molloys will all be filled to the brim. Alta House (formerly Ocean Bar) will be opening early and closing late. Wednesday night, you can go to a Pre-4th of July party and experience the ultimate 80’s cover band Wayward Sons at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach. Also playing at the Standing Room in Hermosa is Chewbetcha, a local band who is guaranteed to melt your face.

Baja Sharkeez in Manhattan Beach will also be hosting a 3rd of July party with a “Salute 2 Summer Celebration” featuring a hot-dog throw down, hula-hoop contest and drink specials.

Select Beer Store will be hosting their annual 3rd of July Party again this year by serving beers from Pizza Port Brewing in their tasting room starting at 4:00 p.m.

The Point in El Segundo is kicking off its Summer Concert Series on the 3rd, with Retrofit (Indie Rock) performing.

Pitcher House/ Upper Deck will be closed on the 4th itself so they’re going all out on the night of the 3rd, with a Girlz Rules Pre-4th Party running from 9:00 pm – 2:00 am!

Thursday, Fourth of July

One of the biggest days of the year is coming to the South Bay- the 4th of July! Residents of Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan Beach and citizens from all around the South Bay celebrate the peak of the summer more so than any other spot in Los Angeles, and maybe the whole U.S.A. From crazy house parties, crowded bars and a swollen bike path plus several Fireworks shows, the biggest party of the year should be experienced at least once. See below for details on the Ironman, the official morning kickoff to the big day. Many bars will be having special events all day as well, including American Junkie, DJs at Alta House (formerly known as Ocean Bar), Sharkeez, Saint Rocke and more. The bars will be busy early, but there are other options away from the mayhem as well, and the Beach Cities have a full lineup this year:

  • 4th of July 5K  The 26th Annual 4th of July 5K will take place in Redondo Beach on Independence Day. The race will begin at 8 a.m., starting and ending at Riviera Village. The race has become one of the fastest growing race events in the South Bay area, beginning with a few hundred runners in the inaugural event and growing to an anticipated 5,000 runners for this year’s race. More Info
  • The city of Redondo Beach will once again be having their Fireworks Show back on the 4th itself with a Fireworks celebration at Seaside Lagoon  blasting off at 9:00 p.m. The lagoon opens at 2:00 p.m. and puts together a family-friendly event that offers all day supervised swimming and arts & crafts. Please note, seating at the Seaside Lagoon is first come first served so arrive early with your beach blankets, chairs and small umbrellas (Tents or other structures are not permitted). Tickets online are $25 for adults, $15 for children. More Info
  • By far the best spot in town to watch the Redondo Fireworks, Berry Bly Productions teams up with Shade Hotel Redondo for an epic 4th of July Viewing Party! DJs will be spinning on the Aqua Deck rooftop from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m., and the fireworks show will be less than a block away. All attendees must be 21 years or older… With drink specials and bites, this will be the hottest ticket in town.
  • The free Redondo Beach Summer of Music concert series kicks off on the 4th, with a performance by Indie Rock band Big Mess. From 6:00 – 8:00 right in the middle of the pier. More Info
  • The city of Palos Verdes Estates is having their 58th annual Old Fashioned Independence Day celebration this year beginning at 9:30 a.m., including a bicycle parade and pie-eating contest. Be sure and bring your home-made apple pie to Malaga Cove school at 8:30 a.m. for entry, judging begins at 9:30 a.m. Enjoy a magic show, family games and live music. All the action takes place at Malaga Cove School: 300 Paseo Del Mar in Palos Verdes Estates.
  • Rancho Palos Verdes: The city’s 44th Annual Independence Day Celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Upper Point Vicente Park, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd. The event will feature live music, arts and crafts, rides, games, a petting zoo, and more. Admission is free, and a complimentary shuttle will run from the dirt parking lot near Point Vicente Lighthouse on Palos Verdes Drive West. On-site parking costs $5 per vehicle.
  • Terranea Resort will be rocking Independence Day with their Music on the Meadows concert, running from 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. Headliners Wilson Phillips, J.R. Richards (Dishwalla) and others will have a supporting cast of musicians and bands throughout the day. Tickets are $65 and available here.
  • Stay classy with a brunch at the Strand House in Manhattan Beach or relax on the tacky side of King Harbor with a craft beer at Naja’s Place. A couple steps down from Naja’s is King Harbor Brewing Company’s Waterfront Tasting Room. Follow the craft beer trend during the daytime inside one of the South Bay’s most influential bottle shops at Select Beer Store just off Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach. A stop here during the daytime can elevate your craft beer IQ and at the same time act as a nice whistle stop before the bombs burst in air.
  • At Dockweiler Beach, mix it up with a techno dance party from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Featuring an all-female lineup, the Tech Me 2 Da Beach party will be massive.
  • There will be a Derrick Carter [Extended Set] 4th of July Pool Party at the Liquid Frequencies Pool & Terrace. Located at the Custom Hotel on Lincoln Blvd near LAX, it is barelllllly outside of the Bubble.

Fireworks Shows: July 4

2019 will have the traditional Fireworks shows, which are getting more impressive each year!

On Thursday, July 4, there is a major show inside Redondo Beach’s Seaside Lagoon which will be visible from the Pier and Harbor areas and will feature live music and all-day entertainment. With budget cuts canceling the traditional huge shows at Wilson Park in Torrance, the Redondo show will be one of the largest in the South Bay. The Redondo Beach Independence Day Celebration at Seaside Lagoon starts at 2:00 p.m. with many activities for kids and families including live bands, arts/crafts, workshops, water activities, dancing, food & beverage and more! Fireworks show will begin at 9:00 p.m., choreographed to patriotic music. Tickets available here.fire

Torrance fireworks: The City of Torrance will be hosting a giant 4th of July fireworks show at the Toyota Sports Complex at the Torrance Civic Center. No tickets are required this year and it will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call the Community Services Office at (310) 618-2930. All other viewing areas will be 1st com, 1st serve.  The street closures around the area will begin at 6:00 p.m. so plan accordingly. Torrance CitiCABLE will broadcast the show live on Spectrum Channel 3, Frontier FiOS Channel 31 and over the air on KNET 25.2. A map of the parking, launch location and more can be found here.

El Segundo fireworks: El Segundo’s annual all-day Fourth of July celebration will take place beginning at 10 a.m. in Recreation Park, 401 E. Sheldon St. There will be food, games, contests and music. Other Gundo-like festivities happen throughout the day in this small town, seaside hamlet: Hula Hoop contest, water-balloon toss, sack races, pie-eating contest, and watermelon-eating contest. Live music from 5:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and the fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. To buy wristbands for grandstand seats and resident priority seating, call 310-524-2700.

Marina Del Rey fireworks: Marina del Rey’s firework show is back with a new budget thanks to donations from local sponsors. The roughly 20-minute show starts at 9 p.m. over the Main Channel. The pyrotechnic display will be choreographed to music that will be broadcast over KXLU-FM 88.9 and relayed over loudspeakers in Burton Chace Park. The park is at 13650 Mindanao Way (one block west of Admiralty Way) and Fisherman’s Village is at 13755 Fiji Way. To find out more about the show including some of the best spots to see the fireworks, check out their site.

San Pedro: Sponsored by the Port of Los Angeles, the 69th Annual John Olguin July 4th Spectacular features music, family activities, food trucks, and fireworks at 9 p.m. at Cabrillo Beach. Festivities start at noon and end at 10 p.m. with free parking at 22nd St. and Sampson Way.

Carson: The LA Galaxy will host 21st Annual 4th of July post-game fireworks show at StubHub Center, 18400 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson when the team takes on the Vancouver Whitecaps at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks show will start 10 minutes after the final whistle. For fans in attendance, there will be a test launch at halftime for fans to make sure they’ll have a good viewpoint of the postgame festivities, www.lagalaxy.com/tickets

RAT Beach fireworks are Cancelled: The Briles family previously hosted its privately funded fireworks show off the coast of RAT beach near Palos Verdes. After a hiatus, the show has been officially cancelled according to The Easy Reader, while lack of funding was the main issue.

 

Other Special Events

  • The city of Manhattan Beach is throwing a pool party at Begg Pool for the kiddies from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. For more information, check out their page or feel free to contact Parks and Recreation Department at (310) 802-5448 or via email.
  • Waterfront Fourth: Doubletree by Hilton hosts Fourth of July Celebration Waterfront Party at 2800 Via Cabrillo Marina in San Pedro. 5-10 p.m. Cost is $35 for adults, $15 for children under 12. Information and tickets, dtsanpedroevents@gmail.com.
  • 4th of July Dog Parade being held at Eastview Park in Rancho Palos Verdes: click here for more info.
  • Ironman Triathlon:

The most unique event that makes July 4 so legendary around here is the HERMOSA BEACH IRONMAN competition. In this extreme athletic test, participants must run a mile, paddle a surfboard a mile and then consume a 6-pack of their favorite beer!

The first one to hold down their beverage(s) successfully wins, and you may want to keep your distance from the center of the action or you’re at risk of getting drenched. For pics of the event’s crazy action, check out the Ironman gallery. The action starts at approximately 9:00 a.m. and anyone over 21 is eligible to enter- just make sure you know that close to 1,000 spectators will be monitoring your skills. For those interested in participating, the Ironman is $20, and you will need to bring your own surfboard and 6-pack to join in. Keep in mind that alcohol fines are TRIPLED in Hermosa Beach on the 4th, and you will need to be very discreet if you choose to partake in the activities, especially soon after the Ironman.

Official signups for the Ironman will take place at Tower 12 at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 3rd!

                                                                           
 
After kicking off the day in true Hermosa Beach style, the Strand fills up very quickly and by noon it’s almost impossible to walk. The entertainment options are plentiful and each year, and in the past there has almost always been an impromptu performance by local legends such as Pennywise. Another South Bay classic event occurs every July 4th between 7th and 8th Street in Hermosa Beach. The annual production is a tribute to Michael Jackson and it has been around as long as we can remember, complete with a light show and authentic dancing. A local lookalike steps out on a balcony high above the beach and puts on a show that is worthy of the King of Pop. With the recent passing of the Gloved One, this year promises to be the craziest show of all time. The show begins as soon as the fireworks end, and you won’t be able to miss the huge crowd that gathers in front of the Strand house before showtime. Finally, if you’re under the age of 21 and think you can get away with some shenanigans, the HB Police Dept. wants you to think otherwise:

Make sure you stay tuned to South Bay Events for updates of house parties, insider tips and more information as the biggest day of the year gets closer!! Get ready, because you never know what the 4th will bring in the South Bay…