Celebrate America 250 in San Diego

Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in San Diego, where Fourth of July festivities come with waterfront views, family-friendly fun and plenty of ways to explore the region’s history. Visitors can take in California’s largest fireworks show, enjoy special events aboard famous ships on San Diego Bay, including a decommissioned aircraft carrier, and join celebrations at theme parks and cultural institutions across the county.

Big Bay Boom

The annual Big Bay Boom is the largest fireworks show in California, with pyrotechnics launching from four different barges across San Diego Bay on July 4. The colorful aerial displays start at 9:15 p.m. and can be seen from along the waterfront spanning from Shelter Island to Coronado and Downtown, and there are multiple ways to enjoy the show, whether at a park, hotel or even by boat. Waterfront Park in Little Italy is in a prime location to see the fireworks, and visitors will find food trucks, live music and cultural presentations from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

More 4th of July Fireworks in San Diego

Beyond the waterfront, there are a variety of fireworks shows happening around the county, including Red, White & Boom! at LEGOLAND California, SeaWorld San Diego’s Fourth of July Celebration and the Fireworks Spectacular at the San Diego County Fair.

Check out the complete round up of the top fireworks shows and Fourth of July celebrations in the county.

New Fourth of July Drone Show over La Jolla

Experience the sight of 500 synchronized drones flying above La Jolla Shores at the Fourth of July Drone Spectacular. Guests of La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club can enjoy the show from the resort’s private beach, and a public viewing area will be available at Kellogg Park.

For more drone-show fun, don’t miss SeaWorld San Diego’s new Oceans of Dreams, running throughout the summer.

Old Town San Diego

Explore San Diego’s oldest neighborhood and one of the best places to experience the region’s layered history. Old Town is where the modern state of California began, with roots that include a Kumeyaay village, Spanish settlement and California’s first mission on what is now Presidio Hill. Today, visitors can stroll among museums, historic buildings, shops, restaurants and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

Step back into the 1800s during Old Town San Diego State Historic Park’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration, held July 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The family-friendly event brings history to life with blacksmithing and weaving demonstrations, archeological digs, games, live music and more.

San Diego History Center

When: June 18-July 31, 2026 
Spend part of your Balboa Park visit exploring the region’s story at the San Diego History Center’s new exhibit, “America 250: San Diego 1776-2026.” Set in the heart of the park, the exhibit highlights San Diego’s unique history and modern binational community through 100 objects from the center’s collections and exclusive private loans. Visitors can see Kumeyaay cultural materials, military objects, artwork and artifacts on display through July 31.

USS Midway Museum

When: July 4, 2026 
Spend Independence Day aboard one of San Diego’s most iconic waterfront attractions. The USS Midway Museum, a former U.S. Navy aircraft carrier berthed on San Diego Bay in Downtown, is opening its four-acre flight deck after hours for a benefit concert and front-row views of the fireworks over the water. The concert features the World Classic Rockers, with former members of Journey, Boston, Santana, Steppenwolf and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Proceeds support the construction of the new Freedom Park at Burnham Navy Pier along the waterfront.

Maritime Museum of San Diego

When: July 4, 2026 
Celebrate the Fourth of July along the Embarcadero & Marina District’s waterfront at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, home to historic seafaring vessels including the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship. The museum’s 4th of July Celebration turns part of the Embarcadero into a festive block party, with access to multiple ships in the fleet, food stations, bars, live music and prime views of the fireworks.

Navy Seal Museum

When: July 4, 2026
Explore one of San Diego’s newest museums during the free Stars, Stripes & SEALS: A 250th Anniversary Celebration at the Navy SEAL Museum San Diego. Visitors can enjoy complimentary food, giveaways, family activities, a scavenger hunt, artifact displays and stories from Navy SEAL veterans as the museum marks America’s 250th anniversary. The outdoor event is free and open to the public.

Liberty Station

When: July 3, 2026
Spend a day exploring Liberty Station, a 360-acre waterfront village on the Point Loma Peninsula where visitors can dine, shop, see public art and experience live performance on the grounds of a former U.S. Navy training center. The destination includes art galleries, a food hall, more than 30 restaurants, and the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center, home to Cygnet Theatre. For the Fourth of July long-weekend, Liberty Station will host Anchored in Freedom: An Independence Day Celebration on July 3, along with a public art installation honoring the Navy’s legacy.

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

When: July 4, 2026
Settle in for an unforgettable Fourth of July evening at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, the San Diego Symphony’s spectacular outdoor venue on San Diego Bay. The America the Beautiful: 250 concert begins at 7:30 p.m. July 4 and features patriotic favorites, including “Stars and Stripes Forever,” before the night ends with views of the Big Bay Boom fireworks over the waterfront.