I'm working in Santa Cruz the last week in June. My family is coming on the weekend and we'll be spending 5 days in the city including July 4th. I've posted on a couple of other sites and I get the sense that the 4th of July is not a big deal in San Francisco. The fog makes it difficult to see fireworks, almost cold at times etc. Any dissenting opinions here? Does anyone know of any local events that tourists might not know about or great secret spots to watch fireworks?

Thanx

Even when I lived in the SF area in the '80s and early '90s. I remember an annual July 4th fireworks show at Crissy Field.

But - as you allued to in your post, weather can wreak havoc with the show (this story is from last year's Chronicle):

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/02/BAGO4DI5N51.DTL

It does seem to be the case that July 4th in SF is not the big event one would find in, say, Chicago or Boston (what's the statistic, that something like 1 in 6 people in the greater Chicago metropolitan area goes down to the Lakefront to see the fireworks there each year and enjoy Taste of Chicago?). Perhaps this is due in part to limited public spaces along SF's waterfront (not counting the ocean side, of course). Lots of people do go down to see the fireworks, but one doesn't have the big parades and food fests one finds elsewhere. Aside from MUNI buses, the fireworks area is not well-served by public transit, so parking can be tough. <edit> I forgot the historic F streetcar line, that was extended down along the Embarcadero a few years ago--so, not so bad. </edit> However, SF is a small city, so if one is ambulatory, one can also simply walk back over the hill to where better transit is--and it's quite a nice walk.

There are many July 4th fireworks celebrations around the Bay. Oakland has a nice one at Jack London Square--and it has been getting more organized and bigger each year, and it's quite convenient to the 12th Street/Oakland City Center BART station.

Last year, Berkeley's (at the Berkeley Marina) seemed to have been designed by people who were very relaxed...perhaps even chemically assisted with their relaxation. Each shell...went...up...and...then the...next shell...was...launched. Very Berkeley. Mountain View has one on a golf course by the Bay, also very low-key.

-Hayden

The above is all true. The 4th is just not the same here as in the Midwest or East Coast. The fog certainly doesn't help.

Amazingly, the most impressive 4th of July show I ever saw in Northern California was in Sacramento, at the fairgrounds there.

Ed

...Last year, Berkeley's (at the Berkeley Marina) seemed to have been designed by people who were very relaxed...perhaps even chemically assisted with their relaxation. Each shell...went...up...and...then the...next shell...was...launched. Very Berkeley. ...
-Hayden

We use the breaks between shells for brief meditations.

We use the breaks between shells for brief meditations. Looks like I'll have to come over for lessons for my 1st Berkeley 4th!.

Looks like I'll have to come over for lessons for my 1st Berkeley 4th!.

Just be sure to use public transportation or carpool in a hybrid. Also, no cologne.

Just be sure to use public transportation or carpool in a hybrid. Also, no cologne.

HA. I can walk. I might be able to have my own private show from the roof, too.

There are spots in the Oakland hills where you can catch the Oakland, Alameda, berkeley, Sausalito, San Francico, Foster City, Daly City (or South San Francisco?), and Hayward shows without moving around much. However, they are *all* distant in those cases.

Even when I lived in the SF area in the '80s and early '90s. I remember an annual July 4th fireworks show at Crissy Field.

But - as you allued to in your post, weather can wreak havoc with the show (this story is from last year's Chronicle):

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/02/BAGO4DI5N51.DTL

ah but you haven't lived till you are out on your friends parents sailboat off chrissy field trying to see the fireworks when the fog rolls in and you can barely see 15 feet. It gets really cold out there when that happens (this was when I was 12).

In college, everytime we would go to SF to watch fireworks it would be foggy.

so other shows are way better.

There are spots in the Oakland hills where you can catch the Oakland, Alameda, berkeley, Sausalito, San Francico, Foster City, Daly City (or South San Francisco?), and Hayward shows without moving around much. However, they are *all* distant in those cases.

I can speak from eight years of experience in the Berkeley hills that it is no big thrill to see distant fireworks. It's a bit like watching the World Series from a hovering blimp -- close enough to appreciate that it would sure be neat to be a lot closer.

Fireworks in the city are pretty disappointing. If you have access to a high floor (or roof) of a high-rise, you might be better off. The fog is a real killer. And let's just say that if the Bay Area wants to celebrate a holiday all-out, one celebrating all that is America is not going to be highest priority ;)

It's a bit like watching the World Series from a hovering blimp -- close enough to appreciate that it would sure be neat to be a lot closer.

Ha. But if you have toomanypeoplephobia, then it might be nice watching it from the hills. Russian Hill is a pretty good spot for the San Francisco fireworks and you should be able to see them from Taylor and Vallejo Streets or up the steps to Russian Hill Place.

Well all the fog-phobic had their come-uppance this year as SF was beautiful, warm (for SF), and completely fog free. I stood atop Potrero Hill and watched two sets of synchronized fireworks. Cool!

But last year... ugh.

This year, I abandoned Berkeley and biked over to Oakland's Jack London Square. There was an all-afternoon food fest with other activities going on, and the East Bay Symphony (I think...) and Oakland Interfaith Choir had a concert shortly before the main event, plus the symphony provided live accompaniment for the show. The fireworks were well-done, although things were a bit crowded at Jack London Square right during the fireworks, which were launched from a barge on the channel. Perhaps they will move the show to Middle Harbor Park at some point! Still, quite a nice smaller cityish fireworks display, with some Oakland style.

-Hayden

San Francisco is the worst place to celebrate Independence Day. First of all, it is often cool and foggy. Secondly, fireworks are outlawed in many areas of the Bay area because of fire danger.

But, most importantly, San Francisco is statistically the least patriotic big city in the US. Remember, there was ever talk of secession a few years back. And whatever you do, don't try to spend the holiday in Marin County where I once lived. In the town of Inverness, for example, they don't even fly an American flag but prefer the UN flag.

If you love the 4th of July celebrations, I'd suggest Chicago or Boston.

But, most importantly, San Francisco is statistically the least patriotic big city in the US. Remember, there was ever talk of secession a few years back. And whatever you do, don't try to spend the holiday in Marin County where I once lived. In the town of Inverness, for example, they don't even fly an American flag but prefer the UN flag.

If you love the 4th of July celebrations, I'd suggest Chicago or Boston.

Give me a break. Sorry we don't celebrate mindless flag-waving like the good ol' boys. Internationalism is alive and well here, as is an informed patriotic spirit that should be the envy of many places.

AND

The fireworks were awesome this year.

San Francisco is the worst place to celebrate Independence Day. First of all, it is often cool and foggy. Secondly, fireworks are outlawed in many areas of the Bay area because of fire danger.

But, most importantly, San Francisco is statistically the least patriotic big city in the US. Remember, there was ever talk of secession a few years back. And whatever you do, don't try to spend the holiday in Marin County where I once lived. In the town of Inverness, for example, they don't even fly an American flag but prefer the UN flag.

If you love the 4th of July celebrations, I'd suggest Chicago or Boston.

Actually, that's what I would prefer. When I was there two years ago, it was nice not to have American flags shoved in my face all day.

Give me a break....you have a better chance of attending a Bastille Day party in San Francisco than a 4th of July party.

Hey, I adore the city and it was home for many years, but it is NOT pro-American and distinctly unpatriotic. After a few years of this, we started spending the holiday in Nantucket to feel a little patriotism again.