Our Star-Spangled holiday falls on a Thursday this year, ready-made for long weekend vibes. Have fun, of course, this San Diego weekend, but spare a thought for our founding fathers, the values they set out for us and the democracy that we should cherish.
When it comes to fireworks in San Diego, the Big Bay Boom is the main event. The 12-minute show will light the sky over large expanses of San Diego’s bayfront beginning at 9 p.m. But it’s far from the only game in town if you prefer to stay away from the throngs that will crowd the beaches and bay. See our guide for spots to go for neighborhood shows.
There’s also the option of spending Thursday at the San Diego County Fair and watching fireworks light up Del Mar at day’s end. This weekend is the fair finale for 2024, so it’s the last chance to load up on fair goodies, jump on the latest rides, see demonstrations of everything from hypnotism to racing pigs and go retro, as this year’s fair theme urges. General admission is $20.
Two county Independence Day and summer fests continue throughout the weekend: