Big Bay Boom: Places to watch fireworks over San Diego Bay

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Big Bay Boom, the largest Fourth of July celebration on the West Coast, returns to San Diego Bay on Friday.

With thousands of people expected to flock to beaches and bays for a glimpse of the action, they should also expect to encounter congested roads before and after the event. Fortunately, the fireworks can be seen from multiple areas.

Big Bay Boom 2025: Watch 4th of July fireworks over San Diego Bay

Here are some different places to watch the excitement from on July 4.

Shelter Island

Shelter Island directly faces one of the four barges where fireworks will be launched from on San Diego Bay. Big crowds are expected along Shoreline Park from the north to south ends of the island. Those watching from Shelter Island Pier may also get a good view of the show.

Harbor Island

Harbor Island also faces one of the four barges on the bay which will be launching fireworks. Although Harbor Island Park may arguably be the best spot to camp out in the area to be close to the pyrotechnics, those who want to avoid the congestion along Harbor Island Drive after the show may enjoy a similar view from Spanish Landing Park, just across the water from Harbor Island.

Embarcadero and Marina District

Those viewing along the Embarcadero and the Marina District will get a front-row seat to the fireworks launching over the bay. Whether watching from a rooftop at a downtown hotel or from the ground from a sidewalk, there’s no shortage of action from this general area. Two of the four barges will be located directly across from the USS Midway Museum and the Embarcadero Marina Park near The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.

Liberty Station

Liberty Station in Point Loma offers a few good options for watching the fireworks show without as much traffic and congestion as areas closer to the center of the show such as Shelter Island or Harbor Island, for example. The Naval Training Center Park has plenty of space for people to watch fireworks light up the sky. Plus, it’s a fitting setting for celebrating America’s Independence Day, given its history as a former Navy training center.

Coronado

Take a ferry across the bay to Coronado and enjoy the fireworks show set against the backdrop of the downtown San Diego skyline. Ideal viewpoints include Centennial Park, Coronado Ferry Landing Park, Bayview Park and Coronado Tidelands Park for those who want to see the fireworks launch directly from the barges. Though located on the opposite side of the bay, fireworks may still be seen from places like Coronado Beach and Hotel del Coronado.

More Big Bay Boom stories

Can’t watch the fireworks in person? FOX 5 will be livestreaming the Big Bay Boom fireworks show on air and on the free TV streaming app, FOX 5 KUSI Now, available on Roku, Apple TV and Fire TV.

The FOX 5 special show begins Friday at 8 p.m…

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