San Francisco for July 4th
 

What will be going on in the city for July 4th? What are the good places to watch fireworks?
Thanks!

it's often foggy on July 4th in SF. The best way to see any fireworks is to go where they're shooting them off from, either by the Bay Bridge or Chrissy Fields.

Two years ago we saw them near Fisherman's Wharf - they were shooting them off from 2 locations simultaneously to either side of FW.

Of course, don't know if that is an every year thing - you would have to check. Make sure to dress warm - although it was not too foggy to see fireworks, we nearly froze to death in the damp cold.

Unfortunately the fog often does obscure the fireworks in San Francisco. One of the best places to see the firewoks in northern California is in San Jose at the San Jose America Festival. It's actually has one of the biggest displays in the area. If you do not have a car you can take Caltrain from San Francisco (4th and Townsend Streets) to San Jose's Diridon Station. It's about a 10 minute walk to the festival. or you can just take a cab from the station as well. The fireworks are usually around 9 or 9:30 PM.

www.americafestival.com

Franklinn, don't you know Caltrain doesn't run on weekends? Do you think they'll fix it by July 4th? Unlikely.

The better way to Great America (this is if you decide to go there, would be bad choice in my opinion) is to take BART to Fremont, and express bus to the entrance.

Hi FainaAgain,

Great point. I just checked the Caltrain website (www.caltrain.org) and weekend service will be restored in this spring, so trains will be running between SF and San Jose on the weekends.

From my experience the best way to see the fireworks in SF is out in the Bay on a boat! It's like being underneath them. (Bundle up it gets cold.) We go from Tiburon every year and have yet to have fog disrupt the show. Yes, sometimes their are fog pockets, but the skipper just moves the boat up or down along the Embarcadero. A bonus is seeing fireworks from other cities also along the bay.Try the Red & White fleet at www.redandwhite.com if you are going
from the city. If you can drive over the Golden Gate to Tiburon try www.angelislandferry.com -Coolers are allowed on the Tiburon ferry,BTW.
I suggest buying your tickets early!
Enjoy!
R5

San Jose is really quite a distance away from San Francisco and I don't think I would take public transportation there at night to see fireworks. If fireworks are what is important to you, San Francisco weather is pretty iffy - sometimes it is beautiful, other times it is very foggy. However, if being in SF is what is important, I would stay put and hope for the best.

We saw great fireworks one july 4th ('97 or '98) at the old candlestick park (now Pac Bell). Wondered if they still have them?

They were probably the best we've seen, complete with wonderful patriotic music. Or maybe it was because we were celebrating america in such an amazing, exceptionally wonderful city!

I'll only be in San Fran for 3.5 days, so I think I'd prefer to stay in the city that day...

So I guess what I'm hearing is that they may be several different fireworks shows? No main show?

Razzledazzle, thanks for the info on the boats/ferries, I'll look into those!

OH, for sure there's a HUGE main show. A huge synchronized double display down at the Embarcadero/Pier 39/Aquatic Park
in San Francisco.
It's just so much and sooooo crowded
that we find it easier to take in from the water. If you stay choose to stay
in the city go plently early and bring your walking shoes! It's an all day
celebration.
R5

San Francisco,Fishermans Wharf, July 4, 2002, clear, no fog, spectacular fireworks. Got some great pics with our then new camera.