(Mostly) Free Fourth of July Events (2010)050

Looking for free July 4th events? We've got listings for Independence Day celebrations and fireworks shows happening all over LA, Orange, and Ventura County. Or maybe your family would prefer a 4th of July Fireworks Cruise? The events listed below are from previous years:

Probably the biggest free display in town is at The Coliseum and Exposition Park, but there are plenty more to choose from.

The City of Ventura's Family Independence Day Celebration, takes place at Ventura College in the evening, following the all-day Fourth of July Street Fair. Up in Simi Valley, the Reagan Library keeps families patriotically entertained for free while the sun shines, and down in Torrance the celebration in the park is a 30-year-old tradition.

Sierra Madre also celebrates all day, with its Fourth of July Celebration and Parade; other parades take place in Pacific Palisades, El Segundo, San Marino, along Main Street in Santa Monica, along Loyola Boulevard in Westchester, and in Newport Harbor, where the boat parade is a long standing tradition.

Free fireworks displays fill the air above Calabasas High School, La Crescenta Elementary School, Culver City High School, The Marina, Woodland Hills, and West Covina; several other displays charge admission but may be visible from nearby without a paid seat. A couple of great examples are Studio City, Redondo Beach, and Long Beach.

And in case you're wondering what all that noise is the week before, Santa Monica College keeps its tradition of holding its free pyrotechnics display early.

This is just the beginning, of course; we're adding more events daily, so be sure to check our calendar for loads of ideas for a fabulous Fourth!

Know of other July 4th activities for kids and families around town? Send us an email, or post a comment below, and we'll get right on it.