Santa Monica and its iconic pier deserves a spot on any good LA visit, but especially this weekend. While there’s plenty to do in Santa Monica, the Fourth of July celebrations center around the beach and pier, as they’re the best places around to enjoy the Fourth during the day and then experience the fireworks shows at night!
What to Do in Santa Monica on 4th of July
Pacific Park – Ferris Wheel Red White and Blue
From July 1st through the 4th, the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel will be lit in flashing red, white, and blue lights to celebrate the fun holiday that is America’s birthday! The Ferris Wheel will flash in different designs and will turn into a 90-foot-tall, waving American flag. The lights will be turned on from dusk until 11:35 PM each night. The different designs of the large Ferris Wheel are the perfect backdrop to the rest of the amusement rides and Pier that you can enjoy.
Santa Monica Fourth of July Parade
The City of Santa Monica puts on an annual Fourth of July parade. This year will feature first responders, health care workers, public safety officers, and food service workers that worked extremely hard during the pandemic.
The parade will go down Main Street and starts at 9:30 AM. Floats will be playing music and waving flags, so join in on the fun and wear your patriotic clothing to show your gratitude and support.
Marina Del Rey Fireworks
Close to Santa Monica, you can pop over to Marina del Rey and watch the fireworks show over the Pacific Ocean. They will start at 9:00 pm and last for about 20 minutes. There are county parking lots that will be open for guests to use. After parking, head over to Fisherman’s Village, Burton Chace Park, or any of the waterfront hotels and restaurants to see the show. You can even take a boat out and watch the show from the water.
LAX Coastal Parade
The annual LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce parade will kick off at 11:00 AM. The parade will travel from Westchester Park to Loyola Marymount University. This year’s parade will be honoring the 100th birthday of Howard Drollinger, one of Westchester chamber’s founders and a local philanthropist.
Where to See Fireworks
On top of the Pacific Park Ferris Wheel
- Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
What better way to see all the fireworks over Santa Monica and the ocean than up on the iconic Pacific Park Ferris Wheel? Feel extra patriotic and happy to be celebrating such a fun night at any point during July Fourth weekend as the Ferris Wheel is lit up in patriotic colors and designs. The only downside is that you’ll be on top of the giant digital flag, so you won’t get the best view of that part of the celebration. Seems like a fair enough trade, though.
Santa Monica Beach
- Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Bring a blanket and a picnic basket to watch the fireworks over Santa Monica at the beach. There are more than 3 miles of sand and coastline to pick a spot at. People from all over will come to Santa Monica’s beaches to see the different firework shows that will be going off around the city. You can even see the shows happening in the nearby cities as well, so you’ll get panoramic firework options!
Santa Monica Place Dining Deck
- Address: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Santa Monica Place is a luxury retail shopping center featuring high-end designers like Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, and more. It is located about two streets from Santa Monica Beach, keeping you close to the action should you want to head to the sand.
Walk around and window shop while you wait for the sun to set. Santa Monica Place has a wonderful rooftop dining deck featuring plenty of restaurants and bars. This is the perfect setting if you want a more laid-back firework show with friends.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel Rooftop Bar and Pool
- Address: 700 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
On Saturday and Sunday only, July 2nd and 3rd, enjoy a sophisticated and elevated July Fourth celebration at the Proper Hotel Rooftop. They will be sparkling Veuve Clicquot to sip on and pair with an a la carte menu. A live DJ will be mixing for guests.
Going on from 4:00 PM until midnight, this is the perfect spot if you want to celebrate and have a clubbing experience. Plus, the rooftop gives you a great advantage to see the fireworks around the city when the sun goes down.