The city has parking set up in several places, and it’s all free.  If you are coming only for the fireworks, plan ahead since they generally go off around 9:15PM.  Free parking is available in the large parking structure behind the office plaza at East Hillsdale Blvd and Shell Blvd.  There will be plenty of signs directing you where to park.  If you have a handicap sticker or plackert you can park in the lots behind the library or city hall.  Where you may not park is by Safeway unless you want a parking ticket.  That lot is private is reserved for customers of Safeway and Longs as well as the other businesses in that shopping center.

Bring a blanket, warm jackets, a picknick dinner and plan on enjoying the fireworks from the Leo Ryan Park.  Catamaran Park, a place often used by many locals to watch the fireworks is closed as they are making dramatic changes in the soccer field.  If you can get to the walkway along the waterfront, you can see the fireworks from there, but otherwise, find another place and the best place is at Leo Ryan Park or by the Park & Rec building on Shell Blvd.

Fireworks are also going to go off at the Port of Redwood City around 9:30PM.  Plan on getting down there early for parking.  The oldest parade on the Peninsula takes place on the 4th of July in downtown Redwood City.  Come and enjoy the 71st annual 4th of July Parade downtown Redwood City.  This parade has been a 4th of July feature for years but originally began in 1887!  When I was a child I remember going to see it and then going to see the rodeo that used to be held there as well, but the rodeo is long gone.  If you want to see a rodeo you’ll need to travel down to Salinas for that.

Both Foster City and Redwood City’s fireworks displays are FREE.  If you don’t mind paying, head to Shoreline in Mountain View and enjoy the San Francisco Symphony and Radio Disney as well as their fireworks displays.  That show begins at 5 PM. Tickets are available online.

The weather is likely to be foggy in the City and if you don’t mind fog head to San Francisco to see the fireworks over the Bay.  This is always a fabulous show and if you BART it up to the City, you won’t have to fight for parking around the Embarcadero.

Foster City will likely be cool for fireworks.  Redwood City should be a little bit warmer and it will likely be beautiful down in Mountain View.  We’re so lucky to be able to pick our weather for activities and Saturday will certainly be no exception.  Have fun, enjoy the fireworks and plan to bring friends and family with you.  Remember, it is against the law to shoot off fireworks in almost every city of San Mateo County.

Get ready! Friday night should be clear and cool, as usual, perfect weather for the annual 4th of July fireworks. Foster City celebrates the 4th of July in Big Style.  Start your morning off with the annunal Lion’s Club pancake breakfast, enter your kids in their own parade and plan on spending the day around Leo Ryan Park enjoying the holiday. Play games on the grassy meadow, picnic while listening to the musical entertainment that will take place during the afternoon and have a safe and sane 4th.  The Foster City Lion’s Club will be selling food all day long.  It’s a major fundraiser for them, so help them out and buy breakfast or lunch at the park.

Bring your dog down to the park and enter him or her into the dog show and while there, have them considered for the Milk-Bone 100th Anniversary SpokesDog contest!  Could your dog be the one?  Here’s your chance to find out and have some fun, too. Should it be the winner, they’ll you’ll get a $100,000 contract from Milk Bone.  That’s nothing to chew on!

There is a $5 registration fee for each of the 6 categories in the show and you can enter in more than one category, too.

1. Best Trick
2. Most Unique
3. Do/Owner Look-a-like
4. Most Beautiful or Handsome
5. Most Patriotic Costume

Don’t have a dog?  No matter, come on down to Leo Ryan Park and watch the fun.  Registration for the dog show is between 10:30 and 1 PM at the Rec Center. The show begins at 2 PM.

Don’t forget to bring blankets, warm jackets, plenty of food and drinks and your camera so you can stay the day and be ready for the fireworks that begins at dark, around 9 PM over the lake.  Stake out a good spot in the park and you’ll have your day taken care of!

Can’t get to Foster City?  Redwood City is having their 69th Annual 4th of July Parade and Fireworks.  Their parade features floats, marching bands and loads of excitement with Miss California appearing.  Guaranteed to be a great day for the family, too. Fireworks start at 9:30 PM over the harbor.

If you place yourself correctly in the San Mateo, Belmont or San Carlos hills you can watch the fireworks shows from both  Foster City and  Redwood City without fighting traffic.

Traffic tip for Foster City: arrival is easy, departure is not.  Plan of waiting a while before trying to drive home.  The city of Foster City swells from about 30,000 to 100,000 on this one night.  Patience is a virtue, so wait a while before trying to drive home.  You’ll be happy you did.