Dine
Head to the PB bar on July 3 for a build-your-own taco bar from 5–10 p.m., $5 Pacifico, Modelo and Corona, and $8 Don Julio shots, plus a DJ spinning from 4 p.m. to close. Keep the party going on the July 4 with brunch, including drink specials like $7 Tito’s Bloody Marys and $4 Budweiser drafts. Be sure to stick around for their specialty BKYD BBQ from 2 to 8 p.m.
Price: Varies
Date: July 3-4
Location: 832 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
From 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., dive into a basket of wings tossed in one of their specialty sauces, such as thai red curry, caribbean jerk, spicy teriyaki, and plenty more, for half-off. Wash it down with $4 Jameson, Fireball, Bud, Bud Light, or Goose IPA.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 1030 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
The fast-casual fried chicken-focused eatery is hatching a new menu item for the Fourth. The Crack Shack will be serving fried pickles with tartar sauce and lemon during happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. on July 4.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 2266 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy; 407 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas
Located just steps from the sand, Pacific Beach’s premier lounge and eatery wants to say “Thank you for your service” by offering a 20 percent discount on tabs with a military ID. Come eat brunch, lunch, or dinner, or sip on a refreshing cocktail like the cucumber lemonade, with cucumber-infused Absolut Elyx, lemon, fresh mint, and agave.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 4650 Mission Boulevard, Pacific Beach
The healthy, fast-casual concept will be offering an exclusive dry-rubbed barbecue steak, gluten-free mac and cheese, crunchy kale slaw, watermelon, and a beverage. Dine in or take it to go.
Price: $14 per plate
Date: July 4
Location: 2690 Via de la Valle, Del Mar
Take in bay and firework views aboard the Hornblower during a three-hour dinner cruise. You’ll get a glass of bubbly upon boarding, feast on a dinner buffet including a carving station and baby back ribs, and dance to DJ entertainment. They’re also hosting one- and two-hour narrated daytime harbor cruises.
Price: from $172.95 per person for dinner cruise; from $27 for harbor cruise
Date: July 4
Location: 1800 North Harbor Drive, Downtown for dinner cruise; 970 North Harbor Drive for harbor cruise
Kick off your Fourth of July at the new beach bar with party favors, décor, a photo wall, and Bomb Pops by the plenty. There will be a DJ all day and a special buffet menu with burgers, brats, chili, watermelon, and more.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 860 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
Mission Avenue Bar and Grill is serving Kansas City-style baby back ribs from Chef William Eick and his team. Relax and listen to live music from 1–4 p.m. by Reynaldo Martine.
Price: Half rack of ribs $16; full rack $22
Date: July 4
Location: 711 Mission Avenue, Oceanside
The iconic dining destination will feature an amuse-bouche and four-course dinner. Diners can enjoy a panoramic view of the fireworks over the San Diego Bay plus menu highlights like lobster and shrimp boudin with leek fondue and Catelli Brother’s veal porchetta with roasted garlic thyme jus and creamy polenta. End the night with indulgent desserts like warm peach oatmeal crisp with bourbon oatmeal crunch ice cream.
Price: $85 per person
Date: July 4
Location: 2550 Fifth Ave, Bankers Hill
This La Jolla spot will be grilling up burgers and ribs with a side of potato salad and barbecue baked beans on the back patio. Wash your meal down with in-house specials on drinks and shots. And chef Shelly Velez will be selling her tasty, signature barbecue sauce for your next at-home barbecue.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 6830 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla
Fish Shop will be offering two specials for the Fourth: firecracker shrimp tacos topped with cabbage, mixed cheese, pico de gallo, and a chipotle aioli drizzle and seafood jalapeno poppers. Both dishes will be available all week long.
Price: firecracker tacos $6.00; seafood jalapeno poppers $6.50
Date: week of July 4
Location: 1775 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
The sophisticated seafood restaurant will be offering a three-course prix-fixe dinner for two. Dine on spicy “firecracker” shrimp, black and bleu beef tenderloin tips, grilled seasonal salmon fillet, and white chocolate cheesecake, all paired with wine.
Price: $70 per couple
Date: July 1-8
Location: 400 J Street, Gaslamp Quarter
Sip on $10 rocket pop-tails or get hoppy with their house-brewed American lager for $5.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 721 Grand Avenue, Pacific Beach
Located along the Seaport Village boardwalk, San Pasqual is offering a signature “firecracker” cocktail reception at the bayfront tasting room featuring light appetizers followed by a Hawaiian buffet dinner from Buster’s Beach House. Sit back and watch the fireworks show while eating luau pork sliders, Tiki chicken, island coleslaw, and your choice of cherry or blueberry pie. Reservations are required (available here).
Price: $75 or $60 for wine club members
Date: July 4
Location: 805 West Harbor Drive, Downtown
Get the festivities started early with brunch on the Fourth. Feast on barbecue-style brisket hash and eggs with bell peppers, poblano chiles, Brandt Farms smoked brisket, eggs, and a barbecue au jus. Or, sip on specialty cocktails, like the American Trigger Finger, at The Smoking Gun.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 555 Market Street, Gaslamp Quarter
This Gaslamp cafe will be offering patriotic red, white, and blue bagels this Fourth of July. Also, treat yourself by indulging in a piece of red, white, and blue layered dessert cake, with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 555 Market Street, Gaslamp Quarter
Enjoy an upscale American barbecue for the entire family complete with smoked pork ribs, grilled corn, a kid-friendly menu, a mouth-watering dessert bar, and a view of the Legoland fireworks show.
Price: $65 for adults; $35 for children ages 4-12; free for children under 3
Date: July 4
Location: 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad
Hit up Union Kitchen & Tap in Encinitas on July 3 for taco and tequila specials, $4 Budweiser bottles and $5 Pabst Blue Ribbon tall boys, and stick around for their patriotic “Ain’t That America” party, which will feature all-American tunes. Continue the celebrating on July 4 with brunch from 9 a.m.– 3 p.m., followed by live music from 5–8 p.m.
Price: Varies
Date: July 3–4
Location: 1108 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Celebrate with bottomless mimosas from 10 a.m.– 2 p.m., and finish the night with a live DJ from 10 p.m.– close.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 333 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Viewpoint Brewing Co. will be hosting the Fourth of July with a pig roast, barbecue, signature brews, and a spot to watch the fireworks. Tickets can be purchased here and include unlimited food, a fireworks viewing area, and valet.
Price: $75 for adults; $25 for kids
Date: July 4
Location: 2201 San Dieguito Drive, Del Mar
Kick off the celebration on July 3 with Waterbar’s July 4 Warm-Up, where you can get three street tacos with chicken, fish, or beef barbacoa for $7.95, or $3 each, and wash it down with $7 Don Julio Blanco Margaritas, $4 Budweiser drafts, and $5 Pacifico and Modelo drafts. Head into July 4 with live music from noon–3 p.m. paired with food specials, Jack Daniel’s and Tito’s slushies, and firecracker pop-tails. Be sure to don your finest July 4 garb for the chance to win a Jack Daniel’s surfboard, given to the person with the most patriotic outfit.
Price: Varies
Date: July 3-4
Location: 4325 Ocean Boulevard, Pacific Beach
Drink
The Encinitas cafe will offer patriotically colored vegan, gluten-free Blueberry Waffles ($10), along with the restaurant’s “Listen to Your Gut” probiotic coconut yogurt topped with strawberries and blueberries. Be sure to try out the “OH! OH! It’s Majik” superfood steamer, made with almond milk, ginger juice, lemon essential oil, honey, blue majik (an organic extraction of spirulina), spirulina, and lucuma.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 90 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Guests can visit the newest tasting room location and then head over to Beacon’s Beach, or take some beer to go.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 978 North Coast Highway 101, Leucadia
Staycations & Hotel Events
The hacienda-style Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa nestled between La Jolla and Del Mar is offering an exclusive longer weekend package, including a $50 resort credit, complimentary daily valet parking, poolside cabana service, and more. Some programs include a Friday night poolside DJ, a movie screening of Pixar’s Coco, several s’mores stations, and free yoga classes.
Price: Varies
Date: July 6–9
Location: 9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla
The Del kicks off Independence week early on July 1 at its annual Del Beach Bash—an iconic beach party with live music by The Mighty Untouchables, fire pits with s’mores, and fireworks.
Price: $25 per ticket
Date: July 1 and July 4
Location: 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Take in the Big Bay Boom from the best seats in San Diego—40 stories above the San Diego Bay. Join Manchester Grand Hyatt in Top of the Hyatt for unlimited beer, wine, champagne, and premium liquor from the bar as well as a barbecue buffet. Seating is limited; reserve your seat here.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 1 Market Place, Downtown
Reserve a bonfire pit complete with a s’mores kit, or enjoy the fireworks above Mission Bay from the outdoor patio of signature restaurant, Tidal, at this newly renovated hotel.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 1404 Vacation Road, Mission Bay
Throughout summer, families can enjoy “dive-inn” movies on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and special festivities for Fourth of July, including an all-American barbecue at Santiago Pool, kids activities, and a drive-in movie on the Fourth.
Price: Varies
Date: July 4
Location: 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo
Locals and guests can reserve exclusive patio seating to watch the Big Bay Boom at Sally’s Boardwalk Boom. Couches seat up to five people to take in the largest display of fireworks on the West Coast. Spend a minimum of $500 on food and beverage for the evening, and dine on locally sourced seafood, craft cocktails, and California wines. $100 of the ticket reserves a seating area and the remaining $400 of minimum is paid at the event upon check-in. Private seating area will be available at 7 p.m. for the 9 p.m. fireworks show.
Price: $500 minimum
Date: July 4
Location: 1 Market Place, Downtown
Fourth of July Fireworks
Carlsbad
Red, White and BOOM!
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Price: price of admission
Date: July 4
Location: Legoland California Resort, 1 Legoland Drive
Chula Vista
Chula Vista 4th Fest
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, 2800 Olympic Parkway
El Cajon
4th of July Picnic and Fireworks
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Kennedy Park, 1675 East Madison Avenue
Escondido
Independence Day Festival & Fireworks
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free or $5 VIP area
Date: July 4
Location: Grape Day Park, 321 North Broadway
Del Mar
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: price of fair admission
Date: July 4
Location: San Diego County Fair, 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard
Downtown
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: San Diego Bay
Imperial Beach
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Imperial Beach Pier, 10 Evergreen Avenue
La Mesa
Lake Murray Music Fest and Fireworks Show
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Lake Murray Community Park, 7001 Murray Park Drive
Mission Bay
Fireworks Spectacular Show
Time: TBA
Price: Price of admission
Date: July 4-7
Location: SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Drive
National City
National City’s 4th of July Carnival
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Kimball Park, East 12th Street
Ocean Beach
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Ocean Beach Pier, Niagara Avenue
Oceanside
City of Oceanside Fireworks Show
Time: 9 p.m
Price: Free
Date: July 3
Location: Rancho Del Oro Road
Point Loma
4th of July at the Cabrillo National Monument
Time: 6 to 10:30 p.m.
Price: $50 per vehicle
Date: July 4
Location: Cabrillo National Monument, 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Bernardo’s the Spirit of the Fourth Community Fair
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Bernardo Heights Middle School, 12990 Paseo Lucido
San Marcos
Celebrate Freedom, A Fireworks Extravaganza
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Bradley Park, 1587 Linda Vista Drive
Santee
Santee Salutes
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Date: July 4
Location: Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive
Vista
Independence Day Celebration
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Parking is $15–30 per vehicle; admission is $5
Date: July 4
Location: Moonlight Amphitheatre, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive
San Diego Fourth of July Guide 2018
