Fourth of July, Christmas, and other small-town holidays in California
Fourth of July, Christmas, and other small-town holidays in California, each compiled from its own sources: the date, the parade route, and the fireworks. No ratings; every entry carries its status.
Point at a dot to see the place.Tap a dot to see the place. Road map of California.
- 4th of July ParadeIdyllwild · Independence day paradeIdyllwild's Fourth of July parade, run by the Rotary Club down North Circle Drive in the San Jacinto Mountains, began in 1966 with children, pets, and a baby burro.
- Benicia Torchlight Parade and Fourth of July PicnicBenicia · Annual torchlight paradeAn evening parade down First Street in Benicia, California, each July 3, begun by the volunteer fire department when handheld torches were its only light.
- Burney Basin DaysBurney · ParadeBurney's Fourth of July celebration in Shasta County, California, run by the chamber of commerce, with a Main Street parade, a deep-pit barbecue and a burro race.
- Felton Remembers Parade and Covered Bridge FestivalFelton · FestivalA parade honoring military service followed by live music and food, drink and specialty vendors at Covered Bridge Park.
- Fourth of July Block PartyCloverdale · Community eventA free Independence Day afternoon on the carnival lot of the Cloverdale Citrus Fair, where townspeople bring their own Safe & Sane fireworks to light after dark.
- Fourth of July ParadeNovato · ParadeNovato's Fourth of July parade, run by volunteers along seven-tenths of a mile of Grant Avenue in Marin County, descends from township parades documented as early as 1908.
- Fourth of July Parade and CelebrationsMammoth Lakes · Fourth of july parade & celebrationsA Fourth of July parade in Mammoth Lakes, California, down Old Mammoth Road and Main Street, where in 2026 a record field of floats followed Olympic medalist Deena Kastor.
- Fourth of July Parade, Festival & FireworksConcord · July 4th celebrationConcord's Fourth of July in Contra Costa County, California: pancakes and a parade looping Todos Santos Plaza, then a free, alcohol-free festival and fireworks at Mt. Diablo High School.
- Graeagle Independence Day CelebrationGraeagle · Independence day celebrationA three-day Fourth of July celebration in Graeagle, Plumas County, California, held for more than fifty years, paid for by donations, with fireworks over the old mill-town Mill Pond.
- Holiday Parade and MarketBenicia · Holiday parade & marketBenicia's downtown Christmas parade and holiday market, staged on First Street by Benicia Main Street, where in 2025 Santa rode an Army Jeep handing out candy canes.
- Independence WeekendPoint Arena · Independence day parade and fireworks festivalFireworks festival at the Point Arena Pier and a downtown Main Street parade over the Independence weekend.
- Los Molinos 4th of July Parade and PlaydayLos Molinos · Annual parade and playday at the parkTehama County's longest-running Fourth of July parade comes down Highway 99E in Los Molinos behind an honorary mayor elected by fundraiser, then breaks for sack races in Mill Creek Park.
- Moke Hill Fourth of July ParadeMokelumne Hill · Annual 4th of july independence day celebrationThe Fourth of July on Main Street in Mokelumne Hill, a Calaveras County Gold Rush town, where pancakes at the Town Hall precede an eleven o'clock parade past rhyolite buildings.
- Ojai Independence Day Parade and FireworksOjai · Independence day celebrationOjai, California's volunteer-run Independence Day: a free Libbey Bowl concert on July 3, a morning parade down Ojai Avenue, and stadium fireworks, all paid for without city money.
- Old Fashioned Fourth of JulyBridgeport · Annual 4th of july celebrationBridgeport's Old Fashioned Fourth of July, a multi-day celebration in the Mono County seat, held its 164th edition in 2026, with a grease-pole climb and a ranch rodeo.
- Tree Lighting FestivalDixon · Christmas tree lighting festivalDowntown Dixon's December festival in Solano County, California, lights the business association's Christmas tree, and in 2025 the city closed downtown streets and Highway 113 for it.
- Truckee 4th of July ParadeTruckee · Independence day paradeTruckee, California's Fourth of July parade runs 1.5 miles down Donner Pass Road into downtown, where in 1882 a stagecoach called the Big Bonanza carried the organizers.
- Weaverville Old Fashioned Fourth of July CelebrationWeaverville · 4th of july celebrationA four-day Fourth of July in Weaverville, Trinity County, California, run by the Lions Club from Lowden Park, where an anvil fired at 6 a.m. wakes the town.
- Winters Tractor Parade and Tree LightingWinters · Holiday traditionDecorated tractors and floats, tree lighting and a holiday celebration for the whole community.
Holiday Celebrations in all eleven states; next door in Oregon.