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Patch has your complete guide to Independence Day fireworks shows, parades and other celebrations in and around L.A.'s West Side & South Bay

LONG BEACH, CA — Happy birthday, America!

After a year or two of COVID-related restrictions, Long Beach and cities and towns throughout the West Side and South Bay/Long Beach region are back in the star-spangled swing with Fourth of July parades, events and fireworks extravaganzas.

July 4, 2022 falls on a Monday. Do note not all Independence Day events are on that date, with several spread throughout the holiday weekend or earlier. And always confirm with organizers that events are proceeding as planned.

Scroll through our annual event guide to find what's going on near you. And have a happy, safe and festive 4th of July, from Patch!

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JULY 3: July 4th Weekend Over-The-Line Tournament & Movie In Park. "Ghostbusters Afterlife" plays at 8 p.m.

JULY 4: July 4th Celebration, Music & Fireworks. Festivities include family games & live music.

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JULY 4: July 4th Great American Kids' Bike Parade. Hosted by Justin Rudd, with free entry.

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JULY 4: LA Galaxy Soccer & July 4th Fireworks: Dignity Health Sports Park. Fireworks follow game against CF Montreal.

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JULY 2-4: July 4th Weekend Fests, Parades & Fireworks. Avalon & Two Harbors both hosting fireworks extravaganzas.

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JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks & 'Let Freedom Ring Celebration' - A community tradition, now in its 49th year.

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JULY 3: July 3rd Independence Day Fest & Fireworks: West LA College. Featuring live music, food & fireworks.

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JULY 4: July 4th Fest & Fireworks. Wristbands on sale.

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JULY 4: July 4th Ironman 'Run, Paddle, Chug' - "The quintessential bonhomie experience."

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JULY 2-4: July 4th Fireworks, L.A. Philharmonic, Steve Martin & Martin Short: Hollywood Bowl. "Join us for one of LA's greatest July Fourth traditions."

JULY 2-4: July 4th Weekend Outdoor Movies & Fireworks: Hollywood Forever Cemetery. A different movie each night, plus DJs, food & photo booths.

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JUNE 25: Civic Center Block Party & Fireworks. Live entertainment, "Taste of Lakewood" & family fun zone, too.

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JULY 2: Independence Day Dog Parade. At Lincoln Park.

JULY 3: July 3rd 'Big Bang On The Bay' Fireworks & BBQ: Boathouse on the Bay. Ticket proceeds benefit charities.

JULY 4: July 4th Great American Kids' Bike Parade. Hosted by Justin Rudd, with free entry.

JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks At Waterfront. An annual tradition!

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JULY 1 & 4: LA Dodger July 4th Weekend Fireworks & Games. The great American pastime ... followed by fireworks extravaganza.

JULY 4: July 4th LAX Coastal Parade. This year's theme is"Yours for a Better Community: Celebrating the Best of America," in honor of philanthropist Howard Drollinger's 100th birthday in Westchester.

JULY 4: Grand Park July 4th Block Party & Fireworks. Night of food, music, DJs, dancing & fireworks!

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JULY 3: July 3rd Fireworks Show, Food, Entertainment & Family Fun. Includes food trucks, live entertainment, bounce houses, lawn games & more.

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JULY 1-4: July 4th Weekend Fireworks. Check for latest updates on barge displays.

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JULY 3: July 3rd Salute To The Troops: Picnic & Concert. Pack a picnic & enjoy The Satin Dollz.

JULY 4: July 4th Begg Pool Party Celebration. $5 per person.

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JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks: Burton Chace Park & Fisherman's Village. "There's no better place in Los Angeles to see 4th of July fireworks than in L.A.'s Marina."

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JULY 4: July 4th Will Rogers 5K, 10K & Kids' Fun Run. Annual event, dating to 1977, draws participants from young children to those 80 years old!

JULY 4: July 4th Parade, Flyover & Fireworks. Advance ticket sales required for fireworks.

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JULY 4: July 4th Celebration & Carnival. Pony rides, food trucks, games, beer & wine booth also planned.

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JULY 3: Village Runner Independence Day 5K Run & Firecracker Dash. With costume contest, plus T-shirts & medals for finishers.

JULY 4: July 4th Fest, Bands & Fireworks: Riviera Village. On Avenue I & tickets on sale.

JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks: Seaside Lagoon. On a first-come, first-serve basis.

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JULY 1: July 1st 'Cars & Stripes Forever' - Fireworks & Music. "The popular patriotic event Port of Los Angeles Cars & Stripes Forever! returns to the LA Waterfront in 2022!"

JULY 4: July 4th Community Observance At Korean Bell. At Angels Gate Park, home of the Korean Friendship Bell.

JULY 4: July 4th John Olguin Fireworks Spectacular Party: Cabrillo Beach. Tickets on sale.

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JULY 2-4: July 4th Weekend Fest & Fireworks: Six Flags Magic Mountain. Featuring nightly fireworks.

JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks: Westfield Valencia Town Center. Soundtrack broadcasts live on KHTS AM 1220.

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JULY 1-5: July 4th Weekend Ferris Wheel Flag Display: Pacific Park. Pacific Wheel will fly a 90-feet tall American flag & interchanging display for weekend celebration.

JULY 4: July 4th Parade. "We're proud to honor our community heroes, first responders during the pandemic years: healthcare, public safety & food service workers."

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JULY 1-4: July 4th Weekend Carnival & Fireworks. Thrill rides, midway games, carnival food & more!

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JULY 4: July 4th Celebration Fireworks. Viewing will be on first-come, first-served basis.

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JULY 2-4: July 4th Weekend Fireworks: Universal Studios Hollywood. With nightly fireworks show.

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JULY 2-4: July 4th Weekend Fest & Fireworks: Six Flags Magic Mountain. Featuring nightly fireworks.

JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks: Westfield Valencia Town Center. Soundtrack broadcasts live on KHTS AM 1220.

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JULY 3-4: July 4th Weekend Electric Light Parade. A unique event, only in Venice!

JULY 4: July 4th 'Mr. & Mrs. Muscle Beach' Competition. Includes guest appearance by body-building legend, Bill Grant, aka,"The Man of Steel."

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JULY 4: July 4th LAX Coastal Parade. This year's theme is"Yours for a Better Community: Celebrating the Best of America," in honor of philanthropist Howard Drollinger's 100th birthday.

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Long Beach, CA – Beginning Friday, June 24, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) will now have the ability to begin vaccinating anyone 6 months of age and older. The City will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility by offering the Moderna vaccine to children 6 months to 5 years of age, as well as the Pfizer vaccine to children 6 months to 4 years of age.

“This is a huge step forward in our City’s efforts to keep our children and community safe in this public health crisis,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “Vaccines are safe and effective — especially at preventing hospitalization and serious illness. With vaccines now available to infants and toddlers, anyone who needs a vaccine can receive one.”

Pfizer

The Health Department will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 6 months to 4 years old. Previously, the Pfizer vaccine was only offered to those ages 5 and older. The vaccine that will be given to this new age group will be a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine and will be administered as a three-dose primary series. The initial two doses are administered three weeks apart, followed by a third dose administered at least eight weeks after the second dose.

Moderna

The Health Department will offer the Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Previously, the Moderna vaccine was only offered to those who are 18 years of age and older. The vaccine that will be given to this new age group will be a lower dose of the Moderna vaccine and will be administered as a two-dose primary series. The initial two doses are administered one month apart. A third primary series dose, at least one month following the second dose, will be available for immunocompromised individuals.

To accommodate families and children of this age group, appointments for children ages 5 and younger will only be made available in the child-friendly clinical space at the Health Department’s Main Facility, located at 2525 Grand Ave., on the following days and times:

Vaccines for this new age group will not be offered at any other City-run COVID-19 vaccination site. Families that include people with disabilities, access or functional needs, or underlying health conditions who are not able to travel to this vaccination site can request mobile vaccination at longbeach.gov/COVID19MobileVaccination or by calling 562.570.4636.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the emergency use of these vaccines for infants and toddlers on June 17, which was followed by approvals from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on June 18, and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup on June 19.

The ACIP and CDC recommend that all children 6 months to 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo rigorous safety monitoring. The COVID-19 vaccines have been found to be safe, and parents and guardians can contribute to continued safety monitoring by signing up their children for V-Safe to share with CDC how a child feels after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The Health Department also urges all healthcare providers and vaccine recipients to report any suspected adverse events following receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS).

The Health Department continues to urge everyone to get vaccinated and boosted when eligible, as it remains the single best way to protect yourself and those around you against COVID-19. Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 infection and especially effective at preventing hospitalization, serious illness or death among breakthrough cases of the virus. To view the most up-to-date vaccine clinic schedule and to schedule an appointment, visit longbeach.gov/vaxLB or call 562.570.4636.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity and @LBHealthDept on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People may also visit longbeach.gov/COVID19data for up-to-date information regarding cases and vaccines in Long Beach.

After a catastrophic year of oil spills and sewage equipment failures, here’s some good news for the California coast: Most beaches across the state are still much cleaner than in decades past.

In its annual “report card,” Heal the Bay graded more than 700 beaches and found that 94% of California’s beaches logged clean water-quality marks between April and October 2021, and that 51 beaches had perfect year-round scores — a good sign for a shoreline once riddled with so much trash and bacteria that people often got sick when they swam.

But the report still found troubling pockets of pollution — some surprising and others stubborn — especially in the winter months.

Another year of extreme drought has also made things more complicated: Beaches tend to be less polluted in drier years (imagine all the litter, pesticides and microplastics that flush into the ocean whenever it rains), but this trend has become less clear-cut. Scientists are starting to study how record wildfires and changing storm patterns could also affect water quality by the shore.

Without further ado, here are the dirtiest beaches in California:

1. Erckenbrack Park (Foster City, San Mateo County)

2. Marlin Park (Foster City, San Mateo County)

3. Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica, Los Angeles County)

4. Mother’s Beach (Marina del Rey, Los Angeles County)

5. Moonstone County Park (Humboldt County)

6. Newport Bay, Vaughn’s Launch (Orange County)

7. Lakeshore Park (San Mateo County)

8. Tijuana Slough, north of Tijuana River mouth (San Diego County)

This annual report card, now in its 32nd year, is based on routine water-quality testing conducted by local health officials, sanitation departments and state and tribal agencies. Beach samples are analyzed for three fecal-indicator bacteria that show pollution from numerous sources, including human and animal waste.

Because each agency formats their raw data in different (and sometimes confusing) ways, Heal the Bay — an environmental nonprofit based in Santa Monica — began compiling and translating the information into simple A-plus through F grades for the public. Swimming at a beach with a grade of C or lower greatly increases the risk of skin rashes, ear and upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses such as the stomach flu.

The State Water Resources Control Board endorses this report, which helps scientists and policymakers spot trends and specific beaches that need closer attention.

Santa Monica Pier, for example, came as a surprise this year. This popular tourist attraction used to consistently log the worst grades in the state because of a big storm drain under the pier. But that changed after 2018, when the city built a 1.6-million-gallon tank beneath the parking lot to capture and recycle dirty runoff before it flushed into the ocean.

City officials are still trying to figure out what’s causing this new spike in pollution. Birds roosting and pooping under the pier are likely culprits. (Birds are also likely behind the high bacteria concentrations logged this year at Vaughn’s Launch in Newport Bay, which is situated within an ecological reserve.)

Beaches with poor circulation also continue to be an issue. For the third year in a row, a concerning number of beaches in San Mateo County topped the list of dirtiest beaches in California. Many of these swimming areas — similar to Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey — are confined by urbanized channels and harbors.

Although these beaches are shielded from big waves — making them popular for families with young children — pollution and bacteria build up easily with so little circulation.

“The physical nature of those beaches is a big issue — the surrounding development goes right up to the water’s edge,” said Luke Ginger, a water quality scientist at Heal the Bay. “So there’s a lot of concrete, a lot of impervious surfaces. The stormwater flows right off the street and into the water.”

Failing infrastructure also proved to be a huge problem this past year. Last summer, 17 million gallons of sewage spewed into the waters off Dockweiler and El Segundo beaches after equipment at Los Angeles’s largest wastewater treatment facility broke down. Off the coast of Huntington Beach, an estimated 25,000 gallons of oil leaked into the sea in October after an aging pipeline ruptured.

At the border with Mexico, almost a billion gallons of sewage flushed into the Pacific after a deteriorating pipe known as the “International Collector” cracked in January. Communities near the mouth of the Tijuana River — which starts in Mexico but enters the ocean in California — have been chronically haunted by these failures to contain raw sewage flows.

“Just one big failure can undo a lot of work and cause a lot of problems,” said Ginger, who noted the many decades of efforts to clean up California’s beaches. “With aging and deteriorating infrastructure, we’re worried that events like this will become more common.”

Massive spills aside, runoff from storm drains remains the largest source of pollution for California’s beaches. Unlike sewage, which is usually filtered through treatment facilities before it’s released, most of this dirty water flushes straight into the ocean through a network of storm drains and concrete-lined rivers.

A good rule of thumb is to stay at least 100 yards away from storm drains and piers — and to be mindful when swimming in enclosed beaches. And always, always wait at least 72 hours after it rains before going into the ocean.

Ginger and his team have also been improving their daily reports, dubbed NowCast, at 25 local beaches to help people stay better informed. And for the second time this year, the report card included three popular beaches in Tijuana that are regularly affected by raw sewage: El Faro, El Vigia and Playa Blanca, which received the worst grade out of all the beaches assessed this year.

Inspired by the way this annual beach report has led to better statewide standards, a growing movement of people are now directing their attention up the watershed — to the many rivers and creeks that feed into the ocean and serve as recreation for inland communities.

The same urban runoff polluting the ocean often starts in these seemingly fresh rivers. But unlike today’s beach monitoring, there is no statewide oversight or standardization for freshwater pollution monitoring in California. Because of this data gap, people swimming in rivers are not provided the same public health information as beachgoers.

Now in its fourth year, Heal the Bay’s “river report card” uses a similar grading framework for 35 sites along Malibu Creek, the Los Angeles River and San Gabriel River in Los Angeles County.

Here are popular river locations in the Los Angeles area that pose the highest risk of illness:

1. Los Angeles River at Riverfront Park (Maywood)

2. Los Angeles River below the Rio Hondo Confluence (South Gate)

3. Los Angeles River at Hollydale Park (South Gate)

4. Compton Creek

5. Los Angeles River below the Compton Creek Confluence (Long Beach)

6. Tujunga Wash at Hansen Dam (Pacoima)

7. Los Angeles River at Willow Street (Long Beach)

8. Los Angeles River at Rattlesnake Park (Elysian Valley)

9. Las Virgenes Creek (Malibu Creek State Park)

10. Bull Creek (San Fernando Valley)

It was alarming to discover just how bad the pollution has been in the lower L.A. River, the report noted, especially along areas that are not meant for recreation but still used for swimming and fishing. Homeless communities have also relied on this part of the river for washing and other needs.

Bacteria levels along this stretch of river were more than 10 times higher than what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers safe.

Tracy Quinn, who became Heal the Bay’s new president in May, said that expanding the river report card is a big priority. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed new legislation last October that tasks state officials with identifying every lake, river and stream in California that should be monitored for public health risks.

Quinn, who formerly oversaw California urban water policy at the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council, is also advocating for more projects that can absorb and clean urban runoff, while also doubling as parks — providing much-needed green space for inland communities. Our built environment and our health, she said, are ultimately inseparable.

“We have replaced natural landscapes with impervious streets and structures and that has resulted in high pollution loads in our rivers and in our ocean,” she said. “When we’re talking about coastal water quality, we need to think of it as a watershed issue. We need to address this from summit to sea.”

SOHMA Integrative Medicine is committed to the continual health of Lakewood and Long Beach.

LAKEWOOD and LONG BEACH, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SOHMA Integrative Medicine is determined to better the health of citizens of Lakewood and Long Beach by combining eastern and western medicine. SOHMA's commitment is to get people out of pain, into balance & back to play without the use of drugs or surgery. SOHMA Integrative Medicine opened its doors in 2014 and since then has utilized evidence-based practices while treating patients in a holistic way, unifying ancient wisdom with modern technologies.

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"SOHMA's goal is about bringing a healthier and balanced lifestyle to all of Lakewood and Long Beach residents," said Dr. Daniel Hoover, DC,LAc, MH, CCSP^®, CEO of SOHMA Integrative Medicine. "Through our combination of eastern and western medicine, we help improve our patients' lives in a non-invasive way," said Dr. Hoover.

About Traditional Eastern Medicine

Using traditional Eastern medicine like acupuncture, cupping therapy, and medical tai-chi, the patient's body is assisted in the healing and recovery process naturally. Acupuncture uses thin, sterile single-use needles inserted into strategic points, which can have positive therapeutic results when stimulated by the needles. Cupping therapy uses either fire or a pump to create a vacuum inside the cup, which is placed onto the skin, causing vasodilation which circulates stagnant toxins out of the affected area while bringing in fresh nutrient-rich, oxygenated blood to promote natural healing. Medical tai-chi classes bring participants of all ages together to increase flexibility, balance, agility, and stamina while reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and blood pressure. Tai-chi classes are provided entirely free every Sunday at Heartwell Park in Long Beach, CA, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, or can be followed online.

SOHMA's Approach to Health using Technology

SOHMA's modern technology includes non-surgical spinal decompression, joint injections, and IV therapy. Non-surgical spinal decompression uses a spinal traction, a specialized table to gently pull at either side of the spine. It releases pressure that may have built up within the spine, giving patients pain relief and improving balance. Joint injections use either human cellular tissue products (HCT/P) or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in a unique approach to repairing the human body. PRP injections use the patient's platelet enriched plasma to promote healing and reduce post-surgery recovery times. HCT/P injections support the body's healing by regenerating and regrowing damaged tissue without the need for invasive therapies. SOHMA offers IV therapy in the forms of the Myer's cocktail and ozone therapy. Myer's cocktail is a blend of vitamins used to hydrate, replenish nutrients, and treat various conditions. Ozone therapy uses ozone's anti-inflammatory properties to kill bacteria and prevent viral replication.

About SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Founded in 2014, SOHMA Integrative Medicine ranks among the best health centers in Long Beach and Lakewood, CA. Winning three awards for best health clinic, best chiropractor, and best acupuncturist in The Absolute Best of Long Beach Awards in the three categories for which it was nominated and just named best of Long Beach Reader's Choice by the Long Beach Post.

Media Contact:Mariah Dominguez562-420-2112[email protected]

SOURCE SOHMA Integrative Health Center

John Morris and the Boathouse on the Bay have hosted the Big Bang on the Bay, a July 3 fireworks show to raise money for the nonprofit Children Today and other charities, since 2011.

“And I want to be clear,” Morris said recently. “The show will go on this year.”

But for the last two years, environmental groups have fought the event, saying that the fireworks over Alamitos Bay are polluting the water and endangering birds in the area. This year, the Sierra Club Los Cerritos Wetlands Task Force persuaded the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to issue an order requiring water quality tests and reports.

“Sierra Club Los Cerritos Wetlands Task Force has urged the CA Coastal Commission and LB Special Events not to permit these fireworks,” a letter from the group’s co-chair, Ann Cantrell, says. “In addition to water and air pollution, terrifying vets and pets, there is a rookery containing Herons, Egrets and Gulls nesting a few hundred yards from the barge where the fireworks are launched.”

Morris said Monday that he is already doing everything the water quality board was requesting, including water quality tests before and after the show. He has also hired a scientist to check on birds around the bay before and after the show, Morris said.

“They always come back,” Morris said.

Fireworks, which are launched from a barge in the bay for the show, can emit a wide range of chemicals when they explode, as well as physical components such as cardboard and plastic, according to the water quality board.

But the fireworks used for his show are biodegradable, Morris said, adding that he has hired a diver to check the bay floor after the show to see if there is any debris.

Another environmental group sued in 2015 over the impacts of the Big Bang; a settlement included the before and after water quality studies.

A second lawsuit was filed in federal court last year by the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation, which also has other lawsuits pending against fireworks shows elsewhere, including those at Sea World in San Diego.

That lawsuit accuses the fireworks show of violating the federal Clean Water Act.

“Defendants’ discharge of pollutants causes and/or contributes to the impairment of Alamitos Bay and compromises or destroys its Beneficial Uses,” the lawsuit says. “With every sparkle and flash of color from fireworks, pollutants in the form of debris, fuses, toxic metals and chemical residue fall into the waters below.”

The lawsuit is still in mediation, according to federal court documents, so no trial date has been set.

That group is pushing him to settle and pay their attorney fees, Morris said Monday, June 20, but he has declined.

“It’s blackmail, plain and simple,” he said.

Many fireworks shows in California are set off over the ocean or other bodies of water, partially to avoid the danger of falling debris sparking fires. Long Beach and its Convention & Visitors Bureau have a Fourth of July show planned in Queensway Bay — and there are no known orders against that show.

The order from the water quality board, meanwhile, says it is part of a larger investigation regarding the impact of fireworks on water quality in the region. It also notes that the type and amount of residue varies with the type of shell, angle of launch, weather and more.

Cantrell’s letter said her group has urged both the state Coastal Commission and the city’s Special Events and Filming Department to deny a permit for the show. Morris, though, said he has the Coastal Commission permit in hand and has been told the city’s special event permit is on the way.

City officials said on Tuesday they were looking into whether a permit was on its way, but did not provide an answer by deadline.

The water quality control board order includes a requirement to do an alternative study looking at other locations or alternative types of fireworks, but does not require that until December.

But a Best Management Practices report was due on Wednesday, June 22. There are 18 different categories of best practices to be addressed.

Morris said he is relying on the city’s special events staff regarding best practices, which the city also requires. He has gone through the list and believes he is following them, Morris said.

The one additional requirement is for video and photographic monitoring of the fireworks shoot on the barge. Morris said he was happy to comply with that.

There is a consequence to not turning reports in, according to the board’s order.

“Failure to submit the required report described above by the specified due date(s) may result in the imposition of administrative civil liability by the Los Angeles Water Board,” the order says, “in an amount up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day for each day the report is not received after the above due date(s).”

There is no requirement or attempt to stop the show in the order.

Cantrell’s letter, though, says her group has suggested a drone light show as an alternative, but Morris has refused. Morris confirmed that he declined that suggestion.

Cantrell concludes her letter by asking people to contact their City Council representative to block the special event permit.

“All they are doing is taking money out of the charities,” Morris said. “Last year, I spent $13,000 for the testing and the bird guy, and this year I’ll have to spend more.

“I want to do what’s right, I have been doing what’s right for the environment,” he added. “They’re just taking money away.”

For information about the Big Bang on the Bay, go to boathouseonthebay.com/big-bang.