July 4 fireworks – and drones, too – light up the night around Los Angeles County

5 months ago

Redondo Beach celebrates Independence Day with fireworks launched from a barge in King Harbor on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

Hundreds gather on the streets to enjoy the fireworks show during the spectacular displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

A woman shows her red, white and blues colors during the spectacular fireworks displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

A and keeps his cool with a fan during the spectacular fireworks displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

Major traffic jams didn’t stop people to enjoy the fireworks show during the spectacular displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

A kid shows off his American color hair during the spectacular fireworks displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

A person takes photos during the spectacular fireworks displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

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People enjoy all the food trucks during the spectacular fireworks displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

Kids enjoy playing wit bubbles during the spectacular fireworks displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

Angela O’ Neill and the Outrageous 8 perform during the spectacular fireworks displays in Southern California, Council member Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza celebrates our nation’s birthday Thursday, Woodland Hills CA, July 4, 2024. The event had a free concert and a dazzling 20-minute fireworks display, accommodating up to 40,000 people in the park. Thousands more tune in to view and listen from neighboring residences and community areas. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

Redondo Beach celebrates Independence Day with fireworks launched from a barge in King Harbor on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

Fireworks set off over Almansor Park in Alhambra during the city’s 4th of July Fireworks Celebration event on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

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Fireworks set off over Almansor Park in Alhambra during the city’s 4th of July Fireworks Celebration event on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

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Some communities opted for quieter, smoke-free drones to light up the night on July, but there will still old-fashioned pyrotechnics aplenty to mark Independence Day in Los Angeles County this year.

What organizers called the West Coast’s largest free Independence Day celebration roared into Gloria Molina Grand Park and include 800 drones flying above The Music Center instead of a fireworks show. The 800 drones were an increase of 300 over last year’s inaugural Independence Day drone show at The Music Center.

Nonetheless, there were pyrotechnics displays galore — as usual, legal and illegal, and law enforcement stepped up patrols to seek out the illicit fireworks.

Fireworks shows included Redondo Beach’s display, which launched the light show from a barge in King Harbor.

A 20-minute display was cut loose at Councilman Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza at Warner Center Park.

Drones form a surfer during the city’s July 4th celebration in Laguna Beach, CA on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Drones the Main Beach lifeguard tower during the city’s July 4th celebration in Laguna Beach, CA on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Drones form an Olympic message during the city’s July 4th celebration in Laguna Beach, CA on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Drones form a peace sign during the city’s July 4th celebration in Laguna Beach, CA on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Drones form a message in the sky during the city’s July 4th celebration in Laguna Beach, CA on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Drones form the Olympic rings during the city’s July 4th celebration in Laguna Beach, CA on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

One of images seen at Monica Rodriguez’s 3rd Annual Drone Light Show performs at Hansen Dam Slymar CA, Sunday, June 30, 2024. A team of animators use about 800 drones to form 12 images in the sky. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

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The 800 drones get ready to start the show at Monica Rodriguez’s 3rd Annual Drone Light Show performs at Hansen Dam Slymar CA, Sunday, June 30, 2024. A team of animators use about 800 drones to form 12 images in the sky. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

Attendees watch the first-ever drone show held at Redondo Beach Pier on July 4th, 2023. The drone show was put on in place of the annual fireworks show, which was canceled due to recent regulations made by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)

Kids play with lighted balloons at Monica Rodriguez’s 3rd Annual Drone Light Show performs at Hansen Dam Slymar CA, Sunday, June 30, 2024. A team of animators use about 800 drones to form 12 images in the sky. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

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Fireworks followed the Major League Soccer game at the Rose Bowl between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club; the Los Angeles Dodgers-Arizona Diamondbacks game at Dodger Stadium; the Harry Connick Jr. concert at the Hollywood Bowl; and the performances by Billy Joel tribute performer Billy Nation and Fleetwood Mac tribute band Mirage at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank.

Fireworks displays were also featured at Almansor Park in Alhambra, Artesia Park; Cerritos High; Rowley Park in Gardena; Crescenta Valley High in La Crescenta; La Bonita Park in La Habra; Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch; Rosemead Park; South Gate Park; Valencia Town Center in Santa Clarita; Walnut High; Westlake Village Golf Course; Friendly Hills Country Club and York Field, both in Whittier.

City News Service contributed to this report