Four Reasons to Spend Fourth Of July at the Embarcadero

June 29, 2018

It’s no secret that Fourth of July celebrations are pretty big in San Diego. If you’re here to celebrate the nation’s birthday, then you’re almost guaranteed to have a good time.

Whether you want to celebrate with your friends or family, you won’t run out of options. Here are the best places to hang out if you want to be in the thick of the action on this fun holiday:

Four Reasons to Spend Fourth Of July at the Embarcadero - 4th of July celebrations

4. Pack a Picnic and Enjoy the Port of San Diego’s Big Bay Boom Independence Day Spectacular

Prepare your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic basket. Celebrate with thousands of other people and enjoy many of San Diego’s attractions while waiting for what may be the biggest and most popular fireworks display in San Diego – the Big Bay Boom Independence Day Spectacular at 9pm.

Pro tip: Try to secure your spot early. The North Embarcadero Parking, Marina District Parking, and the South Embarcadero Parking offer great spots for viewing, but as you can imagine, thousands of people will be going. You might want to use San Diego’s transportation partners instead of bringing your own car for convenience. There is a free shuttle service to Harbor Island and Shelter Island. There’s also an expanded train, trolley and bus service from MTS. If you must bring your car, you might want to secure a guaranteed parking with pre-purchased tickets.

3. Join a Sightseeing Tour and Enjoy All the Independence Day Decorations and Attractions Around San Diego

Enjoy the sights and sounds of “America’s Finest City” with a 1-day Old Town Trolley Tour that allows you to hop on and hop off all day at 10 spots, including The Historic Gaslamp Quarters, The San Diego Zoo, Old Town, and of course, The Embarcadero. Start the tour at any of the stops and get a taste of every celebration.The trolley can conveniently take you to almost every 4th of July party in the city! San Diego Residents receive free admission if you bring out of town guests. Ticket prices are at $35.95. Tours usually start at 9am and the last train leaves Old Town at 5pm but there might be delays, closed streets, and tour stops because of the 4th of July celebrations.

2. Sip Cocktails on Hornblower’s VIP Fireworks Dinner Cruise

Looking for something just a little bit more fancy? Hornblower’s VIP Celebration Dinner Cruise with Fireworks might be more your thing. Enjoy the amazing view of the San Diego skyline from a different vantage point while having drinks and a fancy dinner. There will be lots of music and dancing, too. Hornblower’s VIP Fireworks Dinner Cruise boards at Pier 1 Hornblower Landing at 5:30pm and 6:00pm. For $235 per person, you get to enjoy a premium hosted bar, gourmet dinner, champagne, and an incredible view of the Big Bay Boom Fireworks. The cruise runs for 3 hours.

If you still want to party after, come join us at Carnitas’ Snack Shack. We’re right next door.

Four Reasons to Spend Fourth Of July at the Embarcadero - 4th of July celebrations

1. Grab Good Grub At Carnitas’ Snack Shack

The 4th of July is always a good excuse to attend your good ol’ neighborhood cookout.

Join us at the Carnitas’ Snack Shack for a day of fun, food, and festivities. We’ll be serving up burgers and hotdogs starting 11am as well as signature cocktails and craft beer.

You can expect to enjoy performances and other activities with a nice crowd of meat-lovin’ friends. To keep us entertained, DJ Dub B and Chris W on the sax will be playing from 2-6pm and the Gold Standard Band will be playing from 6-8:45pm. There will also be corn hole games and other entertainment options throughout the day. The highlight of the party is the Big Boom Bay Fireworks Show at 9pm. There is really no better place to be than the shack!

Sounds like your kind of holiday? Join the party!