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Redwood City Invites Community to Celebrate Fourth of July with Parade, Festival and Return of Fireworks

Daylong celebration includes pancake breakfast, chalk art, car show, live music, food trucks and fireworks hosted by the Port of Redwood City

Post Date:06/25/2026 9:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 25, 2026

Media Contact:
Jeanne Sullivan, Communications Contractor
jsullivan@redwoodcity.org

Redwood City Invites Community to Celebrate Fourth of July with Parade, Festival and Return of Fireworks

Daylong celebration includes pancake breakfast, chalk art, car show, live music, food trucks and fireworks hosted by the Port of Redwood City

Redwood City, CA - Redwood City is inviting the community to celebrate Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, with a full day of events downtown and at the Port of Redwood City, including the return of fireworks. 

The celebration will bring together several longtime Redwood City traditions, including the annual Fourth of July Parade, pancake breakfast, Downtown Festival, Chalk Full of Fun Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival, and car show. This year’s parade theme, “Celebrating America 250,” recognizes the nation’s 250th anniversary. 

The day begins with the annual Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Redwood City Fire Department’s main Marshall Street fire station. The breakfast benefits the Redwood City Firefighters Association and is $10. 

The Fourth of July Parade begins at 10 a.m. in downtown Redwood City. Organized by the Peninsula Celebration Association, the parade has been a local tradition since 1939 and is considered the largest Independence Day parade in Northern California. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the route to enjoy floats, community groups, classic cars, marching bands and other parade entries. 

Downtown activities continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the Downtown Festival, featuring arts and crafts booths on Jefferson Avenue, community service and information booths on Broadway, food and beverage vendors, entertainment, face painting and activities for children. The festival also gives local nonprofit and community service organizations an opportunity to raise funds and share information about their work. 

The Chalk Full of Fun Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival will take place July 3 and 4 on Courthouse Square and Chalk Alley, where artists will create colorful sidewalk art throughout the downtown area. The car show will take place after the parade at the Pizza and Pipes parking lot from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The celebration continues in the evening at the Port of Redwood City with food trucks starting at 5:30 p.m. and a concert featuring Vital Sign from 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. The fireworks show, hosted by the Port of Redwood City, will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.  The fireworks can be enjoyed from many locations throughout Redwood City and the Peninsula where there is a clear view of the skies above the Port of Redwood City. Those planning to watch from the Port should arrive early, as public parking is very limited and much of the area is private property. 

CELEBRATE JULY 4th in REDWOOD CITY

The July 4 schedule includes: 

 

Pancake Breakfast 

8 to 11 a.m. 

Redwood City Fire Department main Marshall Street fire station 

$10; benefits the Redwood City Firefighters Association 

 

Chalk Full of Fun Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival 

July 3 and 4 

Courthouse Square and Chalk Alley 

Free; brought to you by the Redwood City Parks & Arts Foundation 

 

Downtown Festival 

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Arts and crafts, community booths, food and beverages, kids activities and entertainment 

 

Fourth of July Parade 

10 a.m. 

2026 theme: “Celebrating America 250” 

 

Car Show 

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Pizza and Pipes parking lot 

 

Port Concert and Food Trucks 

Food trucks start at 5:30 p.m. 

Concert runs 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. 

Featuring Vital Sign 

 

Fireworks Show 

Approximately 9:30 p.m. 

Hosted by the Port of Redwood City 

 

Community members are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time for parking and travel, and follow posted traffic and safety guidance throughout the day. Street parking is available around the parade route; attendees should not park in the Kaiser Permanente Emergency Department parking lot. 

For frequently asked questions and answers about the event, please visit www.RedwoodCity.org/July4 where you can find details on fireworks, chair policy, parking and links to parade routes, public transportation festival schedule and more. 

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About the City of Redwood City: The City of Redwood City is a San Francisco Bay Area community located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the technology-rich region extending from the San Francisco Peninsula to the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Redwood City is the third largest city within the County of San Mateo, with 85,992 residents. The city enjoys an average of 255 sunny days a year, which it boasts via the city slogan: "Climate Best by Government Test.” Incorporated in 1867, Redwood City is home to the San Mateo County History Museum (located in the county's old courthouse) and the only active deep-water port within the south bay of San Francisco. The city's vibrant downtown, quickly becoming known as the entertainment hub of the San Francisco Peninsula, offers residents, visitors, and businesses a unique retail, entertainment, and restaurant experience.

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