Happy Independence Day!

If you haven’t already planned your celebration for the 4th, here are a few ideas for what to do in the Los Angeles area.  All day long, there are fun things to see and do from parades to live music, and, of course, fireworks.

MORNING

Justin Rudd’s “Great American 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade” More than 550 kids are expected to participate in the 9th Annual Great American 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade in Long Beach. www.BikeParade.com.  Kids are required by law to wear helmets and be escorted by a parent or guardian during the parade.

10 AM. Entry into the Bike Parade is free. Day-of the event registration starts at 9:15 AM at the parade’s starting point, the boat launch ramp: 1 S. Granada Ave. (@ Ocean Blvd.), Belmont Shore.

Santa Monica’s 5th Annual Fourth of July Parade 
The parade theme this year is “Fourth of July at the Beach” to honor the Grand Marshals: The Ocean Lifeguards in the City of Santa Monica.

Starts at 9:30 am—Free.  2612 Main Street, Santa Monica

Mr. and Mrs. Muscle Beach: In keeping with the long American and Californian tradition of bodybuilders flexing and posing on the beach, Venice’s renowned “Muscle Beach” is the site for his and hers bodybuilding contests.

Registration begins at 7:30 am, judging starts at 10am.  Free for spectators, but there’s an $80 fee to enter the competition.  Venice Recreation Center, 1800 Ocean Front Walk, at 18th Avenue, (MuscleBeachVenice.com)

AFTERNOON

Annual Vision Outside 4th of July Jazz and Blues Festival in Leimert Park: Live jazz and blues music, plenty of arts and crafts for the kids (flag face painting abounds!) and free watermelon for all — summer is here!

1pm – 7pm, free  Vision Theatre back lot, 3341 W. 43rd Pl. (213-202-5500 or culturela.org)

NIGHT

Fireworks at the LA Memorial Coliseum: It seems particularly appropriate to host a hour long fireworks show near the LA Coliseum, site of the 1984 Olympic Game. This firework display can be enjoyed from various vantage points around the Coliseum. Event organizers recommend the south lawn of the Natural History Museum.

Beginning at dusk–free,  900 Exposition Boulevard, at South Vermont Avenue, (213-763-3466 or nhm.org)

ALL DAY

Any time is the right time to listen to great holiday music.  Check out the mix of tunes selected just for today on the special 4th of July radio broadcast of “Carolyn Fox’s Hollywood Spotlight.”

CLICK TO HEAR “CAROLYN FOX’S HOLLYWOOD SPOTLIGHT’S” 4TH OF JULY SPECIAL BROADCAST