There is no question about whether you can watch fireworks in Orange County; there is the question of which is the best. There are many different places to watch fireworks in Orange County on the Fourth of July; some are better than others.

Orange County has events going on in some parts of the county. But on the Fourth of July, every town, city, and planned community has some sort of event to celebrate our freedom and our country.

The majority of these events end with a fireworks show, and they all vary in size. Decide which places to watch fireworks in Orange County before heading out for a magical summer night filled with excitement.

PLACES TO WATCH FIREWORKS IN ORANGE COUNTY | HUNTINGTON BEACH

One of the best places to watch fireworks in Orange County is on the 4th of July Parade & Pier Festival. This event is always so well put together, as the city even has a 4th of July committee. The committee plans out food, live entertainment, parades, giveaways, contests, and so much more.

IRVINE

Irvine has a couple of celebrations for the 4th of July, but the best one would be the July 4 Spectacular: Music of Chicago. This event brings the Pacific Symphony out to Great Park for a night of music and fireworks.

The music will consist of music from Chicago as well as patriotic songs, food, and more. The show starts at 8 pm at Great Park Live on July 4th. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to find a place to sit and enjoy the show.

LAGUNA HILLS

The city of Laguna Hills hosts a major celebration that you won’t want to miss. This celebration is known as the Laguna Hills Fourth of July Celebration. Not only will there be fireworks, but starting at 4 pm at the Laguna Hills Community Center, you can hop on carnival rides, play carnival games, get crafty, paint your face, and so much more.

PLACES TO WATCH FIREWORKS IN ORANGE COUNTY | LAGUNA NIGUEL

The Groovin’ Summer Concert Series will coincide with the Fourth of July in Laguna Niguel this year. The series is a summer concert in the park series, and all are invited. This year, however, is slightly different. This year, the Suffragettes will be playing the 4th of July Festivities.

There will be food trucks and open seating for this event, so be sure to arrive early and bring those picnic blankets to get a good spot.

LA HABRA

Welcome to the Annual 4th of July Spectacular! This event has been moved to a bigger venue due to its popularity. Now, this annual event will be held at La Bonita Park. Wristbands will be required for entry to the festivities and are available at the La Habra Community Center.

The event is filled with games, crafts, food, live music, and of course, fireworks at 9 pm.

MISSION VIEJO

Mission Viejo has an event that goes on almost all day from noon until 9:30 pm. This event is called the Mission Viejo Annual Street Faire and Fireworks Spectacular. This event is held every year on Olympian Road.

If you’re looking for a more classic 4th of July event, this is where you want to be. There will be the main stage with live music and entertainment, youth bands will be playing on the Freedom Stage, game booths, craft booths, and admission is free!

PLACES TO WATCH FIREWORKS IN ORANGE COUNTY | NEWPORT BEACH

Newport Harbor is the perfect place to spend the Fourth of July. Not only will there be fireworks, but the harbor will be filled with the American spirit. You could choose to stay on land and watch from afar, or, you could hop on a boat, ship, or yacht to cruise the harbor and be right in the middle of the action.

The event starts at 1 pm with cruises departing throughout the rest of the day.

ORANGE

If you want to double-dip on your Fourth of July celebrations, Orange has your back. The 3rd of July Celebration will be held on the 3rd of July at Grijalva Park. This celebration has been around for two decades, with a petting zoo, live music, pony rides, community food booths, and so much more.

Then, to end the night, fireworks will light up the sky. The event starts at 4 pm and goes until 9 pm.

SAN CLEMENTE

While San Clemente’s fireworks may not come with a lot of bells and whistles, the fireworks will make up for it all. The fireworks are set off from the San Clemente Pier, and that means the pier will be closed starting at noon on July 3 for preparation.

Then, fireworks will light up the sky at 9 pm on the Fourth of July. There are many different viewing locations, such as on one of the many beaches in the area and on the hilltops around San Clemente.

PLACES TO WATCH FIREWORKS IN ORANGE COUNTY | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

On the 4th of July in San Juan Capistrano, there will be a full carnival. This carnival will have 15 different mechanical rides, including thrill rides and rides for little ones. There will also be carnival games and food, live music, and the fireworks start at 9 pm.

The full event starts at 3 pm at The Sports Park. But the carnival opens at 11 am.

SANTA ANA

One of the best places to watch fireworks in Orange County is Centennial Park in Santa Ana. The event starts at 3 pm and goes until 9 pm, but there is so much more than fireworks. You’ll get the usual food, live entertainment, face painting, and more, but there is something truly special about this particular event.

The event starts off with a history walk. This walk allows you to go from interactive display to interactive display with actors and activities that teach the history behind the Fourth of July.

YORBA LINDA

Yorba Linda also has one of the best places to watch fireworks in Orange County at the Veterans Park. This location will have food, live music, and other family activities. But the fireworks here start at 9 pm and it is spectacular and you don’t want to miss it.

PLACES TO WATCH FIREWORKS IN ORANGE COUNTY | FULLERTON

Fullerton is allowing local charities to get involved in a community event. This event will have many different foods, entertainment, and craft booths, each sponsored by a different charity organization. This year, there will be a car show from 10 am until 2 pm, and the festival begins immediately after from 2 pm until 9 pm at the Downtown Plaza.

The event is free to attend, but other fees may be applied for the food and some of the booths.

COSTA MESA

The Costa Mesa Independence Day Community Celebration is happening a day early this year at the OC Fairgrounds. The event will be on July 3 from 5 pm until 11 pm with free admission and parking. People are encouraged to bring their own picnic blankets and lawn chairs, but no hard-sided coolers or outside alcohol will be allowed.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase. The fireworks start at 9:30 pm.

PLACES TO WATCH FIREWORKS IN ORANGE COUNTY | ANAHEIM

Many people travel to Anaheim to visit Disneyland on the Fourth of July. However, Disneyland isn’t the only place in Anaheim to watch fireworks. The Canyon Hills Community Council’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration is among the best.

This event starts early in the morning with a 5K/10K run at 7 am. There will also be a Yankee Doodle Dog Show and parade, culminating at Peralta Park with food vendors, live music, and so much more. The night ends with a fireworks display starting at 9 pm.