This year’s Fourth of July community celebrations stretch from Santa Maria to Carpinteria with concerts, picnics, fireworks, parades and a drone show planned for Friday.

All of the events listed below will be held Friday unless otherwise indicated.

Santa Barbara

Waterfront Festivities & Fireworks Show

Santa Barbara’s Fourth of July celebration will take place along the waterfront and Stearns Wharf from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event will feature food vendors, arts and crafts booths, local musicians and family-friendly activities throughout the day.

The fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. at West Beach and will last about 20 minutes. Both the daytime festivities and the fireworks display are free to the public.

Prime Time Band Concert at Courthouse

The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation will host a free outdoor concert at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The performance will include a festive lineup of patriotic music by the Prime Time Band.

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or low-back chairs and may begin setting up after noon on Friday, according to event organizers.

Fireworks Viewing at Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara City College will open its West Campus Great Meadow and East Campus Maxwell Overlook for fireworks viewing starting at 6 p.m. The family-friendly spot offers some of the best views of the waterfront fireworks, along with live entertainment throughout the evening, organizers said.

Goleta

Old-Fashioned 4th of July at Rancho La Patera & Stow House

The Goleta Valley Historical Society will host its 51st annual Old-Fashioned 4th of July celebration at Rancho La Patera & Stow House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature tractor rides, children’s activities, food trucks, vendor booths, and live music by The Cliffhangers and Cadillac Angels.

Exhibits will include displays from the Central Coast Vintage Machinery Association, the Santa Barbara Model A Ford Club and the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children, and are available on Eventbrite.

Goleta Drone Light Show at Dos Pueblos High School

Goleta will debut its first-ever Fourth of July Drone Light Show at the Dos Pueblos High School stadium, 7266 Alameda Ave. The free evening event will begin at 6 p.m. with food trucks, line dancing, DJ sets, games, a photo booth and other family activities.

The drone show is scheduled to begin around 8:30 p.m. and last about 15 minutes. Parking will be available at the high school on a first-come basis. A free shuttle service will be provided by Santa Barbara Airbus between 5:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., from the Costco parking lot at Camino Real Marketplace. Shuttle service will continue after the show to take people back from Dos Pueblos High School to Costco and their vehicles.

Montecito

Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast at Fire Station

The Montecito Firefighters Association will kick off the holiday with its annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Montecito Fire Station 91, 595 San Ysidro Road.

Tickets are $15 at the door, and children age 10 or younger eat free. Proceeds benefit the Montecito Firefighters Charitable Foundation.

Village Fourth of July Parade and Celebration

Montecito’s Village Fourth of July Parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Upper Manning Park and conclude at Lower Manning Park. It will feature a festive mix of walkers, riders, animals and decorated vehicles.

Following the parade, the community is invited to enjoy live music and food at a celebration in Lower Manning Park.

Santa Ynez Valley

Solvang 4th of July Parade

Celebrate Independence Day in classic small-town style with the Solvang 4th of July Parade, hosted by the Solvang Rotary Club. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and wind through downtown Solvang, featuring vintage cars, horses, dance groups, a marching band, and colorful floats from local businesses and organizations.

Spectators are encouraged to arrive early with lawn chairs and flags to grab a good viewing spot along the parade route.

Fourth of July Festival and Fireworks at Old Mission Santa Inés

The Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club will host its annual Fourth of July Festival and Fireworks Show at Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang. The gates will open at noon, with live music performances throughout the day, food and merchant vendors, and family-friendly activities.

The fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, and children age 12 or younger are free with an accompanying adult.

Lompoc

Neighborhood Block Parties

The City of Lompoc is encouraging residents to celebrate locally by applying to host their own Fourth of July block parties.

The city is accepting applications to temporarily close off residential streets for neighborhood gatherings. More information is available here.

Santa Maria

Red, White and PLAY: A Hometown Celebration

The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department will host “Red, White and PLAY: A Hometown Celebration” from noon to 4 p.m. on the Fourth at the Elks Baseball Field behind the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, 600 S. McClelland St. The family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, activities and patriotic fun for all ages. 

A free outdoor concert by Savor: A Santana Tribute Band will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The celebration will also include a beer garden and a variety of local food trucks.

Post-Holiday Beach Cleanup (Saturday)

Join the City of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for beach cleanups at Leadbetter Beach, East Beach and West Beach. Gloves and buckets will be provided, and volunteers will receive a parking pass. 

More information and registration are available on the city’s event calendar.