4th of July fireworks: Google map, favorite shows, pet tips & more

Did you know that fireworks shows start July 3? Don’t worry if your Fourth of July plans were starting to overlap — you can start watching fireworks tonight, and then hit up another show Friday night, and the next night too. Here’s the 411 on where fireworks are happening, a map of where fireworks are allowed in L.A. and Orange counties and tips for pet owners.

Where: The Los Angeles Fire Department has a website, safejuly4th.org, devoted to fireworks displays big and small throughout Los Angeles County and where you can watch them safely.

Events & festivities: Metromix has a great 4th of July events guide. I love their post, “Fireworks for Cheaters,” that reveals the inside scoop on where to see fireworks away from the crowds. Downtown, inland, Hollywood and the coast are spotlighted. The guide also has an alphabetical list of neighborhood fireworks shows.

Favorites: Some of the most popular fireworks shows in the L.A. area include: Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic & L.A. Dodgers, Pasadena Rose Bowl and Long Beach and Queen Mary.

Fireworks to avoid: Los Angeles Times Funland blog writer Brady MacDonald gives the scoop on Fourth of July events at Southern California theme parks, but also recommends staying away because of the crowds.

Legal fireworks zones: Here’s a Google Map of cities allowing fireworks.

Tips for pet owners: Some families think it’s a great idea to take Fido with them to fireworks shows. Others think nothing of leaving their dog home alone. The Humane Society suggests that you resist the urge to take your pets with you and offers tips on how to make sure your pet is safe during July 4th. Whatever you decide, make sure your pet has proper ID tags so that if it becomes lost, it can be easily returned. L.A. Unleashed also has tips for taking care of your pet during the Fourth.

Fireworks safety: The Fourth of July is a big day for fireworks injuries. The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers safety tips and warns people never to relight a “dud” firework; wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water. Wear safety goggles and have a hose or buckets of water nearby.

Emergency contacts: In an emergency, dial 911.

Please tell us in the comments which neighborhood you think has the best Fourth of July fireworks display. And, of course, send your photos and video to the Los Angeles Times’ Your Scene. You never know, your photo just might get picked to be featured on the Your Scene Blog.

— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel Deal blogger

[Photo: Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 2:24 pm by Jen Leo and is filed under Last Minute, Los Angeles, News, Tips & Advice, Summer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.