I think that there are 2 holidays that are most significant to the Americans: Thanksgiving Day and Independence Day. Yesterday I had my first 4th of July celebration outing. I was yearning to watch the fireworks which I realized to my dismay happens only during 4th of July for the Americans! Not on New Year where fireworks usually welcome the new year for most countries. Because I love fireworks, I didn’t to waste this once in a year opportunity to watch them in this country (except in Disneyland).

In the Bay Area, 4th of July festivities are celebrated in different cities. Redwood City is famous for it’s Independence Day parade. Not only do they have parades but also carnival rides, booths, and family fun activities. Only this year that Redwood City didn’t have its fireworks because of city budget reasons. San Francisco offers live bands in different areas of the city. This year at Pier 39, they had live bands and the fireworks there. I would love to watch the fireworks in San Francisco but it was reputed to be crowded and unruly so I skipped that. San Jose has this big concert and fireworks, Mountain View is the same. So if you’re in the area and want to participate in the celebration, just google the city’s event information.

As for my celebration I went to the one at Leo J Ryan Park at Foster City. I prepared the picnic and my mom and I arrived in the site past 6pm. Fireworks show was at 930pm. So why did we came early? In this kind of event, the city usually closed down the streets to the event area. Last time, I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to see the Redwood City fireworks up close because we weren’t able to enter the viewing area because the roads were closed already. So it’s really important to go in early. I don’t know if the venue was too big or there weren’t just many attendees but the place wasn’t really super crowded considering this city has the only fireworks across many cities.

We were able to secure a spot in front of the amphitheater where a band, Skynnyn Lynnrd was set to perform. We had our chinese food picnic (gyoza and fired rice), ipod touch, and for my mom her phone with bejeweled game. For the next 3 and half hours we were just enjoying the band playing. I also had to insert the thing about bathrooms. The venue had portable toilets all over the areas but boy was the line too long (like zigzagging long). So better use the bathroom before you go to this kind of event. Foster City had the celebration going on for the whole day. They had dog parades, family parades, booths, diffrerent music bands playing throughout the day. I was only after the fireworks so we came later.

At exactly 930pm (I really love American time), the fireworks started. We had a nice view from where we’re sitting. We were up close that looking up cause me stiff neck. The fireworks weren’t spectacular unlike previous ones I’ve seen but I had fun watching it and it’s fireworks. I just love fireworks!

Related posts:

1. Countdown to 2009
2. Happy year of the OX!!!!