Redding, Mount Shasta celebrate July 4th with fireworks, festivals

Redding, Mount Shasta and other North State towns are gearing up for a party the week of Independence Day with music, parades, festivals and plenty of fireworks.

Fireworks displays will light up the sky to new soundtracks, while new bands will grace the stage at free concerts and new floats will parade through towns in Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity and Tehama counties.

Here are North State celebrations happening Wednesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 7, plus insider tips about where to watch fireworks and where to park.

Times and locations may change, while high fire danger could cancel some events. So before you go, check the websites provided for any updates.

Redding fires up fireworks for Freedom Festiva l

Redding lights up the night over the Sacramento River with its annual fireworks display at 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.

But first it hosts an evening of food and vendor booths from 6 p.m. to 9:55 p.m. and a free concert by North State Americana-country band California Country at 7 p.m., both on the Redding Civic Auditorium grounds at 700 Auditorium Drive, according to Redding Communications Manager Katie Hunter.

Funded by the McConnell Foundation, Redding’s fireworks show is one of the largest in California, setting off more than 1,700 shells each year, according to Redding’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Tune in to radio station Q97 FM to hear the fireworks soundtrack during the show, or stream it from the radio station’s website at q97country.com .

Some of the best views of the fireworks are from the civic auditorium lawn, nearby spots along the Sacramento River near the Sundial Bridge and on the bluff along north Hilltop Drive.

No RVs, alcohol, smoking, drugs or drones are allowed at the civic auditorium, Hunter said. Also, people should leave pets at home.

“Every year, some people try to bring their dogs,” said Hunter. No pets are allowed, with the exception of service animals, but even they “don’t react well” to the loud sounds and scent of smoke from the fireworks, she said.

Several areas near the civic auditorium will close before, during and after the show, according to the parks department.

• The Redding Boat Ramp closes on Wednesday, July 3 and reopen on Friday, July 5.
• The Sundial Bridge and the top floor of the civic auditorium close at 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.
• Once the civic auditorium's parking lots are full, the city will close the Park Marina Bridge ― from the civic auditorium to the opposite side of Park Marina Drive — to vehicles on Thursday, July 4. Pedestrians will still be able to use the bridge. The bridge reopens to vehicles after the fireworks end and pedestrians attending the festival have crossed the bridge.

Any remaining fireworks will be set off after the show wraps, so people shouldn’t be alarmed if they hear popping, Hunter said.

For more information go to cityofredding.gov .

‘Anderson Explodes’ on Independence Day eve

Keeping with North State tradition, Anderson hosts its Independence Day fireworks and annual celebration “ Anderson Explodes ” on Wednesday, July 3.

The festival starts with food and vendor booths at 5 p.m. at the Shasta District Fairgrounds, 1890 Briggs St. in Anderson.

“There will be about 25 to 28 food trucks, and another 20 to 25 (arts and crafts) vendors,” said Barron Browning, president of Community for Anderson Explodes!

A free country music concert with artists the Jeremy Ryan Band begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by the fireworks at 10 p.m., Browning said.

Tune in to radio station Q97 FM to hear the fireworks soundtrack during the show, or stream it from the radio station’s website at q97country.com .

Attendees can bring lawn chairs and blankets, but no outside food or beverages. No pets are allowed, according to Browning.

Admission is free. Parking at the fairgrounds costs $5.

For more information, go to the Anderson Explodes! website at andersonexplodes.org .

Mount Shasta kicks off 4-day festival with fun run, parade, fireworks

Mount Shasta hosts the climax of its annual four-day Fourth of July week celebration with a fireworks display over Lake Siskiyou, starting at 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.

Fireworks are launched from the north shore at Spini Point/Lake Siskiyou Meadow, according to Mount Shasta Community Fireworks President Tom Haistings.

People can download music that accompanies the show at mtshastafireworks.com. Download the app at pyrocast.com/download-app .

Best places to watch the fireworks include points around the lake, Haistings said, but North Shore Road along the lake is closed during the event for public safety.

People are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to most public beaches around the lake, he said.

For the price of a day pass, people can watch the fireworks from Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort. Passes cost $3 in 2023; calls to the resort for current pricing weren't returned. Go to lakesiskiyouresort.com for more information.

The Mount Shasta Resort is no longer a fireworks viewing spot, since tall trees block the view. This year, the resort is closed on July 4, Haistings said.

Because July 4th falls on a Thursday, the chamber of commerce’s downtown street festival lasts from July 3 to July 6, continuing after Independence Day.

Events include the annual Fourth of July Parade through downtown Mount Shasta, starting at on noon on Thursday, July 4.

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Also on July 4, runners will take their marks before 8:30 a.m. at the corner of Castle Street and North Mount Shasta Boulevard for a Siskiyou County Independence Day tradition: The Mountain Runners Fourth of July Walk/Run. People of all abilities and ages are welcome to participate in a 5-mile race, a 2-mile race or a 2-mile fun walk. Cost to participate is $47 per adult, $34 for youths. Register before June 2 for a discount at mountainrunners.org .

Los Molinos July 4th parade marches out Hawaiian style

The town of Los Molinos hosts its annual Fourth of July parade, marching out at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 4.

This year’s parade theme is Hawaiian: "Aloha Los Molinos." Past entries have included riders on horseback, floats, tricked-out bikes, marching bands and classic cars, event spokesperson Ranita Fox said.

Parade lineup and registration begin at 8:30 a.m. at the parking lot of the Los Molinos Veterans Memorial, according to the Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce.

“There’s plenty of parking at the Nu-Way Market shopping center," Fox said.

Spectators can pick a spot on the sidewalk to watch. Fox advised people to bring lawn chairs, water and snacks.

Following the parade, the town hosts its annual Play Day at the Park at Mill Creek Park, located one mile west of Highway 99 on Tehama Vina Road. The event includes games and an awards ceremony for parade float winners, according to the chamber.

Go to the chamber's website at losmochamber.com for more information or call 530-384-2251.

Eastern Shasta County celebrates Burney Basin Days

The town of Burney hosts its annual three-day Independence week party, Burney Basin Days, from Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 7.

Most events are on Saturday, July 6 at venues throughout town. These include the annual Main Street Parade, bed races, an ice cream social, bag pipers, a cornhole tournment, a kiddie parade and an arts and crafts fair, according to the Burney Chamber of Commerce.

The Burney Rotary’s fireworks display kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 6 at Burney High School, 37571 Mountain View Road, according to the chamber’s event schedule .

Other events planned include the Burney Lions Club breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and July 7.

The Chamber of Commerce posts event information on its Facebook page at facebook.com/burney.chamber .

Weaverville hosts 5-day celebration

Weaverville on Highway 299 in Trinity County packs a five-day event schedule with concerts, games, breakfasts, barbecues, open houses, bull riding, a "destruction derby" and dozens of other events, starting on Wednesday, July 3.

Highlights on Thursday, July 4 include the annual Fourth of July parade along Main Street starting at 11:30 a.m. and an arts and crafts fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Highland Arts Center meadow at 691 Main St., said Trinity County Visitors Center spokesperson Pat Zugg.

The Weaverville Chamber of Commerce fireworks light up the sky starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 5 at Weaverville Elementary School on Highway 3, she said.

Zugg recommended that people park along the street on Highway 3 near the school for the fireworks or park along Main Street and walk to festivities throughout town.

See a full schedule of events on the Weaverville Lions Facebook page at facebook.com/weavervillelions .

For more information call the Weaverville Visitors Center at 530-623-6101.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook . Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding, Mount Shasta celebrate July 4th with fireworks, festivals