Big Bang on the Bay - Independence Day in Long Beach

July 3, 2025

Big Bang on the Bay makes its highly anticipated return to Independence Day on Alamitos Bay. This beloved community event will once again provide an unforgettable evening of patriotism and pyrotechnics as well as great food, drinks and entertainment.

Credit: Brandon West

Big Bang on the Bay has been a staple of Long Beach's summer celebrations since 2011, when founder John Morris inaugurated it as a way to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. This year, festivities begin at 5 PM and feature aircraft flyovers, paragliding displays, as well as music provided by a special DJ. The event concludes with one of Southern California’s best fireworks displays at 9 PM, a 20-minute extravaganza that will light up the skies of Alamitos Bay, Naples, and the Peninsula.

Credit: Brandon West

Though the event is an entertaining spectacle, from its eye-catching pyrotechnics to its mouth-watering food, it also represents a commitment to community engagement and support. Since its inception, the event has contributed over $1.5 million to local nonprofits, focusing on organizations that support and uplift Long Beach's youth.

Credit: Brandon West

Morris, the renowned local restaurateur who owns the popular Boathouse on the Bay and was a founding partner of a little sports pub called Legends, is the driving force behind Big Bang and encourages donations through the event website to support local charities, including The Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach, Action Sports Kids Foundation, Children Today, Los Altos YMCA, and the Autism Partnership Foundation.

Credit: Brandon West

Tickets

And folks can enjoy it all in a variety of ways. “Block Party” tickets come with general seating for entertainment and fireworks, as well as dinner from Naples Rib Co. and access to a cash bar. The “Boathouse” option offers a premium dining experience and seating inside Boathouse on the Bay, offering stunning views of the bay and all the excitement it will have to offer.

Event Info
Credit: Brandon West
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