Long Beach will celebrate Independence Day in unforgettable fashion with a weeklong patriotic celebration blending pyrotechnics, athletics, and entertainment, culminating in a spectacular Independence Day fireworks finale with three simultaneous shows stretching across the city’s 5.5-mile coastline. For details on where to see the fireworks, including local fireworks cruises on July 4, visit our Fourth of July blog.
Building up to July 4, Long Beach’s tribute will feature a weeklong preview of the city’s role in the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. On July 1-2, water polo player and instructor Tony Azevedo, a five-time Olympian and Silver Medalist, is organizing an open water Splashball tournament, The Sandro Cup, in honor of Sandro Appuzo, a Long Beach water polo player who suffered a devastating spinal injury last Fourth of July. The Sandro Cup is dedicated to his resilience and determination on the road to recovery and to inspire the next generation of athletes and future Olympians. Players ages 10u, 12u, and 14u will compete in a round robin format with championship bracket on three courses with four games per team.