Ride BART to these 4th of July celebrations
Enjoy a full day of activities in Concord. Image courtesy of Concord 4th of July.
It's never a bad idea to avoid driving on the Fourth of July, especially when BART can take you to many of the parades and firework displays across the Bay Area.
The basics of BART on July 4th
Plan your door-to-door trip using BART’s Trip Planner. Itineraries will include key transfer information. You can also check Real Time Departures for the stations you use.
Parking at BART stations (except Milpitas and Berryessa stations) is free on weekends.
Every BART station has restrooms except Pittsburg Center, 12th St./Oakland City Center, Civic Center, 16th St. Mission, 24th St. Mission, and the Oakland International Airport Station (Coliseum Station has a restroom).
All Bay Area transit, including BART, accepts contactless debit or credit cards and mobile payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay for adult fare payment. No setup is required. Just Tap and Ride. Each person needs their own card or device. Clipper cards are also accepted.
Riders who use more than one transit agency in a single trip (e.g., BART to VTA) will only be charged full fare on the first operator. A transfer discount of up to $2.85 will apply on any additional transit agency the rider uses within a two-hour window. Transfer discounts are calculated automatically using Tap and Ride or Clipper for accounts that have been upgraded to the next generation system (click here to upgrade your card).
Daytime events
Spend 4th of July with the BARTmobile in Alameda. Photo courtesy of BART.
Alameda's 4th of July Parade is the longest in the nation, spanning 3.3 miles and featuring more than 150 entries and 2,500 participants. The parade attracts over 60,000 spectators and showcases equestrians, dance groups, floats, antique cars, community organizations, and even the BARTmobile! Take BART to Fruitvale; the start of the parade is 1.3 miles away.
Image courtesy of the Orinda Association.
Orinda's Fourth of July celebration is an all-day affair. The day starts at 7:30am with the Freedom Day Flapjacks pancake breakfast at the Library Plaza, followed by a flag raising at 7:55am in front of the Orinda Community Center (28 Orinda Way). At 9 a.m., the book sale starts and runs until 1 p.m. And finally, the parade begins at 10am in Orinda's Theatre District and culminates at the community center. Food and beer trucks, Music in the park, and a carnival will follow. Exit BART at Orinda Station, and the festivities are 0.5 miles away at 28 Orinda Way.
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Peninsula.The City of Millbrae will host a special Fourth of July iteration of Beats, Brews and Vines, a free concert series held on the 300 block of Broadway between Hillcrest and La Cruz. Live music starts at 11:30 a.m., followed by food and drinks, a beer garden, and free carnival games for kids. Travel 0.4 miles from Millbrae Station to the 300 block of Broadway.
Image courtesy of Stars and Stripes Run.The day starts at 8 a.m. in Todos Santos Plaza with a kids' fun run and a Rotary pancake breakfast. The 34th Annual Independence Day Parade begins at 10am and is themed "Celebrating America 250 & California 175," honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 175th anniversary of California. Take BART to Concord Station, and Todos Santos Plaza is 0.4 miles away.
Image courtesy of the City of Fremont. The Fremont 4th of July Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. sharp and winds from the Fremont Main Library to Liberty Street. The event will celebrate America's 250th and Fremont's 70th. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, Ohlone College professor, will be the 2026 grand marshal. She's being recognized for her tireless efforts to advance engineering education for social change. From Fremont Station, travel 0.7 miles and find a viewing spot near 2400 Stevenson Blvd.
Image courtesy of Bay City News.
City of El Cerrito and worldONE 4th of July Festival | El Cerrito Plaza
The City of El Cerrito's Parks and Recs Department has partnered with worldONE since 1998 to host a free annual 4th of July Festival. The festivities start at 11 a.m. at Cerrito Vista Park and run until 5pm. Expect live music, rides and bounce houses, food, and more. Travel one mile to 950 Pomona Ave from El Cerrito Plaza.
Evening events
Photo courtesy of San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf.
The Golden Gate Bridge will be the backdrop to 4th of July fireworks in SF. Photo courtesy of Thomas Hawk.
Image courtesy of Rochelle Douglass McEathron and Rochellez Photography.Image courtesy of Rochelle Douglass McEathron and Rochellez Photography.In honor of America’s 250th Anniversary, the Alameda County Fair presents a nightly patriotic Drone Show plus two massive Fireworks celebrations you won’t want to miss. The show begins at approximately 9:30 pm, and it's included with Fair admission. Take BART to Dublin/Pleasanton then hop on the Wheels Route 10 bus to get to the fairgrounds.
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