San Diego has myriad possibilities for fireworks on the Fourth. Almost every beach community in the county offers some kind of Independence Day celebration, and they all promise to entertain. Downtown’s bayfront community, however, offers the biggest show, with several viewing options. Seaport Village provides front-row seats to the annual Big Bay Boom, the Port of San Diego’s fireworks extravaganza, which ignites explosives from five barges strategically placed in the bay, starting at 9 p.m. In addition to the fireworks display, the show will be set to live music broadcasted simultaneously from Walrus 105.7 FM, and San Diego Fox 5 will televise the show live from the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. The show is anticipated to last 17 minutes. Viewing locations for Big Bay Boom include Shelter Island, Harbor Island, B Street Pier, Broadway Pier, Coronado Ferry Landing, Imperial Beach and more. For all viewing locations, barge placement, parking and public transit information, visit www.thebigbay.com. For other, less conventional viewing options, revelers may choose to visit the Maritime Museum, which offers several places from which to see the show, including the observation deck of the museum’s historic 1898 steam ferry, the Berkeley. To get closer to the action, the museum also has a fireworks cruise on board the schooner Californian. Leaving the museum at 6:30 p.m., passengers will experience an event like no other when the Californian’s six-pound deck guns join the pyrotechnic presentation. Tickets are $65. For the same price, viewers can experience a yacht cruise aboard the Chere Amie, but without the ear-blasting broadside. Another option is a ride on the 1914 Pilot at 7:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy the show from the water, a much different view than from land, for $25. For more information, visit www.sdmaritime.org. July 4 fireworks: • Ocean Beach Pier: 9 p.m; lasts roughly 20 minutes • La Jolla Country Club: fireworks visible from Mount Soledad, approximately 8:20 p.m. • La Jolla Cove: 9 p.m. • Mission Bay Yacht Club: fireworks visible from Mission Bay, Mount Soledad and Pacific Beach, 9 p.m. • San Diego Bay: “Big Bay Boom 2011,” 9 p.m. • San Diego Symphony (Embarcadero): 9 p.m. • SeaWorld: fireworks visible from Mission Bay and Crown Point, 9:30 p.m
