Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina

Be there for a whole day of free music, crafts, food, games and — at 9:30 p.m. — fireworks.

The biggest party is at the Berkeley Marina from noon to 10 p.m. There’s all kinds of free fun! Adventure Playground — always a favorite — is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get your face painted, try the giant slide, or splash in the water at the beach!

Live entertainment from noon to 9:30 p.m. on the main stage will include Downtown Rhythm, Lee Waterman & Jazz Caliente, The Hipwader’s Children’s Music, Tin Sandwich Harmonica Trio, The Ian Franklin Band, Foxtails Brigaide, & Steel Pans. Tucked around the marina are other artistic treats too: Afro Cuban Rumba Drumming, Circus Art performers, and on The Buddy Club Stage in Shorebird Park you’ll find jugglers and magicians. There’s art and crafts, yummy food, massages, free dragon boat rides from 2 to 6 p.m., pony rides, a dunk tank, and much more including the grand fireworks off the end of the Berkeley Pier at 9:30 p.m. More information is available on the website.

Let’s hear it for the red, white, and blue… but keep it green, too. The party shouldn’t leave the environment trashed. If you can, bring your own dishes — Frisbees double as plates! A bandana is your cloth napkin to use at all of the international food booths. With water stations located around the event, you can refill your own reusable bottle and keep a lot of plastic out of the landfill. Be sure to use the recycling stations located throughout the marina for your disposables.

Free admission. Alcohol-free event. No cars after 7 p.m.

Getting There:

CARS: There is plenty of free parking in the Marina, noon to 11 p.m. However, the roads close from 7 to 10:30 p.m.(and the Police have the option to close them earlier if the lots are 100 percent full) so you can't get in or out between those hours. Come in earlier! After the fireworks, and after all of the pedestrians have left the Marina, the road opens to vehicles (around 10:30 p.m.) when you may drive out.

BUS: AC Transit runs on a slow 51B Sunday schedule from Downtown Berkeley BART right into the Marina. At the end of the event, however, you'll have to walk, with the rest of the crowd, out to 6th and University Ave. near to pick up a bus back to BART. Unfortunately, Berkeley does not have an event shuttle. 

BICYCLES: The Fourth of July event includes free valet bicycle parking. Ride your bicycle over the Berkeley overpass and Richmond Spokes will valet park it for you in the lot near Adventure Playground from noon to 10 p.m. But be sure to pick it up by then!

Dogs are OK on a leash.

Live entertainment schedule:

MAIN STAGE

12:00-1:00 Ian Franklin Band 

1:15-2:15  Tin Sandwich Harmonica Trio 

2:30-4:00 The Hipwaders Children’s Music 

4:15-6:15 Lee Waterman & Jazz Caliente 

6:30-9:30 Downtown Rhythm

FOOD COURT AMPHITHEATRE

12:00-4:00 Benjamin Glasgow Steel Pans 

1:00-3:00 Fred Anderson’s Comedy Explosion 

3:00-5:00 Dana Smith Juggler Extraordinaire 

5:00-7:00 Coventry & Colusa Circus Arts 

7:00-9:00 Foxtails Brigade Band    

THE BUDDY CLUB CHILDREN'S SHOWS @ SHOREBIRD

2:00 Bay Area legendary magician Timothy James 

3:00 The Juggling Genius Daniel DaVinci 

4:00 Award-Winning Prop Comic Fred Anderson  

ELSEWHERE

11:00-8:00 Shorebird Adventure Playground

11:00-8:00 Cesar Chavez Kite Flying (BYO)

12:00-9:30 J Lot Pony Rides

12:00-9:30 Ferry Dock Kiddy Rides & Inflatables

1:00-6:00 SE Marina Afro Cuban Rumba Drumming

2:00-4:00 Strolling Buki the Balloon Twisting Clown

2:00-6:00 K Dock Free Dragon Boat Rides

5:00-6:00 Strolling Stiltwalker Audette Sophia

9:35 p.m. End of Pier Fantastic Fireworks Show   

12 to 8 p.m. Berkeley Kite Wranglers will do a special preview of the Giant Show Kites of the Berkeley Kite Festival.

Brought to you by the  and Another Bullwinkel Show.