A Little Advice for the Fourth of July

Anyone that has lived in the South Bay during the last ten years or so knows about the privately funded Fourth of July fireworks show off Torrance Beach.

A local couple has been providing this free entertainment for years to literally hundreds of thousands of spectators, and I've always felt incredibly fortunate to have these gracious people right here in our sandbox.

This event has never been advertised, but it's always had a large turnout due to word of mouth. When the city of Torrance canceled the Wilson Park fireworks last year, everyone scrambled to get to the Esplanade.

It was quite a spectacle and great fun—until everybody tried to leave at the same time. The streets were jammed for hours; drivers became surly; and the fun abruptly ended.

Here's something to keep in mind—thanks to this couple's generosity, all are welcome to sit on the beach and line the Esplanade to watch in awe the rocket’s red glare, but...

If you plan to watch the fireworks from Palos Verdes, Torrance or Redondo Beach, leave the car at home! Walk, take public transportation or ride your bike! All the residential streets will be closed to through traffic, and it will take hours to drive out of the area! 

Trust me on this. Have a fun, safe Fourth of July.