4TH OF JULY @ Berkeley Marina
FESTIVAL IS CURRENTLY CANCELLED
In order for everyone to have a safe and fun day, please:
- NO Personal Fireworks.
- NO Alcoholic Beverages
- NO Personal BBQs or Hibachi unless using park-provided fire pits
Getting There
The Berkeley Marina address is 201 University Ave. Vehicle parking in the marina is $20 CASH for vehicles, including motorcycles or $50 for large vehicles over 17', or ride your bike over the Berkeley bicycle overpass and use the free valet parking provided by Spokes near Adventure Playground. Join the people parade by walking into the marina over the freeway overpass. Take AC Transit #51B from the Downtown Berkeley BART station and into the marina until 6PM. To leave on AC Transit after 6PM, walk out over the freeway overpass to University and 6th St. Ride share pick up and drop off 10AM-6PM is near Seabreeze Market at University and Frontage Rd. or at the Doubletree Hotel. From 6PM until midnight, walk out to Spengers, 1919 Fourth St., Berkeley and have your driver pick you up there.
Free admission. Alcohol-free event. Sponsored by the City of Berkeley, 510 Families, Berkeley Community Media, Berkeleyside, East Bay Loop, The Express and Yelp.
Fun All Day!
The Berkeley Marina hosts one of the best 4th of July parties from noon until 10PM. There are all kinds of free family fun in an alcohol-free environment culminating with fantastic fireworks over the bay.
Adventure Playground, where kids ride a zipline or use hammers, nails, saws, and paint with parental supervision is free and open until 8PM. Located right near a protected beach, it is great for a splash in the sun or building sand castles.
Enter the free photo booth where red, white and blue costumes are waiting for you to take your annual holiday close up. Berkeley Canoe Racing Center gives free Dragon Boat rides 12-5PM, although you might just find that you have to do a bit of the paddling. Or bring a kite and let it fly over the northern area of the marina in Cesar Chavez Kite Park.
Entertainment, Food & More Fun!
Live entertainment on several stages delights kids and adults as well. Dance near the main stage to Downtown Rhythm (7:30-9:30PM). Established in 1989, this family big band is a Latin funk, classic soul dance band. They’ll get you moving out on the dance floor!
The Groovy Judy Band (5:15-7:15PM) boasts one of the top female guitarists and entertainers in the Bay Area. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and Sly & The Family Stone, her stellar guitar playing, inspirational lyrics, colorful dress, and upbeat personality help people smile and feel great. She’s been a featured performer at several of the Summer of Love Festivals in Monterey and has opened for rock legends Big Brother & The Holding Company and Jefferson Starship. From her own uplifting compositions to covering the best Top 40s classic rock, funk, R&B and Motown, she puts on an electrifying, high-energy, family-friendly show.
Improv-o-linist Kippy Marks (3:15-5:00PM) has been delighting audiences with his inspirational electric violin riffs and lively performances for over two decades. His unforgettable compositions, drawn from classical, jazz, blues, dance, Middle-Eastern, and Eastern-European traditions, have brought Kippy global recognition. He has provided many years of inspiring, creative, experiences in the San Francisco/Bay Area. Don't miss this incredible musician.
The Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble (1:30-3:00) includes Isaiah Harwood on piano, Lev Ami on bass, Ben Esposito on drums, and Max Nierlich on trumpet. These high school kids can wail!
SadzaMoto (12:00-1:15PM) plays Afro-Pop music from Zimbabwe with an electric feel on marimbas, mbiras, electric guitar and drums. It’s feel good music in the sunshine!
Tucked into the southeast corner of the park is an Afro-Cuban drumming circle put together by Sam Siegel. It’s a great afternoon of drummers performing on the point south of Cal Sailing Club. As their rhythms carry out over the water delighting the windsurfers, you can dance along side their group.
In the Shorebird Area you can watch a martial arts demonstration by Aikido of Berkeley led by Kayla Feder Sensei. Known as the ‘Art of Peace’, aikido is movement in harmony with oneself, others and the world. Plus, you get a good workout!
And the food… all kinds of faire food stalls and gourmet food trucks… key lime calamari to hand-dipped corn dogs, BBQ oysters or paella, sugar waffles to organic ice cream, cobblers to kebabs, and vegan delights…something for every palate.
While you’re enjoying the tastes of summer, visit the Food Court Performing Area and be delighted by the Caribbean sounds of In Steel (2:00-6:00). Benjamin Glasgow is originally from the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. He’s been playing steel drums, better know in the islands as steel pan, for a very long time. The Bay Area has been very fortunate to have enjoyed his eclectic musical style since 1985 and now you can, too!
The Rev. Rabia Duo plays Americana (3:00) in the Food Court. Rev. Rabia has been performing gut-bucket blues in the Bay Area for over 30 years. Her husband, Keizo hails from Japan and was a former session musician for Yamaha studios. The two of them play with such joy that they will make your day!
The Merrie Mary Show (2:00 + 4:00) features comedy, juggling, pantomime, and magic with a one-of-a-kind pole-walking finale! Mary entertains people of all ages with her cute 90 pounds of audacious pluck!
Just can’t get enough of the fun? Frisco Fred tickles the crowd (5:00 + 7:00). For the past 30 years Frisco Fred has toured the world with his magic, juggling, and escape artistry. Now he’s doing it in our own back yard.
Alex Yaskin ‘Kombring’ (1:00PM) is a French-looking accordion player, wearing a black beret. This guy isn’t French, though. It is immediately clear that he can perform any kind of traditional accordion music but the surprise is the sound of disco, rock or reggae music on his accordion.
A true artist in every sense of the word, Sean Lee: A One-Man Band Banjo (6:00PM) he simultaneously plays banjo, bass drum, and tambourine. His one-man band get-up was decades in the making. It is guaranteed family fun.
There’s more fun to be had all around the festival with live pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides, an inflatable bounce area, mini-train rides, a giant wavy slide, and walk-on-water bubble balls. Get your face painted, a henna tattoo or a balloon animal. Hand made and international craft vendors give you a bit of shopping therapy.
Fireworks!
The day culminates in the grand fireworks over the water near the end of the Berkeley Pier at 9:35PM presented by the City of Berkeley. Viewing is best along the seawall south of the pier. Be sure to get some light-up swag on your way to the viewing area so you, too, can sparkle.
More info > on how to get there; bringing children and pets; accessibility; BBQs and parking.
Vendor Permits Required
No Vending, No Food Sales, No Glow-in-the-Dark or LED Product Sales in the entire Marina on July 4 unless you have a special event 4th of July permit from the event producer.
FESTIVAL IS CURRENTLY CANCELLED
Thanks to our Sponsors 2019
This event is accessible to persons with disabilities. To request disability accommodations, please call the Disability Services Specialist at 1(510)981-6418 (voice), or 1(510)981-6347(TTY). At least one week's notice will ensure availability.
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