Will Hastings" /> Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Will HastingsLooking for the best things to do this Fourth of July weekend? Spend America’s 250th birthday hanging out at one of the best beaches in L.A., eating the city’s best BBQ, cooling down with classic frozen desserts and having fun at t hese Fourth of July celebrations. The best part about some of our picks? You can end the evening with a patriotic bang of dazzling fireworks in the night sky (or, as is becoming increasingly common, a drone show). From cemetery screenings to food festivals, here’s what the holiday has in store (including a few picks later on in the long weekend). Watch some fireworks… It’s just not the Fourth without fireworks. Luckily, we have details on a dozen different fireworks shows happening across the county—and even one in the O.C. New this year is America’s Block Party Benefiting Giving 4th, a star-studded America 250 concert at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum that boasts sets by the Smashing Pumpkins and Chris Stapleton and will be hosted by Queen Latifah. It will culminate in a spectacular fireworks and drone show. And tickets are super affordable (a symbolic $17.76), with proceeds benefiting Feeding America. Another concert with a fireworks finale? July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl, where headliners the Beach Boys with special guest John Stamos will celebrate the grand ol’ (Surfin’) USA (July 2–4).  Photograph: Courtesy Universal StudiosFireworks at Universal Studios Hollywood Cinespia also shoots off fireworks after its screenings this weekend, as does Dodger Stadium after the Boys in Blue play the San Diego Padres on the Fourth. And all four of SoCal’s major amusement parks—Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland—are offering their own pyrotechnic thrills alongside thrill rides. At Disney California Adventure, you can be one of the first people to ride the newly unveiled Soarin’ Over America, a patriotic spin on the popular high-flying ride. For free fireworks, you’ll want to head to the water: Marina del Rey, Huntington Beach and Long Beach all host epic fireworks shows each year—and this year Long Beach is upping the ante with three free, synchronized displays as part of its patriotic Sea to Shining LBC event. You can watch the spectacle for free along the coast, or pay to board the Queen Mary, where eight themed parties will fill the decks. Father inland, Torrance hosts a show best viewed from LA Galaxy Sports Complex, and over in Woodland Hills, Warner Center Park offers Valley dwellers a 20-minute display. …or an eco-friendly drone show Photograph: Courtesy John McCoy for Gloria Molina Grand ParkGloria Molina Grand Park's Summer Block Party Once again this Fourth of July, Grand Park, Pasadena, Burbank and Pacific Palisades are all opting for more fire-safe and environmentally friendly drone shows over fireworks displays. The Burbank 4th of July Drone Light Show and Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Block Party are both free, and the DTLA celebration is complemented by food truck fare, interactive art exhibits—including an AR experience inspired by the Declaration of Independence—and two stages of live music. Meanwhile, at Rose Bowl Stadium, AmericaFest has been replaced for the past two years with FoodieLand, which coincides with a drone show on the Fourth ($12). And the Pacific Palisades July 4th Celebration kicks off with a 10K/5K through the neighborhood in the morning and ends with a ticketed drone show and live music at Palisades Charter High School ($21). Feast at a food festival Photograph: Courtesy SmorgasburgSmorgasburg's Ice Cream Alley The Fourth isn’t all about bright lights and pyrotechnics. It’s also a time to pack a picnic, enjoy some BBQ or treat yourself to some ice cream. The aforementioned FoodieLand has you covered with over 250 diverse vendors selling everything from deep-fried giant squid to fried-chicken sandwiches to seafood boils to ube cinnamon rolls over the holiday weekend. Meanwhile, specialty fish market Joint Seafood is hosting a free Summer Block Party at its new DTLA location, joining forces with Porto’s, Tacos 1986, Souu LA, Fly by Jing and Uoichiba Handroll Bar for an evening full of music, shopping from local vendors and even a latte-art competition on July 5. And on Sunday morning, the always-free Smorgasburg—which recently celebrated its 10th birthday in Los Angeles—is bringing back Ice Cream Alley, a summertime showcase of the best independent ice cream makers. Enjoy tons of frozen treats, from Sad Girl Creamery’s ice cream tacos to Italian ice to gelato. Watch a film outdoors  Photograph: Courtesy Kelly Lee Barrett/CinespiaCinespia You can watch movies outdoors all summer long (actually all year long, in L.A.), but there are a handful of fun summer blockbusters that scream “USA” screening this weekend. Cinespia has two events capped off with a fireworks show: Shrek (July 3) and Jurassic Park (July 4). On July 3, you can watch Top Gun: Maverick for free at the Culver Steps in Culver City. And in Downtown, Rooftop Cinema Club’s picks include the Sandlot (July 3), Independence Day and 50 First Dates (July 4) and Jaws (July 5). Cheer on a patriotic parade Photograph: Courtesy Pacific Palisades Fourth of July CelebrationPacific Palisades Fourth of July Parade The coastal communities of Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica each host their own wholesome parade for the Fourth. Santa Monica’s will celebrate both America 250 and the centennial of Route 66. The procession will travel down Main Street starting at 9:30am, concluding at Main and Pico, and be followed by an afternoon after-party in Tongva Park. Pacific Palisades’ parade is traveling a new route through the neighborhood starting at 4pm. And over in Orange County, Huntington Beach’s Fourth of July Celebration kicks off with a Fourth of July Parade—the biggest west of the Mississippi River—at 10am. The fun lasts all weekend long, actually, with a 5K Surf City Run, Pier Plaza Festival, live entertainment and carnival rides in addition to the fireworks. Enjoy the views at a rooftop party Rooftop bars take advantage of their height come the Fourth of July, hosting raucous parties and offering prime fireworks-viewing real estate. Swimsuits Cowboy Boots at Hollywood’s Desert 5 Spot offers an all-day Western shindig with a cowboy cookout, live country music and dancing. Downtown has a handful of options, including La Lo La’s all-you-can-eat buffet and open bar from 34 stories above the city; newcomer Mitsi’s sushi specials and patio fireworks viewing on the edge of Chinatown; and both daytime and nighttime parties at Golden Hour at Level 8. Expand your mind at an exhibition Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time Out“This Land Is…” at the Huntington A handful of eye-opening exhibitions seem especially fitting for this Fourth of July weekend (just make sure to check each museum’s holiday hours before visiting). The Huntington’s “This Land Is…” is inspired by Woody Guthrie’s folk anthem and displays relics tied to American land, from a cross section of an oak tree that stood on the grounds of the Huntington for 250 years to one of Guthrie’s guitars, with “this machine kills fascists” scratched into the back. Meanwhile, at the Autry, L.A.-centric exhibition “Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles” looks at how the Declaration of Independence’s promise has been fulfilled—or not—throughout the city’s development, via the stories of diverse Angelenos. And the just-opened multimedia exhibition “We the People” reimagines the story of America through Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant and LGBTQ+ perspectives at LADC Studios in South L.A. For a dose of pop culture, the Skirball Cultural Center traces the history of the uniquely American art form of comics in “Inventing America: The Comic Book Revolution.” And if you haven’t yet checked out the Academy Museum’s exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jaws—the original summer blockbuster—you should catch it before it closes on July 26. Watch the World Cup  rdquo;Golazo Festldquo; World Cup Watch Party | Photograph: Courtesy Brandon Estrada for Plaza Mexico Photograph: Courtesy Brandon Estrada for Plaza Mexico”Golazo Fest“ World Cup Watch Party Just because it’s a holiday weekend doesn’t mean the FIFA World Cup is slowing down. On July 5, Brazil and Norway go head to head, then Mexico looks to defend its winning streak against England. You can catch the action alongside a crowd of fútbol fans at the Getty Center, the Hammer Museum or at Plaza Mexico, which is hosting a huge “Golazo Fest” in Lynwood, complete with live music and a mercado.  Cosplay at the Anime Expo  Photograph: Riley CarithersAnime Expo The annual Anime Expo returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center for four days of panels, special events and plenty of cosplay July 2 to 5. Each year, thousands of fans come to celebrate the quirky art and culture of anime as figureheads and stars of the industry visit to speak and sign autographs. A massive wing of the convention is set aside specifically for gaming—both electronic and card-based—plus there are designated chill zones, karaoke, a beer garden and add-ons including a ticketed J-pop music showcase. See live music for free… Lots of one-off Fourth celebrations have DJ sets and music from local artists, but L.A. is rich in free summer concerts all season long. Jazz at LACMA continues on Friday with Ray Charles Alumni Band—made up of musicians who used to play with Charles. And Free Concerts on the Pier kicks off its season in Redondo Beach this week, as does the Summer of Sounds series in West Hollywood’s Plummer Park, which welcomes É Arenas of Chicano Batman and DJ Que Madre on July 5. …or an alfresco performance of Shakespeare If you’re feeling dramatic, you can watch a free production of one of the Bard’s plays: Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon presents both A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet on July 5. The Independent Shakespeare Co. continues its production of Coriolanus above the Griffith Park Zoo all weekend; and Shakespeare by the Sea’s actors perform Macbeth at the Sepulveda Garden Center on Friday. ...read more read less