All week
Taking shapeCelebration along the coast
Citywide
Restaurants, live music, and family events join in across the waterfront as the week builds toward the finale. Participating partners will be announced here.
America's 250 · Fourth of July Week · Long Beach
Sea to Shining LBC
One week. One coastline. A celebration of America's 250th birthday across the Long Beach waterfront, ending in a free fireworks finale at 9:00 PM on July 4, 2026.
Saturday, July 4, 2026Fireworks at 9:00 PMAbout 20 minutesFree to watchBenefiting eleven local organizations
About the Celebration
Two hundred fifty years, one shining coastline.
Sea to Shining LBC: America's 250 is Long Beach's weeklong toast to the nation's 250th birthday. Events build across the city's beaches and bays toward a free fireworks finale on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
The celebration carries forward the spirit of Big Bang on the Bay, the hometown fireworks tradition that has brought Long Beach together on the water for more than a decade. Sea to Shining LBC takes that energy citywide, from the Queen Mary to Alamitos Bay.
It is also a first look at what is coming. In 2028 the Olympic and Paralympic Games arrive in Greater Los Angeles, and three preview events put kite surfing, beach sprint rowing, and water polo on the Long Beach water.
Week at a Glance
Seven days, building to one night.
Olympic preview events run during the week, not on July 4 itself. Dates are set below; exact start times, locations, and athletes are confirmed here as they land.
Jun 27 to Jul 3
Dates setOlympic preview events
Granada Beach · Bennett Avenue · Alamitos Bay
Three showcases put Long Beach's 2028 Olympic waters on display. Full stories below.
- Kite SurfingHome of the Wave at Granada Beach, all week
- RowingThe 250th Pull beach sprint by Bennett Avenue, June 27-28
- Water PoloThe Breakwater Battle at Horny Corner, July 2-3
Sat · July 4
ConfirmedAmerica's 250: The Finale
The Long Beach coastline
Gathering areas fill through the afternoon, and at 9:00 PM the sky takes over.
- AfternoonCelebration builds along the waterfront
- EveningFlyovers and aerial moments expected
- 9:00 PMFireworks finale, about 20 minutes, free
More events are added to this timeline as partners confirm.
The Event Map
Every spot on the celebration coastline.
Tap a pin for event details. Food and community locations will be added as they confirm.
Fireworks viewingOlympic preview
Olympic Preview · Road to 2028
Before the world arrives, the water gets a preview.
In 2028, Olympic competition returns to Long Beach. During the week, three showcases put the city's Olympic waters on display.
Kite Surfing
Home of the Wave
Granada Beach, Belmont Shore
Belmont Shore's steady onshore wind has made this break a kitesurfing haven for years. Riders are out all week on the same waters Long Beach hosts for Olympic sailing in 2028.
All week
Rowing
The 250th Pull
Bennett Avenue, Belmont Shore
A 250-meter beach sprint by Bennett Avenue: crews dash down the sand, row a short buoyed course, and sprint back to the line. It previews coastal rowing, the format joining the Olympic program at the 2028 Games.
June 27-28, 9 AM starts
Water Polo
The Breakwater Battle
Horny Corner, Alamitos Bay
Five-time Olympian and Long Beach native Tony Azevedo brings water polo back to the corner of the bay where local kids have always played, ahead of the 2028 Games.
July 2-3
The Finale · Saturday, July 4, 2026
At 9:00 PM, the whole coastline looks up.
America's 250th birthday closes with synchronized fireworks along the Long Beach shore. No tickets, no gates: find a stretch of sand, a patch of bluff, or a boat deck, and look up.
Showtime
- 9:00 PM
Run time
- About 20 min
Admission
- Free
Where to watch
Open the event map- 1Queen Mary / Downtown Waterfront
- 2Cherry / Junipero Beach
- 3Granada Beach
Free public viewing at all three. Viewing areas are pending final City confirmation.
Arrive early
Beach lots and street parking fill by late afternoon on July 4. Build in extra time, or skip the car where you can.
Leave the fireworks to the pros
Personal fireworks are prohibited in Long Beach. Let the show do the work.
Pack out what you pack in
The coastline is the star of this celebration. Respect the beaches, the wildlife, and the neighborhoods around them.
Food, Beverage & Festivities
The flavors and sounds of Long Beach.
The lineup of restaurants, vendors, and entertainers is coming together. Names are added here as they confirm.
Local restaurants
To be announcedLong Beach restaurants joining in from their own dining rooms and patios along the waterfront.
Food & beverage pop-ups
To be announcedPop-up vendors and beverage gardens planned for the key gathering areas.
Family fun
To be announcedBeachfront games and family-friendly moments along the coast throughout the week.
Music & entertainment
To be announcedLive music, DJs, and waterfront performances across participating locations.
Support the Celebration
A birthday party that gives back.
Sea to Shining LBC is community powered. Donations fund the fireworks, keep the week's events free and open, and support the work of eleven Long Beach organizations serving kids, families, and neighbors across the city.
Donations are processed securely through Zeffy.
Proceeds benefit
- Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach
- Autism Partnership Foundation
- YMCA of Greater Long Beach
- New Life Beginnings Women & Children's Shelter
- Belmont Shore Rugby Club
- Children Today
- Action Sports Kids Foundation
- Eminent Giving Initiative
- Merge Opportunities
- Creative Class Collective
- 4GIRLS Organization
The Tradition
Long Beach knows how to throw this party.
Scenes from Big Bang on the Bay and the waterfront that started it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sea to Shining LBC, answered.
What is Sea to Shining LBC?
Sea to Shining LBC: America's 250 is a weeklong Long Beach waterfront celebration of the nation's 250th birthday. Olympic preview events and community celebration build through the week, ending with a free fireworks finale along the coastline on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
When and where are the fireworks, and is it free?
Yes, free for everyone. Fireworks are planned for Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 9:00 PM, running about 20 minutes, with synchronized shows visible along the coast. Three gathering areas span the coastline: the Queen Mary / Downtown Waterfront, Cherry / Junipero Beach, and Granada Beach. The map on this page has pins and directions for each.
Where are the Olympic preview events?
Home of the Wave (kite surfing) runs all week at Granada Beach, The 250th Pull beach sprint rowing is by Bennett Avenue on June 27-28 with 9 AM starts, and The Breakwater Battle (water polo) is at Horny Corner on Alamitos Bay on July 2-3. They take place during the week leading up to July 4, not on July 4 itself.
Is this the same as Big Bang on the Bay?
No. Sea to Shining LBC is a citywide waterfront celebration inspired by the tradition and energy of Big Bang on the Bay. It is intentionally broader, spread across the Long Beach coastline rather than a single venue.
Is Boathouse on the Bay producing the event?
No. Boathouse is helping share information and rally community partners. The celebration is being shaped together with the City, local partners, and community organizations.
Will there be food and drinks?
Yes. Local restaurants, pop-up vendors, and beverage gardens are part of the planning for the gathering areas. Participating partners will be announced on this page.
How do I donate or support the celebration?
Donations are accepted through a secure Zeffy donation page, linked from the Support section above. Proceeds help power the fireworks, the week's free events, and eleven Long Beach community organizations.
Planning how to get around by water? The AquaLink water taxi runs along the same coastline all summer.
July 4, 2026 · Long Beach