Peninsula Moves!
The Official Blog of Caltrain, SamTrans and TA.
By Mahala Herron, @MahalaHerron With the Fourth of July coming up on Wednesday, here are a few fun events for family and friends to enjoy and reach by way of Caltrain […]
By Mahala Herron, @MahalaHerron
With the Fourth of July coming up on Wednesday, here are a few fun events for family and friends to enjoy and reach by way of Caltrain and SamTrans.
Redwood City Fourth of July Parade, Festival and Fireworks
Redwood City Independence Day 2018 is set to be a day of fun for kids and adults of all ages. The 80th anniversary of the annual parade will kick off at 10 a.m., along with a pancake breakfast, 5k run and a parade. The festivities will include arts and crafts, a kid’s stage on Broadway and a battle of the bands between Stanford and UC Davis.
Finally, the fireworks will light up the night around 9:30 p.m. Fireworks can be seen from various locations across the Peninsula.
Take Caltrain to the Redwood City Station and then walk roughly five minutes to the festivities. SamTrans Route 286 makes stops at the transit center.
Old-Fashioned Fourth of July and Ice Cream Making Party
The San Mateo County History Museum is hosting “An Old-Fashioned Fourth” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children are invited to create homemade vanilla ice cream and then taste their creation. There will also be traditional Independence Day crafts for youngsters to take home.
At 1 p.m., adults are invited to view vintage films about the Peninsula from the museum’s private archives. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and students, and free for children 5 and under.
Take the Caltrain to the Redwood City Station and then walk five minutes to the festivities. SamTrans Route 286 makes stops at the transit center.
Menlo Park Fourth of July Parade and Festival
The Menlo Park Fourth of July Parade and Festival kicks off at 11:45 a.m. Come dressed in red, white and blue or decorate your bike or wagon in a patriotic motif to be a part of the parade. Reminder: the parade is pedestrian only, so no motorized vehicles.
After the parade, Burgess Park will play host to a celebration from noon to 2:30 p.m. with live music, inflatable bounce houses, face painting, rock walls and giant slides. Community vendors and food trucks will be onsite too.
Take Caltrain to the Menlo Park Station and then walk about 10 minutes to the fun. SamTrans Route 286 makes stops near the station.
Fourth at the Wharf! Fireworks, Live Music, and Performances!
Head to Fisherman’s Wharf District for some Independence Day fun near Pier 39, Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquatic Park and Beach, and Ghirardelli Square. Street performers, live music and local attractions will be part of the festivities along with fireworks set to be shot off from Aquatic Park and Pier 39!
The fireworks can be viewed from all along the waterfront, including the promenade next to the Franciscan Crab Restaurant. Picnicking is encouraged at Aquatic Park, however alcohol is prohibited.
Take Caltrain to the San Francisco Station on 4th and King streets, then walk to the Townsend Street and 4th Street MUNI bus 30 toward Van Ness and North Point. Get off at Columbus Avenue and North Point Street to get to the center of the festivities.
The Rotary Club of San Jose will celebrate the Fourth of July with a beautiful display of fireworks at Discovery Meadow. The show will light up the night beginning at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Take Caltrain to the San Jose Diridon Station and walk approximately 20 minutes to Discovery Meadow. You can also get on one of VTA’s light rail trains. A Mountain View or Alum Rock train will get you to San Jose’s downtown core.
Palo Alto Summer Festival and Chili Cook-off
Bring your kids to enjoy the Annual Summer Festival and Chili Cook Off in Palo Alto, Mitchell Park on July 4. The event is free and there will be live music, activities for children and lots of food beside chili. Festivities begin at noon and end at approximately 5 p.m.
You can ride Caltrain to the Palo Alto Station, and then take the City of Palo Alto shuttle from Lytton and Alma to East Meadow Drive and Cowper Street to be in the midst of the fun.
Mahala Herron is one of the San Mateo County Transit District’s summer interns. She studies at UCLA and is from Oakland. She is interning in the District’s communications department.
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