Photo: Port of San Diego (Flickr)

San Diego marks Independence Day with a whole lot of gusto, and you should be part of the celebration! Come join us at the Sofia Hotel for the 4th of July: You couldn’t ask for a better launchpad for enjoying the full-tilt festivities.

And those festivities don’t get any more full-tilt than the annual Big Bay Boom July 4 Fireworks Show, which sees stunning and tightly choreographed fireworks blasts light the skies over San Diego Bay. The pyrotechnics, which’ll go on for some 17 minutes, will launch from a string of spaced-out barges, including ones positioned along the Embarcadero/Seaport Village area—mere blocks from the Sofia! It’s the biggest fireworks extravaganza in San Diego, and we put it all in easy reach.

The Big Bay Boom, free to enjoy, gets going at 9 PM on the 4th. Being within walking distance of the bayfront—as you’ll be as a Sofia Hotel guest—is a great advantage (although there are shuttle options, too).

The 4^th in Old Town

During the daytime on the 4^th, meanwhile, you can mosey over to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park for a free celebration that’ll summon up the spirit of the city’s early days. From a rousing brass band to start things off at 11 AM to period games and a lively parade, here’s a way to observe Independence Day in uniquely San Diegan style.

Options Aplenty

If you’re interested in venturing farther afield from the Sofia Hotel than the downtown bayfront or Old Town, there are plenty of other 4^th of July shindigs going on around greater San Diego. You can find a nice roundup of fireworks displays and associated activities from La Jolla Cove to Coronado right here.

We hope you’ll come join us at the Sofia to mark Independence Day in a city that knows how to put on a good party! And, hey: If you’re in the mood for a quieter, more laidback 4^th—well, we can accommodate you for that as well, here in our beautiful, historic, and always-friendly hotel in downtown San Diego.