SeeCalifornia.com

In the beautiful East Bay of San Francisco’s bay area, the weather’s warmer and drier in the summer, and many who commute and work in San Francisco love to stick around their homes in Contra Costa County, especially when there’s so much to do on the 4th of July. Less crowded than the city over the hill and by the bay, places such as Walnut Creek (named for walnut groves that once dotted the landscape) are easy to access, allowing locals and visitors time to take in several celebrations around the county if they are so inclined. Among Contra Costa’s 4th of July highlights  are El Cerrito worldOne music festival (left photo,) an adorable kids parade and  spectacular fireworks over the valley in Pleasant Hill (top photo), and parades in Clayton, Antioch, Concord, Danville, and Orinda. In Moraga there are actually two parades–first the dogs, then the kids on bikes. From tie-dye & batik, to American flags and the rockets red glare, Contra Costa County is a great place to celebrate the 4th, especially if you’re looking for a community atmosphere.