Now that the state has reopened and Ventura’s feeling like its old self again, we know a lot of people have been looking forward to the upcoming holiday weekend. With sunny, not-too-hot weather in the forecast and plenty to do around the county, this Independence Day promises to be a fun one.
We want to help you make memories this weekend without any unexpected issues, so we rounded up some tips to help you enjoy a festive, safe 4th of July:
Swap fireworks for something else fun
With our current drought and the sporadic high winds we’ve been experiencing, this is definitely not a great year for fireworks. If that’s part of your Independence Day tradition, this year presents a perfect opportunity to find a fun, fire-safe alternative. You could try lighting up your yard with glowsticks and making glow-in-the-dark bubbles to simulate the nighttime spectacular you usually enjoy.
Drought conditions don’t look like they’re going anywhere anytime soon. If you find a good fireworks replacement this year, you’ll be able to lean on it for years to come — and you can keep building on it until it’s as wow-worthy as any pyrotechnics display.
Hit an outdoor local event
As vaccination rates continue to climb in Ventura County, we can enjoy more and more local events — just in time for Independence Day. While Ventura canceled their annual Independence Day street fair and fireworks show, there are plenty of other Ventura County happenings to fill your weekend. Even better, they’re all outdoors and should make it relatively easy to socially distance.
Here are a few events to help you celebrate the holiday this weekend:
- The Channel Islands Harbor 4th of July Family Parade: The parade kicks off at Albacore Way in Oxnard at 10:30 am, heading north up Harbor Boulevard to Cabezone Circle.
- The 6th Annual 4th of July Electric Boat Parade: From 2 to 4 pm, more than 50 boats will be making their way around the east and west channels of Channel Islands Harbor.
- The Ojai Independence Day Parade: This Saturday parade starts at 10 am and will run right down Ojai Avenue.
- Fireworks and live music in Ojai: Another Saturday event, the show takes place at 6 pm at Nordhoff High School Stadium. You can get tickets here.
- Camarillo’s 2021 4th of July Fireworks Show: You can see this event from the Camarillo Premium Outlet parking lot or any spot nearby. It kicks off at 9 pm.
Grill with care
There’s nothing quite like firing up the grill on the 4th. But it pays to take some steps to make sure your grilling venture ends in deliciousness, not disaster.
For starters, make sure your grill has some space between it and anything that’s flammable. It shouldn’t be right up against the side of your house or underneath a tree, for example. If you can position it where it will be hard for pets and kids to get near, all the better.
Once the grill is lit, make sure someone has an eye on it at all times. And if you’re using a charcoal grill, don’t add starter fluid if the coals have already ignited.
Our team at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center hopes you have a happy and safe 4th of July!
