That means the best place to see them is on the waterfront, anywhere from Aquatic Park to Pier 39. Flickr/Shawn Cloverĭespite the fact that they’re obscured by fog a solid 80% of the time, San Francisco shoots off the Bay Area’s biggest fireworks display from two locations in Fisherman’s Wharf: the end of Municipal Pier and several barges in front of Pier 39. Read on for our list of the best fireworks displays in the Bay, as well as local parades and festivities. Remember: nothing says America quite like gas-guzzling cars and being stuck in traffic. Traffic will be crazy everywhere after the fireworks, even in smaller towns, so just be patient. If you plan on drinking, plan on taking a taxi or rideshare. If you’re watching the fireworks elsewhere, just use your best judgment. If you do drive, do not leave anything valuable in the car, as the chances it’ll still be there at the end of the day are 50/50 at best. Muni usually runs shuttles and extra trains/buses check their website for more information. If you do have to drive into the city, we recommend parking in another neighborhood and taking public transportation. Basically, as with any big event in the city, public transportation is your best bet. Parking is impossible and when the show is over it’s bumper-to-bumper traffic for several hours.
If you’re planning to watch the fireworks along the waterfront in San Francisco, we highly recommend you do everything in your power to avoid driving.