Do you enjoy fireworks on the Fourth of July? Well, nothing beats a warm summer night with live music, food, drink, and a fantastic fireworks show right in the heart of Davis, CA. The Fourth of July celebration at Community Park is truly a fantastic tradition. People from throughout Yolo County come to Davis to enjoy fireworks and the festivities.
Quick Links
4th of July Events in Davis
The 4th of July Celebration in Davis is chock full of events all day long. Plenty of things to do to keep the family entertained. Plus, if you are hosting an event at your home, you can take a break and head to the event location to participate in the festivities.
Helen Pool 4th of July Criterium: 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The Helen Pool 4th of July Criterium returns for 2026. This bicycling event kicks-off in Downtown Davis early Saturday morning with the competition part of the program beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the Start/Finish line which is near the corners of 3rd St and E St. The criterium program continues throughout the day with prizes and awards wrapping-up around 5:30 p.m. This is a full day of racing that cycling competitors and enthusiasts are sure to enjoy!
Kiwanis Club 4th of July Kiddie Parade for 2026
The Annual Kiwanis Club 4th of July Kiddie Parade is on! This amazing and unique parade is only two blocks long and is tremendously fun for families and the community. Put on your best red, white and blue and celebrate 4th of July in style.
Community Park Celebration: 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The focal point for the 4th of July celebration is in Davis is Community Park. Here you will find plenty of things to do before the fantastic pyrotechnics show in the sky.
- 4:00 - 9:30 p.m. - Play in the park and enjoy snacks and treats which are available for purchase from many of our local non-profit groups. Consider supporting these fantastic organizations by grabbing a bite to eat before enjoying the Davis Fireworks Show.
- 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Enjoy a free game zone coordinated by Discovery Christian Church.
- 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Kid's Market at Community Park. Young entrepreneurs will be selling their creations. Visit the market and support these young creators.
- 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. - Live music coordinated by the Davis Live Music Collective.
- 6:30 p.m. - Rainbow City Park
- 8:00 p.m. - RonKat Spearman's Katdelic
- 9:35 p.m - Fireworks display which runs approximately 15 minutes.
Fourth of July Helen Pool Criterium for 2026
The Davis 4th of July Criterium is returning again for 2026. The announcement for the Helen Pool 4th of July Criterium was made in November 2025. The follow-up announcment was made by the Davis Bike Club on June 10, 2026.
This will be a phenomenal event in Downtown Davis. Plenty of racing and excitment will flying through the downtown as cyclists of all ages compete for racing honors.
For 2026, the Davis 4th of July Criterium is again using thier new course route. Previously, the race track was a circular(ish) route. The continuing track layout is a "figure-eight" layout with a distance of approximately 0.7 miles.
This style of layout is a huge plus for spectators. With eight corners on the route, it will definitely provide plenty of photo opportunities for those who find a spot at the corners or the cross-over.
This layout better balances the number of right turns and left turns; as opposed to a circular or "L-shaped" track.
Online registration for the Helen Pool 4th of July Criterium information is now open. Visit https://www.bikereg.com/helen-pool-4th-of-july-criterium
The racing program can be found at https://davisbikeclub.org/4th-of-july-criterium/
Racing for the 4th of July Criterium begins at 8 a.m. Racing and medals continue throughout the day and wraps-up around 5:30 p.m.
Honoring Helen Pool
The 4th of July Criterium for 2026 is being held in honor of Helen Pool and her lifelong commitment to the support of bicycling. Helen was the owner of B&L Bike shop in Davis, CA and Foy's Bike Shop in Woodland, CA.
Traffic Alert! Street Closures
With everything that is happening in downtown Davis and at Community Park, you definitely know there will be some road closures. Although they are a pain, these road closures help foster a safe and enjoyable enviornment for the events occurring around town.
Here is when and where road closures on the 4th of July will take place.
Downtown Davis
Portions of the following streets in downtown Davis will have closures and detours from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
It is roughtly a six block area including the following streets.
- Second Street
- Third Street
- Fourth Street
- C Street
- D Street
- E Street
- F Street
Community Park
The following intersections will be impacted from 4:00 p.m. to approximately 11:00 p.m.:
Covell Blvd. at Oak Ave.
Covell Blvd. at F St.
E. 14th St. at F St.
E. 14th St. at B St.
W. 14th St. at Oak Ave.
B St. at 12th St.
Kiwanis Kiddie Parade
The 2026 Kiwanis Kiddie Parade is on and welcoming children of all ages to put on their best "4th of July!"
This is an amazingly exciting and short parade.
Children and their families are encouraged to decorate themselves, their bicycles, wagons, strollers and such in the fantastic red, white and blue of our Stars and Stripes and walk, ride, or roll in this 2-block Downtown Davis parade.
This year, the parade begins at 12:30 p.m. Participants will gather at Third and E streets and march along a portion of the Davis Criterium route, circling back to where they started.
This is the place to be and be seen on the 4th of July in Davis, CA.
Kiwanis Kiddie Parade Photos
Food and Drink: A Community Fundraiser
These are great fundraisers for our local organizations.
Snacks and treats will be available for purchase in Community Park from a variety of local non-profit organizations. The City of Davis 4th of July Celebration is a great venue for seeing our local community groups in action and learning more about the services these groups provide in our community.
Be sure to stop by and support these fantastic groups during the 4th of July celebration.
Note: Vendors information is coming soon.
Live Music on the 4th of July
Live music to keep the masses entertained for this 250th birthday party. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. and plays all the way up to the fireworks show. Coordinated by the Davis Live Music Collective, this free public concert brings a variety of regional bands to the stage. The diverse selection of music makes the Davis 4th of July Celebration the perfect place to learn about and enjoy the regional music scene.
The live music lineup for the 2026 Davis 4th of July is:
- 6:30 p.m. - Rainbow City Park
- 8:00 p.m. - Ronkat Spearman
Learn more about the 4th of July music lineup at the Davis Live Music Collective
Headliner: The Coffis Brothers performing live at the City of Davis 4th of July Celebration (2022).
Fireworks Show
The Fourth of July Celebration in Davis ends with a 15-minute fireworks display. I would say that the show lasts a bit longer than 15 minutes. But, when you are watching a fireworks show of this caliber, you have a tendency to lose track of time. Regardless, this is one FANTASTIC fireworks display. It is something you will be talking about for days to come.
Remember, this display is the only safe and legal use of fireworks that is allowed in Davis. For public safety, a City ordinance prohibits the use or discharge of fireworks or any substances designed for pyrotechnic display. The sale of any type of fireworks within the City of Davis boundaries is also prohibited.
The Only Show in Town
The Fourth of July fireworks show in Davis is a must see event...and you don't want to miss it. If you do miss it, you won't be able to see any fireworks in our fair burg unless it is on the Fourth of July.
That is correct. No firework shows in Davis, CA unless it is on the Fourth of July.
During a January 2023 City Council meeting, the Council banned all firework shows in Davis, except for the show on the Fourth of July.
You can read the details in the Davis Enterprise.
4th of July Photo Gallery
Where can I watch fireworks in Davis CA?
The best spot in Davis to watch the fireworks is at Community Park. The large fields right next to the fireworks launching area is perfect for viewing the fireworks almost right overhead. In addition to the explosions overhead, music can be heard; a nice accompaniment to our Country’s birthday celebration.
Right next to Community Park is North Davis Elementary School. This is another great spot to watch the fireworks. Only a couple hundred yards further away, families can gather and watch the show and participate in the festivities.
Another great location in Davis is the Greenbelt just north of Davis Senior High School. Many families prefer this location to watch the show as it is a little bit quieter than watching the show from Community Park, lighter crowds, and easier parking. In the years that I have been attending the fireworks show, I like to find a nice spot in the Greenbelt.
If you are lucky enough to live near Community Park, your backyard or front yard could be the best place to watch the “rocket’s red glare.”
Are fireworks illegal in Davis CA?
Davis Municipal Code prohibits the use of fireworks within the City limits. The Municipal Code is as follows:
13.02.010 Fireworks — Defined.
The term "fireworks" as used in this chapter shall be held to mean firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes, roman candles, toy pistols, toy cannons, detonating canes, blank cartridges, sparklers, squibs and other devices designed and intended for pyrotechnic display. (Ord. 2303 § 2, 2007)
So if you plan on heading to Woodland or Sacramento to pick up some “safe and sane” fireworks and bring them to Davis, it is probably not a good idea to do so.
Here is the full code related to fireworks in Davis, CA.
https://library.qcode.us/lib/davis_ca/pub/municipal_code/item/chapter_13-article_13_02?view=all
Event Sponsors
The City of Davis 4th of July Celebration is brought to you by...
Other Resources
For questions about Fourth of July activities, contact the City of Davis City Manager’s Office at 530-757-5602 or cmoweb@cityofdavis.org.
