This July 4, our nation will celebrate it’s 250th anniversary. To help celebrate the occasion, there will be fireworks displays, parades – even a drone show in San Jose and throughout Santa Clara County. This page will show you all of the public transit options (where possible) to and from these events, helping you beat traffic, parking woes, and drunk driving. All of this, as World Cup soccer reaches a fever pitch with the knockout rounds.
All transit agencies serving Santa Clara County will run on a Sunday/Holiday schedule July 4. This includes:
Read on for information for July 4 and World Cup soccer viewing parties this weekend follows.
Table of Contents
Disclaimer
This guide is being created as a public service. No compensation from any transit agency or business mentioned here took place, nor consultation from same, occurred as part of or as a result of this guide. Please contact the business(es) mentioned for more details. We are not responsible for any damage caused as a result of the use of this guide.
Saturday, July 4
Cupertino
In Cupertino, the Fourth of July fireworks show takes place at Hyde Middle School, at 19325 Bollinger Rd at 9:30pm. VTA’s 56 bus line from Stevens Creek/Wolfe is the best route to these fireworks. Be advised: the 56 will be detoured around the area from 4:30pm-11:30pm. The detoured route will run along Bollinger, near where you can view the fireworks.\
Gilroy
Gilroy’s Fourth of July fireworks show takes place at Gilroy High School at 750 W. 10th St at 9:30pm. Gilroy High School is about a 20 minute walk from the Gilroy Caltrain station, southern terminus of the 68 bus line. Alternately, you can see the fireworks from the north, at the Caltrain station itself.
Santa Clara
Mission College in Santa Clara is hosting a Fourth of July Celebration for the City of Santa Clara. It runs from 5pm-10pm, with fireworks from nearby Great America around 9:30pm, weather permitting.
Join the City of Santa Clara for a festive, family friendly Fourth of July celebration! Enjoy lawn games, live entertainment, and a wide variety of delicious food from local food trucks. Bring your blanket for a picnic with family and friends.
Ride VTA’s 57 bus to Great America Parkway and Mission College Blvd. bus stop. On Sundays, the bus runs until around 9:30pm, when the last southbound bus from Old Ironsides/Tasman northern terminus leaves.
Alternately, you can walk to Old Ironsides light rail station and catch an Orange Line light rail train. See the map above for a guide.
San Jose (Giants Baseball)
The San Jose Giants host the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in minor league baseball this weekend in San Jose. The San Jose Giants play their home games at Excite Ballpark on Alma and Senter in San Jose. There will be a fireworks show at the ballpark after their evening game, at around 8:30pm. At press time, the game is already sold out. Check out where you can get tickets to future San Jose Giants home games.
Our transit guide to San Jose Giants baseball shows you how VTA’s 73 bus line stops right at the 3rd base side of the ballpark. It also shows you several other bus lines within walking distance, in case the game runs late.
San Jose (Lake Cunningham Park)
The City of San Jose will host a drone show at Lake Cunningham Park in East San Jose on July 4 at 9pm. Hosted by District 9 City Council Member Domingo Candelas, the drone show will also have live music, and children’s activities, starting at 3pm. For those of you who are auditory sensitive, this is a good festival to attend.
Due to the festival, no parking will be allowed at Lake Cunningham. To help get folks to and from Lake Cunningham, VTA will run shuttle bus service from Eastridge Mall to the show site. Shuttle buses will make round trips between Eastridge and Lake Cunningham from 3pm until 11pm.
Our Transit Guide to Silicon Valley Malls shows you how VTA bus lines like the 22, 70, and 522 Rapid serve Eastridge Mall.
San Jose (Rose, White and Blue Parade)
The 19th annual Rose, White and Blue Parade takes place July 4 along The Alameda at Shasta Ave. in San Jose. The parade is held in the Shasta/Hanchett neighborhood of San Jose.
Car Cruise: 9:45 a.m.
Parade: 10:00 a.m.
Festival: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Featuring entertainers and artists from around the Bay Area and beyond.
Restaurants will be open in The Alameda District for breakfast and lunch along with food trucks and booths.
VTA’s 22, 61, and 522 Rapid bus lines are a short walk away from the festivities at The Alameda/Hedding bus stop. Due to parade activities, VTA will detour these bus lines away from their normal routing in the Shasta/Hanchett area of San Jose, until about 4pm. Normally ride the 22, 61, or 522 Rapid? Allow extra travel time, particularly during the parade and festival times.
World Cup Soccer Viewing Parties
Sunday in San Jose (Discovery Meadow)
For this Sunday’s World Cup soccer matches, the City of San Jose has moved viewing parties to Discovery Meadow. Discovery Meadow is near VTA’s Children’s Discovery light rail station. FREE tickets are required for access to this viewing party.
World Cup soccer viewing parties will return to San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose on Monday, July 5.
Our Transit Guide to Downtown San Jose shows you VTA bus & light rail service a short walk to/from Discovery Meadow on Sunday, and San Pedro Square from July 5 onward. This until the final match to decide the world champion of soccer (football) July 19.
Follow @svtransitupdts on X (formerly known as Twitter) to learn more World Cup Soccer viewing parties accessible by VTA bus & light rail.
Campbell
Downtown Campbell is known for its bars and restaurants along Campbell Avenue. Contact the bar or restaurant you want to go to for reservations and information.
VTA Green Line light rail serves the area at the Downtown Campbell station. It’s also a 5-10 minute walk from the 60 bus line stop at Winchester and Campbell Ave.
Milpitas
A good place to see World Cup soccer matches is Dave and Buster’s, at the Great Mall.
The Great Mall is a 5-10 minute walk from the Milpitas BART station. Several VTA bus lines, an AC Transit bus line, and VTA Orange Line light rail stop at the station.
Mountain View
Castro Street in downtown Mountain View has several bars and restaurants you can see World Cup soccer action. The best part: it’s a short walk from the Mountain View Caltrain/VTA light rail station. In addition to Caltrain, it’s served by VTA Orange Line light rail, and the 20, 21, 40, and 52 bus lines.
Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill and Gilroy have bars and restaurants along Monterey Road you can see World Cup Soccer action from. VTA’s 68 bus line runs along Monterey Road between the two cities.
Conclusion
It is hoped this guide will help you beat traffic, parking woes, and other issues this long weekend as you attend events.
Follow @svtransitupdts on X (formerly known as Twitter) for the latest public transit updates in Santa Clara County and San Jose.
Given this long weekend, police will be on patrol for any road violations they witness. They will also be on patrol for these World Cup soccer viewing parties to help keep you safe. Don’t be That Person or That Group who causes trouble and spoils it for everyone. Let’s all be careful out there as we have fun and enjoy this nation’s 250th birthday.
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users