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People across Orange County pulled out their BBQ grills, lawn chairs and admired the fireworks that lit up the sky. 

For some cities, there were sanctioned firework shows, while Laguna Beach opted for a drone show, a more quiet and new way of watching light displays. 

But Independence Day is more than grills and fireworks – it’s also the day colonists declared independence from Great Britain in 1776.

To read a copy of the Declaration, click here. 

Here is a visual of how Orange County looked on the Fourth of July.  

Santa Ana

Raul Marquez, a Santa Ana Resident, attends the 2024 4th of July celebration at Centennial Park. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC
Evangelina Chavez, 5, and her grandmother Felicitas Carachure at the 2024 4th of July celebration at Centennial Park in Santa Ana. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC
The Santa Ana 4th of July celebration at Centennial Park on July 4, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC
Katie Nguyen, center, and her two children Draven, left, and Kaitlyn at the Santa Ana 4th of July celebration on Julyh 4, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC
Folklorico dancers line up before performing at the Santa Ana 4th of July celebration at Centennial Park. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Laguna Beach

Jenny Zheng, left, and Angela Zheng at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach on July 4, 2024. Both Irvine residents, they were visiting the park to watch the Fourth of July drone show. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC
Crowds of people at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach wait for the upcoming Fourth of July drone show. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC
Drones being set up for the 2024 4th of July drone show in Laguna Beach. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC
Drones used in the 2024 4th of July drone show in Laguna Beach. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC
Pedestrians watch the 4th of July drone show at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Dana Point

A line of people on the bridge over Island Way overlooking an assortment of small boaters and paddle boarders on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
A large crowd of people enjoying Fourth of July at Doheny Beach on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
A crowd of people walking around at Doheny Beach on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
Margarita Maximiliano, 55, spent the holiday at Doheny Beach with a host of families from San Juan Capistrano with tamales for breakfast and hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.

Mission Viejo

A Celebrate America sign at the entrance to the Fourth of July fair in Mission Viejo on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
San Clemente resident Chris Bristow, 27, walking around at the Fourth of July fair in Mission Viejo on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
A group of people sit down in the shade at the Fourth of July fair in Mission Viejo on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
OC Deputy Sheriff Hector Tejeda, 37, at the Fourth of July fair in Mission Viejo on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
A youth band playing at the Fourth of July fair in Mission Viejo on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
A child being handed a prize at a pop up tent at the Fourth of July fair in Mission Viejo on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.

Ladera Ranch

An annual firework show at Founders Park in Ladera Ranch on Thursday, June 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.
An annual firework show at Founders Park in Ladera Ranch on Thursday, June 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.

Julie Leopo is an award-winning photojournalist. Her first photo essay was published with Voice of OC in 2015 and she has been working as a photographer with the publication ever since. Julie has freelanced...