San Jose is running a drone light show this Fourth of July after the 2025 Yolo County warehouse explosion wiped out much of the Bay Area's fireworks supply. Traditional pyrotechnics are still happening nearby — and the best move is watching California's Great America's 9:40 PM show from Mission College for free.

The South Bay July 4 fireworks landscape shifted this year. San Jose is running a drone light show instead of traditional pyrotechnics — a direct result of the 2025 Yolo County warehouse explosion that killed Bay Area fireworks workers and destroyed much of the region's supply. Several cities still have real shells going up, though, and the best move in the county costs nothing.

San Jose — Lake Cunningham Park, 2305 S White Rd. Free. Kickoff activities at 7 p.m., drone display at 9 p.m. No event parking; the city is pointing people toward VTA Routes 22, 26, and Rapid 522. If you want actual explosions overhead rather than choreographed LEDs, this isn't your stop — but for families with young kids it's a solid low-stress evening.

Santa Clara — Mission College, 3000 Mission College Blvd. Free, 5–10 p.m. This is the hack: California's Great America launches its "Star-Spangled Night" fireworks at 9:40 p.m. from 4701 Great America Pkwy, and they're clearly visible from Mission College's Parking Lot A and central plaza. Great America tickets run dynamic pricing in the $35–$60 range (there's also a $65.99/adult all-you-can-eat BBQ pavilion add-on if you want the in-park experience). Mission College gets you the same sky, free, with food trucks and lawn games on-site. Great America runs the show again July 5 if you miss the Fourth.

Milpitas — Red, White & Boom, Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd. July 4, 5–9 p.m. Presale $8 through July 3; gate price $11 on July 4; ages 2 and under $3; card only. Live music, food trucks, water slide, bounce houses. The city describes this as one of the few remaining city-sponsored fireworks displays in the Bay Area — $8 presale makes it one of the better deals going.

Morgan Hill — Freedom Fest, Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center, 16500 Condit Road. July 3–4; gates open 3 p.m.; free. More than 2,200 shells promised, with fireworks launching around 9–9:30 p.m. Parade and car show round it out. It's a haul from most of the Bay, but Morgan Hill puts on a real show.

If you only have two hours: Mission College. Arrive by 7 p.m. for Parking Lot A before it fills — Great America's launch is close enough that the shells are overhead, not just on the horizon.