A Historic Fourth of July: Eureka Celebrates America’s 250th and the City’s 170th Anniversary

A rooftop vantage point on Fourth of July, overlooking Humboldt Bay from Old Town, Eureka. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

EUREKA, CA – Eureka Main Street and the City of Eureka invite residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day in Old Town Eureka on Saturday, July 4, 2026.

This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as the community commemorates two historic milestones:the 250th anniversaryof the United States and Eureka’s 170th anniversary.

The day begins at 10:00 a.m. with an Opening Ceremony at Clarke Plaza featuring the Humboldt Bay FireHonor Guard, aperformance of the National Anthem, and a flyover by the United States Coast Guard.Following the ceremony, the Fourth of JulyFestival will fill Old Town Eureka until 5:00 p.m.

Spanning five blocks along Second Street, the festival will feature live music, local vendors, food and drinks,arts and crafts,community organizations, and activities for all ages. Local bands will perform throughout theday on two stages: The Dick TaylorCraft Chocolate Stage at the Gazebo, located at Second and F Streets,and The Phatsy Kline’s Parlor Lounge Stage at Second andC Streets.

Families can enjoy horse-and-carriage rides, Madaket Bay Cruises, speeder car rides, a petting zoo, and aKids Zone hosted byGame On featuring games and bounce houses. New this year, a Touch-a-Truck areaon E Street will give visitors the opportunityto explore public safety and service vehicles up close.

The Activity Zone at Second and G Streets will feature jumbo Jenga, jumbo Connect 4, cornhole, and otherfamily-friendlygames. Festival-goers can also compete in a series of classic Fourth of July contests, includingBest Dressed, Pie Eating,Watermelon Eating, and Arm-Wrestling competitions.

With over a hundred food vendors, food trucks, artisans, retailers, and nonprofit organizationsparticipating, there will besomething for everyone to enjoy throughout the day.

The celebration continues into the evening as the community gathers along Eureka’s waterfront for theannual fireworks displayover Humboldt Bay at 10:00 p.m. Leading up to the fireworks, DJ Rad will performat Madaket Plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00p.m., creating a family-friendly gathering space along the boardwalk.

To help keep the event safe and welcoming for everyone, the festival is dog-free, smoke-free, alcohol-free,and outside fireworks-free.

Last year’s celebration welcomed more than 22,000 people throughout the day and evening. With Eureka celebrating its 170th anniversary and the nation marking its 250th birthday, we are expecting an even larger crowd this year.

Join us for a day filled with live music, great food, family activities, friendly competition, and community spirit as we celebrateIndependence Day together in the heart of Eureka.

For a full event schedule and additional information, please visit www.eurekamainstreet.org.

Fireworks over Eureka. [Screenshot from video by Ryan Hutson]