The city of Irvine will indeed host its inaugural Fourth of July festival this summer, the City Council decided, promising fun, food and dancing, at least.
The City Council approved a $250,000 budget for the event earlier this week — just a month after proposing the idea of launching a citywide celebration of Independence Day.
Later, the city will decide whether to host a fireworks show or a drone show to cap off the evening of festivities.
The festival will take place at the Irvine Great Park, coinciding with the Pacific Symphony’s annual Fourth of July performance at the city’s new outdoor amphitheater. Tickets to the symphony concert will be sold separately.
Earlier in the evening, the city will host a parade along the Great Park Timeline and live entertainment and dancing at Hangar 244.
The council unanimously approved the budget for the event, although some councilmembers expressed concern about costs and whether city staff will have enough time to coordinate a festival.
“I think this will grow organically over time, but we can kind of supercharge it for this year,” Mayor Larry Agran said.
Agran said he envisions the event eventually becoming one of Orange County’s biggest Fourth of July celebrations.
For decades, neighboring Orange held the baton for grand patriotic celebrations.
But the city’s annual July 3rd fireworks show, which ran for 29 years, has been canceled along with all city-sponsored special events due to citywide budget cuts.
