Skies across the San Gabriel Valley will be full of color on Saturday night; here’s a roster of the most notable shows. And don’t forget about the Thursday show sponsored by the Altadena Town & Country Club; for details on that, click here.

Alhambra
Almansor Park is home to a free fireworks show, scheduled for 9 p.m.; bring your picnic basket or buy your dinner from local youth-group food vendors, who will be on duty from 3 p.m. on. Details are found on the city’s web site. 800 S. Almansor St., Alhambra.

La Crescenta
Volunteers make this annual event a success. Held at the La Crescenta Elementary School Playground, the festival (rides, food, games) starts at 4 p.m., with fireworks slated for 9 p.m. Admission is a modest $5; get more information by clicking here. Prospect Ave. west of La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta.

Pasadena
The Rose City is home to the biggest fireworks show in the SG Valley. Called Americafest, it takes place in the Rose Bowl and includes an afternoon fair with rides, games and food, followed by a show that kicks off at 6:50 p.m. with an Air Force flyover and a performance by five of the nation’s most acclaimed drum corps. The fireworks show (last year’s was amazing) starts promptly at 9. The fair is free, but tickets to the show are $13 each (kids 7 and under free), and parking is a whopping $15. The neighborhoods surrounding the Rose Bowl are packed with locals having parties and crowding on the edges of the Arroyo for good views. Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena, rosebowlstadium.com.

San Marino
San Marino’s longstanding July 4th celebration in Lacy Park is about a lot more than just fireworks: There’s a parade, entertainment, game booths, food, even bingo. The fun starts at 5 p.m., but people start staking out their park space as early as 7 a.m., when park gates on Virginia Road open. Everyone needs a wristband to enter, and the price depends on if you’re a resident or not, and whether you buy in advance or not. Go to cityofsanmarino.org for the details. 1485 Virginia Rd., San Marino.

Sierra Madre
Okay, so there’s no fireworks show in Sierra Madre, but we had to include it anyway, because everybody’s favorite small town gets really into the 4th. It starts on Friday night, with free concerts, food, a beer garden and “bubble wrap” fireworks, whatever that is. The big parade (“half the town marches, the other half watches”) starts with a vintage-aircraft flyover on Saturday at 10, and at noon everyone gathers at Memorial Park for a festival, games, live music, and a beer garden. Best of all is a water zone at the end of the parade route, where the town’s firefighters and residents join in on a giant water fight. It’s all free; for details, go to the web site.

South Pasadena
The holiday is celebrated at several spots. First thing in the morning is the Kiwanis pancake breakfast at the fire department. Next is the charming small-town parade, which starts at 11 a.m. and runs from Mission and Diamond over to Garfield Park. The day caps off with a 9 p.m. fireworks show on the football field at South Pas High; tickets are $7 in advance (available all over town, including the Chamber of Commerce, fire station, senior center, etc.) or $10 at the gate. Get all the details by clicking here.

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