Recap: Woodland Hills' July 4th Extravaganza Lit Up Warner Park

Warner Park did what it does every Fourth of July: it filled up. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield's July 4th Extravaganza, sponsored by Tim Gaspar and produced with the Valley Cultural Foundation, is one of the largest free fireworks shows in the San Fernando Valley. This year's event, held Saturday, July 4, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., drew an estimated 40,000-plus people into the park, with thousands more watching from surrounding streets and backyards.

Local band Marshmallow Blowtorch opened at 5:30 p.m., followed by Doctor Wu, the 12-piece Los Angeles group known for its note-for-note recreations of Steely Dan, at 6:30. The set list leaned into the catalog's biggest singalongs, including "Reelin' In the Years," "Peg," "Hey Nineteen," and "Dirty Work," a fitting choice for a crowd more interested in dancing on picnic blankets than sitting still.

More than 15 food trucks and a run of local arts and crafts vendors lined the park for the evening, giving families plenty of reason to arrive well before the music started. The night closed the way it always does: a 20-minute fireworks display over the park, timed to hit right around 9 p.m.

If you missed it

The good news is Warner Park isn't done for the summer. The Valley Cultural Foundation's regular Sunday concert series picks back up July 12 and runs through August 23, free, same bandshell, considerably smaller crowd. Check our concert series guide for the full lineup of what's left, or see the Foundation's own event page for this year's July 4th details.

Were you there? Tag us in your photos from the park. We'd love to feature them.

West Valley Guide