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Celebrate the 4th of July at Great Park with Fireworks, Music & Family Fun

Issue # 0436

Author

Joshua Tjia
25 Jun

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🎆🎊🎉 Celebrate the 4th of July at Great Park with Fireworks, Music & Family Fun

❤️🤍💙 Parades, Carnivals & Fireworks: Celebrate Independence Day in Woodbridge

🍨🍧 BOGO Alert: Yogurtland Offers Buy One, Get One Free on June 25

🥬🥕 Free Grocery Food Boxes Available for Irvine Residents on July 10

🦊 Outdoor Animal Show for Families – June 27 at 11 AM at Katie Wheeler Library

🤒🧨 Fourth of July Health Safety Tips from Irvine Ranch Conservancy

🌳🥾 Irvine Expands Jeffrey Open Space Trail with New Bridge and Connections

👾 PAC-MAN Fingerboard Event Coming to Great Park on July 12

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

☀️🐕 BBQs, Fireworks, and Heat: Essential Summer Pet Tips from VCA Animal Hospitals

🌟 UC Irvine’s Davis, Taylor Named to CSC Academic All-District Track & Field Team

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🚨 Two Women Arrested for Robbery and Assault at Irvine Spectrum’s Zumiez Store

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

🌟🏪🎉Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

The Irvine Insider will be taking a short break from June 26 through July 4, 2025, as our team pauses to recharge and prepare fresh updates and features for the summer season. We'll be back in your inbox on Monday, July 7, with more local stories, events, and community highlights. In the meantime, we wish you a safe and joyful Fourth of July celebration filled with fun, fireworks, and time with community and your loved ones!

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter, and thank you for your valuable, continued support, input, and feedback!

Irvine Insider Staff

What do you call an anxious mosquito?

A jitterbug.

We hope this joke brings some laughter to your day! 😁

Celebrate the 4th of July at Great Park with Fireworks, Music & Family Fun

Celebrate Independence Day at the Great Park on Friday, July 4, from 4 to 10 p.m. with a free, family-friendly community event.

  • The day includes a community parade, crafts, lawn games, carousel and balloon rides, live music, a silent disco, and food trucks.

  • The evening ends with a fireworks and drone light show.

  • Bonus: catch a live performance by Pacific Symphony at Great Park Live (ticket required).

  • Bring lawn chairs, picnic gear, and enjoy the fun!

Parades, Carnivals & Fireworks: Celebrate Independence Day in Woodbridge

Enjoy a full day of festive fun on Thursday, July 4th! There will be morning runs, patriotic parades, afternoon carnivals, and boat races, and the evening will wrap up with a fireworks display.

Some South Lake Beach Club activities require a wristband ($12–$20) while some do not; wristbands can be purchased online or in person. Children 2 and under are free.

Event Highlights

  • 7:15 AM – Ralph J. Redington 5K/10K Run (no wristband)

  • 8:15 AM – 1-Mile Kids Run (no wristband)

  • 10:00 AM – Wheels on Parade on Barranca Parkway (no wristband)

  • 12–4 PM – Carnival rides, Boat Races, BINGO, and Food (wristband required)

  • 3:00 PM – Volleyball Tournament (sign-ups at 2:30 PM)

  • 9:00 PM – Fireworks Show

Free Shuttle: Runs 12–11 PM along East/West Yale Loop.

BOGO Alert: Yogurtland Offers Buy One, Get One Free on June 25

Yogurtland is offering a Buy One, Get One Free deal today, June 25 — buy one yogurt or ice cream and get a second of equal or lesser value free. Valid in-store only at participating locations.

Free Grocery Food Boxes Available for Irvine Residents on July 10

Irvine residents in need can receive a free 30-pound grocery food box through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), offered in partnership with Community Action Partnership of Orange County.

  • The box includes dried beans, produce, canned and frozen vegetables, juice, meats (if available), dairy, grains, and more.

  • Pickup is scheduled for Thursday, July 10, at 11:15 AM at Heritage Park Community Center (14301 Yale Ave).

  • Reservations are encouraged.

  • For details, call 949-724-6650 or email [email protected].

Outdoor Animal Show for Families – June 27 at 11 AM at Katie Wheeler Library

Join the Wild Wonders Animal Show on Friday, June 27, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Irvine Katie Wheeler Library for a fun, family-friendly outdoor event. Kids and families will get to meet desert-dwelling animals and learn how they adapt to arid environments. A blanket is recommended for seating.

Fourth of July Health Safety Tips from Irvine Ranch Conservancy

As the Fourth of July approaches, Irvine Ranch Conservancy encourages the community to celebrate while staying safe and healthy. A few simple tips can help everyone enjoy the holiday:

  • Avoid Fire Hazards: Enjoy public fireworks displays and use park barbecues to reduce fire risk.

  • Care for Wildlife: Give animals space, avoid feeding them, and clean up all trash.

  • Protect Your Health: Stay cool, drink plenty of water, and take breaks in the shade.

  • Leave No Trace: Dispose of all waste properly to keep parks clean.

  • Follow Park Rules: Stick to trails and observe all safety signs.

Irvine Expands Jeffrey Open Space Trail with New Bridge and Connections

The City of Irvine is continuing the expansion of the Jeffrey Open Space Trail, including a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the I-5 freeway scheduled to open in summer 2026.

  • This bridge will connect 3.5 miles of existing trail to 1.5 miles of new trail south of the freeway.

  • A recent extension of the Hicks Canyon Trail also added a tunnel under Portola, and future plans include a connection to the Jeffrey Trail via a tunnel under Jeffrey Road.

  • These projects aim to improve connectivity and accessibility within Irvine’s trail system.

PAC-MAN Fingerboard Event Coming to Great Park on July 12

Join the PAC-MAN Fingerboarding Experience with Slushcult on Saturday, July 12, from 1–3 PM at the Great Park Gallery in Irvine.

  • In celebration of 45 Years of PAC-MAN, this event blends arcade nostalgia with fingerboarding fun, featuring custom mini-skate parks and a creative street culture vibe.

  • Hosted in collaboration with Slushcult, attendees can explore PAC-MAN’s legacy and take home a free, limited-edition PAC-MAN fingerboard (while supplies last).

We will resume with the high school music calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

BBQs, Fireworks, and Heat: Essential Summer Pet Tips from VCA Animal Hospitals

Summer fun can bring hidden hazards for pets, especially around the July 4th holiday. From backyard BBQs to fireworks, it's important to take extra precautions to keep your furry family members safe and comfortable. Here are some quick, effective tips to help your pets stay happy and healthy this season:

  • 🥩 Avoid sharing human food – BBQ items like bones, chocolate, alcohol, and pitted fruits can be toxic or cause blockages.

  • 🌞 Protect from the heat – Keep pets indoors during peak heat, provide plenty of water, and use pet-safe sunscreen.

  • 🎆 Minimize stress from fireworks – Create a quiet, secure space away from loud noises to prevent panic or escape.

  • 🐾 Shield paws from hot surfaces – Pavement and sand can burn paw pads; walk pets early or late in the day.

  • 🕶️ Monitor pool time – Even strong swimmers can tire or ingest harmful chemicals; always supervise water play.

  • 🕯️ Keep harmful items out of reach – Balloons, glow sticks, and citronella candles can be toxic if chewed or swallowed.

  • 🧊 Prevent heatstroke – Never leave pets in a parked car and always have fresh water available.

  • 🧹 Clean up after parties – Quickly remove leftover food and drinks to prevent pets from sneaking a harmful snack.

UC Irvine’s Davis, Taylor Named to CSC Academic All-District Track & Field Team

UC Irvine juniors DeAna Davis and Zharia Taylor were named to the 2025 CSC Academic All-District Women's Track & Field Team, honoring their excellence both academically and athletically.

  • Davis, an education sciences major, was a Big West hammer throw runner-up and NCAA qualifier, with a personal best ranking second in UCI history.

  • Taylor, majoring in urban studies, earned second-team All-America honors in the high jump, also ranking second all-time at UCI.

Both athletes played key roles in UC Irvine’s first-ever Big West Women’s Track & Field Championship win.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

We will resume with UCI’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall quarter.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

We will resume with IVC’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

We will resume with the high school athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

Two Women Arrested for Robbery and Assault at Irvine Spectrum’s Zumiez Store

On June 5, a shoplifting incident at Zumiez in Irvine Spectrum escalated into a violent assault involving two 20-year-old suspects, Jennifer Rosenberger of Brea and Emily Castaneda Baez of Compton. After one of them was seen hiding merchandise and then attacking a store employee—joined by the other suspect—all while children were present, both were later arrested for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and child endangerment. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Drake at [email protected].

Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you’re a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! “Irvine Insider” is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our city. Let’s collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special.

Click the link below and fill out the Local Business Spotlight Application Form to be featured and let’s celebrate the spirit of Irvine together!

Irvine Insider is sent to a local audience of Irvine residence Monday through Friday with 50% - 60% open rate. Our newsletter is a great way to reach Irvine residents.

  • Kaiser Permanente Irvine Farmers Market

  • Saturday Farmers Market at Mariners Church Irvine

    • When: Saturday, 8 AM - 12 PM

    • Where: 5428 Bonita Canyon Dr, Irvine, CA 92603

  • Great Park Certified Farmers Market

  • Manassero Farmers

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 4:30 PM

    • Where: 33 Irvine Valley, Irvine, CA 92604

  • Tanaka Farms

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Where: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

    • More Info:Tanaka Farms

June 26 Library Pub Trivia 4 – 6 PM

June 27 Super Swim Lesson 6 PM

June 6 Pop-up Library 1 - 4 PM

July 12 CorePower Yoga: Summer Yoga on The Lawn 9:30 – 10:30 AM

July 12 - 13 Woodbury Town Center: Summer Makers Mart 10:00 – 4:00 PM

July 26 Umami Summerfest 11 AM - 7 PM

July 27 Umami Summerfest 11 am - 6 pm

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