Oakland Prepares to Support Large Crowds for July 4th

With large crowds anticipated at Lake Merritt for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, the City of Oakland will implement temporary safety measures where many gather to enjoy festivities. The locations will also include Grizzly Peak, where people gather for a great view of Bay Area fireworks on the Fourth of July. The City is also maintaining and evolving its safety measures in the downtown and uptown areas for First Fridays on July 3.

At Lake Merritt on summer weekends and holidays, traffic and parking congestion along the narrow Lakeshore Avenue remains a safety priority. Unsafe conditions can include when cars are double- and triple-parked from MacArthur Boulevard to E. 18th Avenue, creating significant traffic jams and, of greatest concern, impeding access for emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances. This is often the result of too many cars in too little space and the temporary street closures are established to help deliver any needed emergency services to people at or around the Lake as swiftly as possible.

Friday July 3 Downtown/Uptown Safety Measures

In early June the City and several community partners announced a number of steps taken to ensure celebrations and community events in the downtown and uptown areas would remain safe and inviting – including traffic controls, increased enforcement on illegal vending and alcohol, and increased OPD patrol presence. Those actions are ongoing and will continue on July 3 at the First Friday monthly events and in the later evening hours when unrelated safety concerns are reported.

JULY 3 CLOSURE DETAILS AT A GLANCE

Road Closure

16th Street/Telegraph Avenue: no Westbound traffic

17th Street/San Pablo Avenue: no Eastbound traffic

17th Street/Telegraph Avenue: no Eastbound traffic

18^thStreet/San Pablo Ave: No Eastbound traffic

19th Street/Broadway: no Westbound traffic

19^thStreet/Franklin: no Westbound traffic

Towaway Zones (No Parking)

Broadway and Telegraph corridors, from 15th St to 20th St. Watch for posted signage for final restrictions.

Dates & Times

6:00 p.m., Friday, July 3, 2026 through 4:00 a.m., Saturday, July 4, 2026

Fourth of July Weekend: July 4-5 Road Closures at Lake Merritt and Grizzly Peak

On Saturday, July 4 from 4 a.m. until midnight, the following road restrictions will be in effect:

Lakeshore Avenue / Lake Merritt Partial Closure

Lakeshore Avenue

• Closed between MacArthur Boulevard and East 18th Street.
• Lakeshore Avenue exit from westbound I-580 will remain open.
• Grand Avenue exit from I-580 will remain open.
• No parking permitted.
• Beacon Street, Boden Way, Brooklyn Avenue, Wayne Avenue, Hanover Avenue, and the Lakeshore Cul-de-Sac will be closed at Lakeshore Avenue. Beacon Street will also be closed at MacArthur Boulevard.
• El Embarcadero will be closed.

Grand Avenue

• Closed between MacArthur Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue East.
• Access limited to Children's Fairyland ticket holders and local residents.
• No parking permitted.
• Bellevue Avenue loop and cross streets will be closed except to residents and Children's Fairyland ticket holders.

Interstate 580

• The City has not requested that the Grand Avenue offramp be closed. 

Grizzly Peak: Road Closures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone 

The City of Oakland, in coordination with East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD), Contra Costa County, Orinda Police Department, Moraga Police Department, and Oakland Public Works, will implement a closure of Grizzly Peak Boulevard between Skyline Boulevard and Claremont Avenue / Fish Ranch Road from 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, through 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The closure is designed to protect public safety and ensure emergency vehicle access in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone during the July 4th holiday.

Every year, the Oakland Hills and surrounding hillside communities face elevated wildfire risk during the Fourth of July holiday. Dry vegetation, Diablo wind conditions, and illegal fireworks activity combine to create conditions that have historically threatened lives, homes, and open space. The 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm — which destroyed more than 3,000 homes and took 25 lives — began in this same interface zone. This closure reflects the ongoing commitment of regional agencies to take proactive steps before a fire starts.

All fireworks are illegal in the City of Oakland and in the unincorporated areas of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Residents are encouraged to enjoy professional, permitted fireworks displays instead. Anyone who observes the sale, possession, or use of illegal fireworks may report it anonymously to the OPD Fireworks Tip Line at (510) 777-8814.

JULY 4 CLOSURE DETAILS AT A GLANCE

Road Closure

Grizzly Peak Boulevard between Skyline Boulevard and Centennial /Golf Course Drive

Dates & Times

All through traffic; Neighborhood residents will be allowed; and safe bicycle and pedestrian activity is also acceptable at public safety officials discretion

Turnabout Point

Motorists will be permitted to turn around at the steam train parking lot at Tilden Park (Note: Tilden Park Steam Train will also be closed on July 4th)

Park Closures

Joaquin Miller Park (Oakland) will also be closed July 4th.

Agencies Involved

City of Oakland (OFD / OPD / OPW), EBRPD, Contra Costa County, Orinda PD, Moraga PD