BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Fourth of July is just under a week away and 17 News has put together a list of events happening around Kern County for the whole family.
Ridgecrest Family Picnic Event at Freedom Park
This event will take place July 4 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Freedom Park located at 100 W. California Ave. There will be food and drink vendors on site, as well as a splash pad for the family.
Other activities at the event include cornhole, ax throwing, contests, races and a drone show.
Wasco Car Show at Barker Park
This car show will take place July 4 and will feature contests and a firework show. Barker Park is located at Poso Drive and Poplar Avenue.
Westchester Parade
This annual Bakersfield event will take place at Jastro Park, starting at 9 a.m.
The parade will include a flag presentation by the Sons of the American Revolution, the Pledge of Allegiance led by neighborhood children, the National anthem sung by American Musical and Dramatic Academy student Payton Butcher, a tribute to Korean and WWII veterans memorials, a presentation for Honor Flight and an introduction from Grand Marshals.
U.S. 250 Tour at Dignity Health Amphitheater
This event will take place July 3 at the Dignity Health Amphitheater and Park at Riverwalk located at 11200 Stockdale Hwy. There will be food, drinks and music. A firework show will also take place once it is dark.
Shafter Lion’s Club
The Shafter Lion’s Club is hosting their own picnic-style Fourth of July event July 3 at 7 p.m. Organizers said there will be no food vendors so feel free to bring your own food, drinks and snacks as well as your own chairs.
Their firework show will begin at 9 p.m. and there will be two locations for spectators to watch from the grass area of Sequoia Elementary School located at 500 Fresno Ave. and the Shafter Recreation and Parks District located at 700 E. Tulare Ave.
McFarland 250 Celebration
This celebration will take place at Blanco Park located at 1000 E. Sherwood Ave. July 2 at 6:30 p.m. Food vendors will be on site and the vent is free. Fireworks are slated to begin at 9 p.m.
Kern Raceway Event
The event, which will be hosted at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, located at 13500 Raceway Blvd., will include a firework show, NASCAR racing, a Drag-a-Boat demolition race and entertainment for the entire family.
General admission early-bird tickets are $22. Gates will open at 4 p.m. on July 4, and the main events will begin at 7 p.m.
Taft 250
The City of Taft will host a two-fold event on both July 3 and 4.
The event on Friday, July 3 will include a cruise, an array of classic cars, food, live music and family fun. It will be hosted in downtown Taft.
The second event, on July 4, will include a Patriotic Parade starting at 9 a.m. Following that, there will be an apple pie baking contest and local vendors.
Participants can reserve their spot for the two-day event for $75.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.