July 4th Paso
The City of Paso Robles, along with Travel Paso, is hosting a 4th of July celebration at Barney Schwartz Park!
The event will include family-friendly activities throughout the day and culminate in a fireworks show after dark. Additions to the 2023 program include an expanded Family Fun Zone, 2 live bands, and a new sponsorship program.
Event activities begin at 2:00 PM, and live music kicks off at 5:30 PM with the Stephen Styles Band, followed by headliners the Young Dubliners at 7:15 PM. Fireworks blast off around 9:15PM.
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
2:00PM to 10:00PM
Barney Schwartz Park
2970 Union Road, Paso Robles, CA
EVENT DETAILS
Activities and amenities include:
- Free admission and parking
- Free RV Parking
- FunZone
- Concession stand and food trucks
- KJUG live broadcast
- Two live bands
- Stephen Styles Band at 5:30
- Young Dubliners at 7:15
- Fireworks show at approximately 9:30 PM
Please note:
- No dogs allowed
- You can bring your own picnic
- Traffic will be heavy at the end of the event, please be patient
FunZone activities include:
- BubbleFun 101: Bounce houses, slides and an obstacle course
- Camp Read Camp for little ones
- Corn Hole
- Uncle Sam Bean bag Toss
- Kan Jam
- Yardzee
- Croquet
- Giant Connect 4 Games
- Ring Toss games
- Bocce Ball
- Hula Hoops
- Lawn Hopscotch
- Horse Shoes
- Lawn Darts
- Spikeball
- Badminton
Live Bands
New this year! We are excited to announce that we will have 2 live bands at this year's event:
5:30PM - Stephen Styles Band 
Styles’ roots run deep in the soil of country rock music. He is the son of Wayne Moore, bassist for the highly influential ‘60s musical group, Nashville West whose members also included Clarence White, Gene Parsons and Gib Gilbeau, all of whom recorded with and became members of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Styles has become a mainstay and a standout at song writer’s festivals throughout The West, and has been support for the likes of Brantley Gilbert, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Eric Pasley, Easton Corbin, Thompson Square, Dustin Lynch and many more
Stephen is the former frontman for The Regulators and his new single “Burn” is in regular rotation on local country radio station KJUG.
7:15PM - Young Dubliners
The Young Dubliners is an Irish-American rock band.
In recent years the Young Dubs have appeared twice on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, had songs featured in TV shows (Sons Of Anarchy, Human Target) and toured extensively as a headliner and as the opener for such a diverse list of artists as Collective Soul, Jethro Tull, Johnny Lang, Los Lobos, Chris Isaak and many more.
Although the Young Dubliners sound is most commonly called ‘Celtic Rock’, that label can often be misleading. The Irish influence is certainly there, but it’s not the only influence that bursts through on their albums or live shows. After all, several of the band members have no Irish roots of any kind. “That was always the idea”, explains Keith Roberts, lead vocals and guitar.
The Young Dubliners can be seen as Ireland's answer to Los Lobos, with a similar combination of traditional folk music, raucous electric rock, and forward-thinking experimentation.
SPONSORSHIPS & DONATIONS
The City is able to host this free community event each year thanks in part to generous sponsors and donations.
1. If you would like to be an official sponsor, click here to see the list of Sponsorship opportunities.
2. Donations can be made online here or on Venmo @Recfoundation (please mention July 4th event)
Sponsorships and donations can be made by check to:
REC Foundation
c/o Freda Berman
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Nonprofit Tax ID# 77-0537083
For questions call 805.237.3861 or email fberman@prcity.com
Your community thanks you!
Food Vendors & Concessionaires
We are proud to announce the following food vendors will be participating in the 2023 July 4th Celebration:
- Central Coast Kitchen
- La Patrona Tacos y Mas
- Paradise Shave Ice
- Quick Comfort Cuisine
- Templeton Greek Food
- Yabba Dabba Dogs
The Paso Robles Elks Lodge will be manning the BBQ pit and Concession stand.
Volunteers
The July 4th celebration wouldn't be possible without members of our community who step up to volunteer their time and expertise.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the event, you can download the application here.
Volunteer benefits include:
- Reserved parking
- Volunteer t-shirt
- Free meal
Assignments include:
- lake monitor
- parking lot attendant
- access control monitor.
For more information or questions, please contact our July 4th Volunteer Coordinator, Lovella Walker at lwalker@prcity.com or 805-237-3873.
JULY 4TH PET SAFETY
Fireworks, picnics and other Fourth of July traditions can be great fun for people; but all of the festivities can be frightening and even dangerous for animals. Noisy fireworks and other celebrations can startle animals and cause them to run away; holiday foods can be unhealthy; summer heat and travel can be dangerous; and potentially dangerous debris can end up lying on the ground where pets can eat or play with it.
Whether or not you’re planning your own Independence Day celebration, it’s important to take precautions to keep your pets safe both during and after Fourth of July festivities.
Preparing in advance:
- Make sure your pets – cats and dogs alike – have identification tags with up-to-date information. If you have horses, you might consider marking a safety (breakaway) halter with your contact information and leaving it on your horse during this stressful time.
- If your pets aren’t already microchipped, talk with your veterinarian about microchipping. This simple procedure can greatly improve your chances of getting your pets back if they become lost.
- If your pets are microchipped, make sure your contact information in the microchip registry is up-to-date.
- Take a current photo of all of your cats, dogs and horses – just in case.
- If your pet has historically been anxious on this holiday, or if you have reason to expect potentially harmful reactions, consider behavioral therapy to desensitize your pet and reduce the risk of problems. Some pets may need medication. Consult your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist.
- Make sure the environment is safe and secure. If your neighbors set off fireworks at an unexpected time, is your yard secure enough to keep your pet contained? Are pasture fences secure enough to keep horses or other livestock confined? Evaluate your options, and choose the safest area for your animals; and make improvements if needed to make the area more secure.
Safety during July 4 celebrations:
- Leave your pets at home when you go to parties, fireworks displays, parades and other gatherings. Loud fireworks, unfamiliar places and crowds can all be very frightening to pets, and there’s great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away.
- Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks.
- Keep horses and livestock in safely fenced areas and as far from the excitement and noise as possible.
- If you’re hosting guests, ask them to help keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t escape. Placing notes on exit doors and gates can help both you and your guests remain vigilant.
- Keep your pets inside if you or your neighbors are setting off fireworks.
- Keep sparklers, glow sticks, fireworks, charcoal and kabob skewers away from curious pets.
- Don’t let pets get near your barbecue grill while it is in use or still hot.
- Avoid the urge to feed your pets table scraps or other foods intended for people. Be especially careful to keep them away from these common foods that are actually toxic.
- Remember that too much sun and heat (and humidity!) can be dangerous to pets. Keep them inside when it’s extremely hot/humid; make sure they have access to shady spots and plenty of water when outdoors; don’t leave them outside for extended periods in hot weather; and know the signs that a pet may be overheating.
- Never leave your pet in your car when it’s warm outside. Vehicle interiors heat up much faster than the air around them, and even a short time in a locked car can be dangerous to pets.
- If you’re travelling out of town for the holiday, consider leaving your pets at home with a pet sitter or boarding them in a kennel. If you need to bring them with you, be sure you know how to keep them safe.
- Follow safe food handling and hygiene practices to protect your family and guests.
After the celebrations:
- Check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing pets outside to play or relax. Even if you didn’t set off fireworks yourself, debris can make its way into your yard, where curious animals may pick it up to play with or eat.
- Check your pastures and remove debris to protect horses and livestock.
- If you hosted guests, check both your yard and home for food scraps or other debris that might be dangerous to pets, such as food skewers.
Information courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association
The 2023 Fourth of July celebration at Barney Schwartz Park happens on Tuesday, July 4th and the community is looking forward to a great day in the park for the whole family.
Family-friendly activities including music and games are planned for the anticipated 10,000+ attendees. Fireworks are scheduled for dark - approximately 9: 15 PM.
How to make the most of July 4, 2023:
1. Prepare your animals – tips are available at bit.ly/PetSafePaso
2. Carpool - parking is limited and you'll have more help loading and unloading.
3. Pack light and portable - you can drop off in front of the park but the road will be closed after the event until traffic clears, so plan accordingly.
4. Bring a low-back chair for the concerts
5. Be patient - wait until traffic thins to leave the park.
6. Hydrate and use sunscreen. It's Paso. It's July.
7. Bring a jacket – It's Paso. It's July. It's Barney.
Road Closures:
In order for the anticipated crowds to arrive and leave the event safely, the following road closures/traffic control measures will be in place:
Union Road at Highway 46 East will be closed to all traffic at 7 p.m. There will be no left turn from Highway 46 westbound traffic and no right turn for eastbound traffic onto Union Road during the closure. The closure will remain in effect until the event traffic has cleared.
Fire Lane: There will be no parking on Union Road from Golden Hill through the easternmost city limits (to maintain a fire lane).
Parking Information:
Barney Schwartz Park: Limited free parking is available at Barney Schwartz Park, and directly across the street from the east end of the park (entrance just east of Paso Robles Sports Club).
RV Parking: RVs, 5th wheel and bumper pull trailers are not allowed in the Barney Schwartz Park lots. A premier viewing location with free parking has been designated for the upper lot across from the park (see event map linked above). Follow directional signs leading to the lot.
Pedestrian Drop-Off area is in front of the flagpole. Please be respectful and patient while dropping off and waiting to drop off.
Traffic Flow:
People attending the event need to follow the directions of uniformed law enforcement and City staff to exit and ensure the efficient flow of traffic. Any vehicles found in violation of parking regulations will be subject to citation and/or tow. Please be patient while the parking lots empty.
The Paso Robles Police Department will ensure the safety of all persons attending the event and has officers assigned. ALL codes and regulations will be strictly enforced. No fireworks, other than approved public displays, are allowed. If you possess or use fireworks, even Safe and Sane, you may be issued a citation and could be billed for emergency response. Dogs, alcoholic beverages and unauthorized, unlicensed vendors are not allowed in the park.
Individuals viewing the show from other locations must have permission to be on private property.
Enjoy a safe and fun 4th of July celebration!
Current Sponsors
The 2023 July 4th Celebration at Barney Schwartz Park is made possible by the support of the following: