Public transit agencies will help move thousands of people Saturday for the Fourth of July festivities planned across the Bay Area. 

Several Bay Area cities will host Fourth of July celebrations that are expected to draw large crowds, with events including firework spectacles and drone shows. Transit agencies are advising the public of changes in service during the federal holiday that people are encouraged to plan ahead for.

San Francisco

San Francisco will host a rare fireworks show from the Golden Gate Bridge in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding. It will be the third time the bridge has had fireworks set off along the structure. 

The Golden Gate Bridge will close to vehicle traffic starting at 8 p.m. and will close to bicyclists and pedestrians at 9 p.m. The city’s only official pyrotechnic show is expected to start at 9:30 p.m., if weather and fog permit. Additional fireworks will launch from barges docked in the bay near Chrissy Field and Pier 39. 

BART will be operating Sunday service schedules. Five-line service will operate until 8 p.m. and then switch to three-line service after. The agency said extra trains may be added in case of crowding after fireworks.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said July 4 is one of the busiest days of the year along the city’s waterfront, and is encouraging people to use transit, walk, or bike to avoid heavy traffic in the Marina District and Presidio neighborhoods.

Muni will run Marina fireworks shuttles from 4-11:30 p.m. that will service areas around the Powell and Embarcadero BART stations in downtown San Francisco and make stops en route to the viewing areas.

Temporary street closures and restrictions will be in effect from 1-11 p.m. along Jefferson Street between Hyde Street and The Embarcadero. Streets closest to Fisherman’s Wharf and the Marina District will be restricted to local access in the evening. 

Caltrain will operate a regular weekend schedule on the Fourth of July. People are encouraged to arrive in the Downtown San Francisco Fourth and King station and transfer onto Muni services to make their way over to the fireworks show along the waterfront. 

South Bay

In the South Bay, San Jose will host a celebration and drone show at Lake Cunningham Regional Park. The festival starts at 6 p.m. and drones will take off at 9 p.m.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is encouraging people use transit to travel to the event as there will be no onsite parking. The agency will run a special light-rail schedule for the holiday with the Sunday schedule on the Green, Blue, and Orange Lines until 8 p.m., with additional cars added to most trains.

Other transit changes

Other transit agencies will have limited service in recognition of the federal holiday. 

San Francisco Bay Ferry vessels will operate on weekend service, with no service operating on the Alameda Seaplane, Harbor Bay or South San Francisco routes.

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District will operate on Sunday schedules Friday while regular Saturday service will remain on the Fourth of July. 

Personal drones and those not associated with each event are not permitted.