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News from the City of Carlsbad | July 2, 2026

I’d like to wish you a safe and happy celebration as we head into the Fourth of July weekend and mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The holiday weekend is always busy in Carlsbad, so today I’ll be sharing some community safety tips, including a reminder about our new ordinance to curb illegal fireworks.

Also, a heads up that there’s no TGIF concert Friday, July 3, so we don’t conflict with your holiday weekend plans. Here’s the full lineup:



• Tips for a safe Fourth of July weekend
• No TGIF concert this week
• Holiday city service hours
• Safety improvements in the Barrio underway
• Veterans recognition at Veterans Memorial Park
• Celebrating National Park and Recreation Month
• Artists bring ‘alchemy + light’ exhibit to life
• Community events and activities
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Tips for a safe Fourth of July weekend

Here are a few reminders from our Police and Fire departments to help everyone stay safe while celebrating Independence Day this weekend. 

New fireworks ordinance

Fireworks were already illegal in San Diego County, but enforcement will be stronger in Carlsbad this year under a new fireworks ordinance the City Council approved in April.

Illegal fireworks increase the risk of fires and injuries and can impact neighbors, pets and first responders. Under the new ordinance:



• Property owners, renters and event hosts can be held accountable for illegal fireworks used on or near their property, even if set off by guests.
• Violations can result in fines starting at $1,000 and reaching up to $10,000 per day.

General safety tips

• Responsible drinking: Designate a driver or use rideshare services if you plan to drink. Providing alcohol to minors is prohibited under the city's Social Host Ordinance. Report drunk drivers by calling 911.
• Pet safety: Keep pets secure, especially if you won't be home. The San Diego Humane Society can help reunite lost pets with their owners.

Beach safety tips

• Crowds: Expect large crowds. If you're visiting with children, dress them in bright-colored clothing and take a photo before heading out. This is so lifeguards can quickly locate them if you become separated.
• Rules and regulations: Alcohol and pets are not permitted on city beaches. Fires are allowed only in designated fire pits.
• Water conditions: Surf and currents can change quickly throughout the day. Before entering the water, check posted safety signs, listen for announcements from lifeguards and assess the conditions. Swim within your abilities and always stay near an open, staffed lifeguard tower.

Check our beach safety page for more information.

E-bike safety

The city’s new e-bike laws are also in effect, meaning people who break the new laws could receive citations. 

• Anyone operating an e-bike must be at least 12 years old.
• The Police Department can impound e-motorcycles, which are not street legal, and e-bikes when there is an immediate or substantial public safety risk. 
• E-bikes are prohibited at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue community parks.
• Community members can report and submit photos and videos of unsafe e-bike riding on a new city submission portal.

Thank you for helping to make this a safe and secure holiday for all. Report any suspicious activity by calling our 24-Hour Non-Emergency Hotline at 442-339-2197. In an emergency, always call 911. 

No TGIF concert this week

Just a reminder that there will be no TGIF concert this Friday, July 3, to avoid conflicts with any Fourth of July weekend events. Don’t worry – we've extended the season by a week so there will still be nine concerts.

Here’s the remaining lineup for the season:

Stagecoach Community Park

• July 10, Dance Dance Evolution (dance band/top 40)
• July 17, Harbor Party (yacht rock)

Calavera Hills Community Park

• July 24, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra (Latin/salsa)
• July 31, 90s Rockshow (90s alternative rock)
• Aug. 7, B.I.G. (R&B/funk)

Alga Norte Community Park

• Aug. 14, FlashPants (80s)
• Aug. 21, Daring Greatly (rock and soul)

The gates open at 4 p.m. with concerts from 6 to 8 p.m.

You can find everything you need to know on our TGIF Concerts webpage. 

Holiday city service hours

City offices, libraries and community centers will be closed on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. A full holiday schedule for city services is listed below:

Trash pickup: No delay

City offices: Closed

Emergency services: Regular service

City libraries: Closed July 3 and 4

Cannon Art Gallery: Closed July 3 and 4

City sculpture garden: Closed July 3 and 4

Alga Norte Aquatic Center: Closed on July 3; closing at 2 p.m. on July 4

Community centers: Closed July 3 and 4

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park: Closed July 3 and 4

Senior Center: Closed July 3 and 4

No street sweeping on city holidays

Transit: For the holiday transit schedule, please visit gonctd.com or call 511.

Safety improvements in the Barrio underway

Several projects are underway in the Barrio to make the streets and sidewalks safer and more accessible for everyone.

Crews began installing more than 100 new light poles last week. You can see the progress in this video. We expect the new lights to start lighting the sidewalks within the next month or two, making it safer for people walking after dark.

The lighting project is part of a larger effort to improve infrastructure in the Barrio, which is one of Carlsbad’s oldest neighborhoods.

Other projects in the works include a traffic circle with public art at the intersection of Pine Avenue and Harding Street, upgraded water and sewer pipes and other improvements to make intersections safer for pedestrians.

Thank you for your patience as we complete this important work. We know construction can cause inconveniences, and we will work as quickly as possible to limit impacts.  

Veteran recognition at Veterans Memorial Park

On Tuesday, the City Council’s Ad Hoc Veterans Memorial Park Veterans Recognition Subcommittee held the first of three meetings to gather input from veterans and community members on ways to recognize veterans at the future Veterans Memorial Park.

Community input has been key in shaping the design of the park since planning began in 2019, with feedback from more than 2,500 community members so far. The park will include a Veterans Memorial Plaza that will honor all six branches of the U.S. Military, along with seating and decorative landscaping where people can rest and reflect.

During the meeting, staff presented updated renderings of the Veterans Memorial Plaza, along with the preliminary renderings of the separate elliptical area that will surround the public art piece at the upper plateau, which presents another opportunity to incorporate features that honor veterans.

The subcommittee and staff are now exploring additional recognition elements that could be incorporated into the park through a potential donation-based program or other approach, such as adding commemorative pavers, tiles or plaques that people could purchase to honor specific veterans at the park.

Ideas presented at the meeting will inform ongoing discussion at the next two meetings. If you missed the meeting you can watch the recording.

The subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, July 29 at 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. Meetings will be livestreamed on the city’s website, and recordings are available afterward.

Community members can continue to share input by emailing clerk@carlsbadca.gov and attending upcoming meetings or watching online. 

Celebrating National Park and Recreation Month

July is National Park and Recreation Month and the City of Carlsbad is joining communities across the country to celebrate the important role parks, recreation programs and open spaces play in supporting healthy, connected communities.

This year’s theme, “The Power Of,” highlights how parks and recreation bring people together, encourage active lifestyles and foster a sense of belonging.

Throughout the month, we will recognize how the city’s Parks & Recreation team helps make Carlsbad a great place to live, work and play. Our parks, community centers, trails, recreation programs and community events play an important role in how we’re delivering on the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan goal of connecting the community and promoting a high quality of life.  

Follow along this month as we share more stories about park and facility enhancement projects, programs, events and services happening across the city. 

Thank you to all Parks & Recreation Department staff for your dedication, hard work and commitment to enriching the lives of our community every day.

Artists bring ‘alchemy + light’ exhibit to life

The City of Carlsbad recently held a Meet the Artist event where the photographers behind “alchemy + light,” the latest exhibit at the Cannon Art Gallery, talked about their creative processes, artistic influences and current projects. You can see some highlights in this video. 

The exhibit features more than 90 works by seven women from North County that explore a range of traditional and experimental photographic techniques. 

If you missed the artist talk, don’t worry. The exhibit is open until Aug. 23, and there are more opportunities to meet the artists or participate in hands-on, open studio workshops. In fact, another artist talk is happening Wednesday.

Artist Talk with Priscilla Monger and Susan Hill

Wednesday, July 8

11 a.m. to noon

William D. Cannon Art Gallery

1775 Dove Lane 

Community events and activities

Here are some more activities and events happening soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Carlsbad Cruisers Walking Club – Tuesdays, 9 a.m., meet at Carlsbad Senior Center
• Tai Chi for Fall Prevention – Wednesday, July 8, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Dove Library
• Artist Talk with Priscilla Monger and Susan Hill – Wednesday, July 8, 11 a.m. to noon, Cannon Art Gallery
• Reel Wednesday: "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" – Wednesday, July 8, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Open Studios – Portrait, Saturday, July 11, 1 to 2 p.m., Carlsbad Library Learning Center, Room 14
• Aloha Plunge – Saturday, July 18, 5 to 8 p.m., Alga Norte Aquatic Center

What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, July 7, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include: 

• Monthly update on how the city’s investments are performing 
• The Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District’s annual report 
• Renewing the city’s excess liability insurance coverage 
• Renewing the city’s property insurance coverage 
• Accepting a donation from the Friends of the Carlsbad Library to support library programs
• Accepting a donation from the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts to support cultural arts activities 
• An agreement to establish the Carlsbad Homelessness Impact Fund, a charitable fund to address homelessness in Carlsbad 
• Renewing federal grants for rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing programs as part of the city's Homelessness Action Plan
• A reimbursement agreement for the Jefferson Street sewer replacement project 
• Ratifying the declaration of a local emergency to make repairs to a damaged sewage pipeline near the Agua Hedionda Lagoon 
• Adopting an ordinance to add stop signs in all directions at the intersection of Tamarack Avenue and Sunnyhill Drive
• Adopting an ordinance to add all-way stop signs at La Costa Avenue at Camino de los Coches and Batiquitos Drive at Aviara Drive 
• The annual work plans for the Planning and Historic Preservation commissions
• An update on the city’s internal audit program

The agenda and staff reports are available on the city’s website.

3 easy ways to participate

1. Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
2. Provide feedback via email to clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting 
3. Sign up to speak at the meeting or comment virtually

… and 3 ways to watch

1. Follow the meeting live on the city's website 
2. Watch the meeting live on the city’s cable channel: Spectrum channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99
3. Watch a recording of the meeting afterward (online or on our channel)

Several city commissions are also scheduled to meet next week, including the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission. Board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Again, happy Fourth of July. Enjoy the holiday, and thank you for celebrating safely.



Geoff Patnoe

City Manager