Login Register

2-Day Star Spangled Spectacular

Celebrate the Red, White & Blue with SAMLARC!

The SAMLARC Star Spangled Spectacular is a cherished community tradition that celebrates Independence Day in our exceptional community. From the morning Bike & Trike Parade to a capella performances of patriotic music, this event brings more than 20,000 people to the Lago Santa Margarita and Beach Club. The signature feature of the evening is a close-up fireworks display over the Lago Santa Margarita as the community pays tribute to our country’s freedom!

This year, we invite you to celebrate the American Spirit with a special, 2-Day Star Spangled Spectacular! Independence Day festivities will be held on both July 4th and July 5th, with special activities at the Beach Club Lagoon and Lakeshore on both days and a special fireworks display exclusively on July 5th!

Special thanks go to our SAMLARC Lifestyle Partners for making the Star Spangled Spectacular a stunning celebration!

Emerald Partner: Hoag Urgent Care Dove Canyon

Event Enhancement Partner: Shannon Miller Real Estate Specialist

Voice of SAMLARC

SAMLARC will be holding auditions to sing the National Anthem and God Bless America at the Star Spangled Spectacular! Contestants 10 and older are invited to participate in the audition process. Participants who plan to audition must be available to sing the Francis Scott Key version of the “Star-Spangled Banner” and  Irving Berlin version of “God Bless America,” on the evening of Friday, July 5th. Contestants must be SAMLARC residents to audition.

The winner will sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” a cappella to an audience of thousands and will enjoy premier seating for their immediate family at the fireworks show. The runner-up will sing “God Bless America” a cappella and will also enjoy special seating for their immediate family during the fireworks show!

Register for the Voice of SAMLARC

Volunteer Opportunities

Join us fun and spirited celebrations at the Lago Santa Margarita Beach Club! To make this event great, we need your help! Volunteers are needed on both Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th for a variety of roles, including:

  • Bike & Trike Parade Route Volunteer on July 4th
  • Beach Club Games & Fun on July 4th and 5th

We invite you to get in touch with us to learn more!

Contact Us

July 4th: Fun in the Sun

Enjoy a spectacular Independence Day with family and friends!

  • 6:00 AM | Picnic Blanket Placement | Save your spot for the July 5th fireworks show! Blankets can be placed around the Lake as early as 6 AM on July 4th. Items placed earlier than 6 AM on July 4th will be removed and held at the Beach Club for pick-up on July 6th.
  • 10:00 AM | Patriotic Bike & Trike Parade around the Lake! Dress up in your patriotic best and bring your bikes, trikes, and pets to the Lake! Meet at the Beach Club for an Independence Day cavalcade that ends at the Amphitheatre, where ice cold rocket pops will be waiting! 

  • 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Beach Club Fun, including DJ music, community grills, concessions, watercraft (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM), lawn games, and – of course – the gorgeous Beach Club Lagoon! On July 4th, access to the Beach Club is first-come, first-served based on facility capacity (no wristbands required). The Beach Club will be open from 8 AM to 7 PM. 

  • All Day Long | Take a leisurely stroll by the Lake, and while you’re enjoying the weather, bring a picnic blanket to scope out your spot for watching fireworks on July 5th!

Bike & Trike Parade on the 4th!

Get ready for a patriotic parade at the Lago Santa Margarita! Get dressed in your 4th of July best, and decorate your bikes, trikes, and scooters before heading to the Beach Club. Uncle Sam will lead the parade around the Lake to the Amphitheatre, where ice cold rocket pops will be waiting for all to enjoy!

  • The parade will begin at 10 AM - line up as early as 9:30 AM
  • Furry friends are welcome to join the fun and must remain on-leash at all times
  • The parade route follows the path from the Beach Club to the Amphitheater, approximately 0.75 miles
  • In alignment with California standards, helmets are recommended for participants under 18
  • Unauthorized motorized vehicles are not permitted at the Lakeshore

Beach Club Access on the 4th!

On Thursday, July 4th, Members and guests can enjoy the Beach Club from 8 AM - 7 PM! Activities and games will be held from 11 AM - 6 PM, including swimming,  DJ music, community grills, concessions, watercraft (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM), and lawn games!

  • Wristbands are not required for July 4th; however, access is first-come, first-served and facility capacity will be limited per OCFA restrictions. 
  • SAMLARC Cards are required for access
  • Members may bring their immediate household and up to 5 guests; Members must stay with guests at all times.
  • Bags and coolers will be checked as glass is not permitted (including containers, jars, and bottles)
  • Please adhere to all Beach Club Rules

July 5th: Red, White & Blue Bonanza

Get ready for a whole new day of patriotic fun!

  • 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM | Exclusive Beach Club Access – enjoy an afternoon at the Lagoon complete with DJ music, community grills, watercraft (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM), a balloon twister, games, and plenty of sun and sand! The Beach Club will open at 11:00 AM and activities begin at 3:00 PM
  • 5:00 – 8:00 PM | Lakeshore Fun, featuring live music at the Amphitheatre, photo opps, a balloon twister, food trucks, DJ music, and glitter art tattoos! 

  • 8:50 PM | Voice of SAMLARC Performance – marvel at the musical might of local SAMLARC talent! The winners of the annual Voice of SAMLARC singing contest will perform a capella renditions of America’s favorite patriotic tunes. 

  • 9:00 PM | Keep your eyes to the sky and watch fireworks soar above the Lago Santa Margarita! Celebrate the end of a two-day, patriotic extravaganza in classic Independence Day style with friends, family, and fantastic fireworks display. Note that blankets can be placed around the Lake as early as 6:00 AM on July 4th

July 5th Beach Club Wristbands

Access to the Beach Club on Friday, July 5th is limited to authorized Members (with wristbands) and guests (with wristbands) only. 

Based on Member feedback, this year SAMLARC will distribute Beach Club access wristbands through a wristband lottery system. The wristband lottery system will help ensure that interested Members have an equal opportunity to participate in the Star Spangled Spectacular Beach Club activities.

The Beach Club Wristband Lottery will be open for registration June 6th through June 7th online only. Winners of the wristband lottery will be contacted on Wednesday, June 12 with information on the picnic table lottery and check-in procedures on the day of July 5th. 

The following rules apply:

  • Registration for the wristband lottery will be conducted online only at SAMLARC.org/events

  • Members may request up to 8 wristbands maximum per household (including immediate household, guests, and children ages 1+). Duplicate entries will be removed

  • Must be SAMLARC Members (or members of SAMLARC apartments) 

  • Bags and coolers will be checked as glass is not permitted (including containers, jars, and bottles)
  • Please adhere to all Beach Club Rules
Beach Club Wristband Lottery

Picnicking at the Lake on July 5th!

Starting at 5 PM, take a stroll around the Lake with a balloon twister, face painter, patriotic glitter tattoos, photo opportunities, and more. When you arrive at the Amphitheater, kick back and enjoy live musical performances and activities while you wait for the sun to set!

Be sure to find your fireworks viewing spot well before 9 PM, because the Voice of SAMLARC performers will welcome in this year’s fireworks display with incredible a cappella renditions of America’s favorite anthems. The fireworks show will begin at 9 PM – we can’t wait to light up the night with a one-of-a-kind display honoring America’s great legacy and bright future.

  • Blankets may be placed no earlier than 6 AM on July 4. Blankets placed prior to this time will be removed and held at the Beach Club Office for pick-up.
  • Blankets must be placed on grass areas only - blankets covering or partially covering sidewalks will be removed and held at the Beach Club Office for pick-up.
  • Stakes and plastic tarps are not permitted.
  • Grills, glass containers, fireworks, cigarettes, skates/skateboards, and bounce houoses are not permitted.
  • Decorations are permitted so long as they are weighted down or secured with string or ribbon - staples, tacks, and tape are not permitted. In addition, Southern California Edison strongly suggests weighting down metallic balloons to reduce the risk of injury or power outages.
  • Drones are not permitted.
  • RC boats under 3' are permitted before 4 PM.

Fireworks on the 5th!

SAMLARC is excited to provide a stunning fireworks display on Friday, July 5th for the community! Scheduled to begin at 9 PM, the show will open with a capella performances by the winners of this year's Voice of SAMLARC Singing Competition, then fireworks will illuminate the night sky with dazzling colors!

SAMLARC's fireworks display is authorized by the Orange County Fire Authority. OCFA may, at any time, determine that enfironmental effects or participant behaviors jeapardize the safety of the display. Help protect the opportunity for a smooth show by observing the following rules:

  • Drones are not permitted on SAMLARC property and may interfere with the flight path of the fireworks. If OCFA observes unauthorized drone activity, the representative has the authority to cancel the show.
  • OCFA and SAMLARC establish a "hot zone" within the Beach Club where professional vendors will install, launch, and clean up the fireworks materials. Only authorized personnel are permitted within this zone.
  • At 8:45 PM on July 5th, the Beach Club gates will close to prevent pedestrian traffic during the show. Guests will not be permitted to enter or exit starting at 8:45 PM until the conclusion of the show.

A Unique Twist on Tradition

This year’s Star Spangled Spectacular spans both July 4th and 5th as a unique twist on community tradition. SAMLARC begins planning the Star Spangled Spectacular in January of each year due to the scale and operational complexity of the event. After several months of planning, SAMLARC was informed by its longstanding fireworks vendor that they would not be able to perform this year’s July 4th fireworks show due to a personnel shortage. In speaking with other communities and municipalities, SAMLARC discovered that several Southern California shows have also been impacted due to labor shortages and California’s stringent insurance and licensing requirements. Immediately after receiving the disappointing notice, the Board of Directors and SAMLARC team contacted over two dozen potential vendors; however, the availability of licensed vendors has been limited. Rather than canceling the show, the Board opted for a July 5th Fireworks celebration with Fireworks America, a local vendor with a reputation for dazzling displays. The decision to expand the Star-Spangled Spectacular event to a 2-day celebration allows families to enjoy both July 4th and July 5th in the community - with a dazzling Friday fireworks display.  SAMLARC and Fireworks America are excited to produce a fireworks show that brings the two-day celebration to a fantastic finale!  Thank you for your understanding as SAMLARC works to preserve the Star-Spangled Spectacular’s quality of excellence and fun.