Record crowds turned out for Fourth of July show in Paso Robles. See photos
.jpg "Attendees of Paso Robles’ annual Fourth of July celebration at Barney Schwartz Park watch the fireworks show on July 4, 2026.")
Celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, 12,000 people packed into the Barney Schwartz Park in Paso Robles on Saturday night marking a record for the annual event’s attendance.
The annual Fourth of July Celebration is hosted by the city of Paso Robles and Travel Paso and featured a free fireworks show, a family fun zone, food trucks and concessions, live music and a patriotic program honoring the nation’s independence, a news release said.
Dance band Steppin’ Out and ‘70s classic band Garden Party provided the evening’s live entertainment before the North County Veterans Color Guard presented the colors and Callie Twisselman performed the National Anthem.
The first fireworks shot up into the sky against the setting sun that night during the anthem’s “rocket’s red glare,” the release said, providing a teaser for the full fireworks display that immediately followed.
According to the release, the event last year saw around 10,000 attendees, and this year’s 2,000 person increase was thanks in part to cooler temperatures and the significance of America’s 250th birthday.
“Although light rain began shortly after the fireworks concluded, the weather held long enough for most attendees to enjoy the celebration and make their way to their vehicles before the showers began,” it said.
Paso Robles has hosted this event annually at Barney Schwartz Park since 2002, but stopped in 2012 after the volunteer committee that planned the event disbanded and the cost of hosting the event grew.
Eventually in 2022, the City Council opted to allocate city funds towards the annual holiday show.
