The 4th of July Block Party is returning to Gloria Molina Grand Park. (photo courtesy of Gloria Molina Grand Park)

The sky’s the limit again for Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party. With a spectacular 3-D drone show buzzing above the massive crowd for the second consecutive year, plus the return of a towering 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel, Gloria Molina Grand Park will bring Angelenos’ experiences to new heights as L.A. County celebrates its diverse tapestry of communities and commemorates the birth of the United States.

The excitement begins when doors open to the public at 4 p.m. and peaks when 800 remote-controlled drones fly above The Music Center, located directly across the street from the park, to form largerthan-life 3-D configurations. Programmed by Grizzly Entertainment, the dynamic 12- minute drone show will depict aerial images that uniquely represent L.A., orchestrated to a special playlist curated by renowned DJ and music producer Captain Planet.

“As the largest gathering of its kind on the West Coast, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party will be a celebration of community and resilience shared among Angelenos seeking to build connections and mutual support,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “We welcome everyone to join us at the ‘park for everyone,’ where they can be themselves, connect with and strengthen each other, and participate in sheer fun amid an emotionally heightened time. The thrill of watching drones light up the night sky, enjoying the view of Downtown L.A.’s skyline from a giant Ferris wheel and expressing our joy through music and dance offer the uplift we need right now.”

L.A.’s ultimate July 4th neighborhood party will be spread across the six city blocks that comprise Gloria Molina Grand Park and its surrounding streets. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic or enjoy a variety of delectable food and snack options for purchase from L.A.’s favorite gourmet food trucks, including tacos, barbecue, burgers, vegan offerings and desserts. Alcohol is not permitted in the park and will not be sold at the event. For a complete list of Gloria Molina Grand Park’s prohibited items and activities, visit grandparkla.org.

The nearly six-hour festivity geared for the whole family – and their four-legged friends on leashes – includes music performances on two stages showcasing L.A.’s global and diverse sounds. Local radio personality Carolina Márquez will host the Backyard Stage (the park’s Event Lawn next to City Hall, between Broadway and Spring Street), which includes a stellar lineup of local and international performers: L.A.-based six-piece band, Healing Gems, with its genre-bending blend of exotica, international jazz and cinematic sounds; Afro-Cuban choreographer Kati Hernandez and her dance company, KimBambula Cuban Dance & Music Ensemble; East L.A.’s homegrown grunge-and-cumbia band Tropa Mágica; and Mexican cumbia band Grupo Soñador. DJ Captain Planet will rev up the audience with thumping beats in between the performances.

Singer/songwriter Banga Brownin will host and DJ the opening set at the Front Yard Stage (the park’s Performance Lawn between Grand Avenue and Hill Street), featuring some of L.A.’s legendary DJs – Jeremy Sole, Francesca Harding and Nu-Mark – who will keep the crowd jumping all night long.

As an added attraction to Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party celebration, the park will welcome the highly anticipated return of a 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel, thrilling partygoers of all ages high above DTLA’s green oasis. In addition, the park will introduce a new amusement ride in the form of a giant 75-foot-long fiberglass “Super Slide” designed for three riders at a time side-by-side. The family-friendly “Rec Zone” also will feature arts and crafts activities, games, Soundbox DJ truck with DJ Potira and more provided by community partners PlayLA, LA vs Hate, The Artsy Wagon and CleanLA.

For information, visit grandparkla.org. Gloria Molina Grand Park is located at 200 N. Grand Ave.