San Pedro returned to fireworks to celebrate Independence Day this year — after featuring a drone show in 2024.

The celebration, though, occurred a day after the Fourth of July.

The 75th annual John Olguin Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza kicked off at 9 p.m. Saturday and the fireworks could be seen from Cabrillo Beach and other nearby neighborhoods — with the pyrotechnics lighting up the night sky over the Port of Los Angeles.

While many brought picnics and enjoyed sitting on the beach for the day and into the night, others gathered on street corners or on their porches on the hillside to catch a glimpse of the patriotic displays.

Others shelled out $75 for tickets to go to the Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront Sports Center, 3000 Shoshonean Road, where there was a catered barbecue and seating to watch the show.

The switch from July 4 to 5 this year was unavoidable, organizers said, as they were unable to book a fireworks vendor for Independence Day. And that was partly because of last year’s forced change that pushed the celebration from July 4 to 6 and required drones. But organizers also said it was serendipitous, since the Fourth of July landed on Friday this year — making it a long holiday weekend anyway.

Because of that, organizers said they expected even bigger crowds for the big 75th anniversary celebration and the return of the fireworks on a summer weekend.