Chamber's Holiday Event to Benefit Lopez Foundation

The George Lopez Foundation is one of the beneficiaries of the Studio City Chamber of Commerce Fireworks event this year at the CBS Studios Radford Lot.

Spectators can get to the studio lot early and go see vintage movie and TV cars, model airplanes being flown and go to a children's play area. 

Events start at 4:30 p.m. on Monday the Fourth of July (ignore the Saturday, June 4 date that is also on the Studio City Chamber of Commerce website.) Everything takes place on the lot at 4024 Radford Ave. 

Tickets include Boogie Knights and the Diane Lotny Band and the ARC Hand Bell Choir in a stage show hosted by CBS 2 and KCAL 9 meteorologist Josh Rubenstein. On another stage, dancers from Rage Studios will be performing numbers they performed recently on So You Think You Can Dance, and young performers from the will be entertaining the crowds. Hosting these performers will be comedian Ernie G.

Blow-up rides and slides in the Kids Zone and a Business Expo with local businesses and artisans selling their crafts guarantees that everyone in the family will have something to do as you stake out a spot on the lot for best viewing.

(Longtime experts say that the area pointing down toward the bridge, just outside the large parking garage is the best place to stake out chairs and blankets.)

Food includes BBQ with all the trimmings, but families can bring a picnic (no alcohol allowed to be brought in, but it's being served there.) 

VIP tickets include a gourmet dinner of baby back ribs, tri-tip and BBQ chicken (vegetarian options also available) with all the fixings in an air-conditioned soundstage, rooftop viewing of the fireworks and over 25 sampling booths. Booths include tequila, wine, scotch and sake tasting stations, a variety of dessert tastings and an all inclusive children’s section with caricature artists, balloon animals, face painting, magic bubbles, wacky wax creations and more. Performing in the VIP room will be The International Jazz Sound and Starbuck Jazz Quartet.

General admission tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are free.

Rooftop wristbands, which allow for admission to the roof to view the fireworks, are $20 each. VIP tickets are $100 for adults, $50 for children 6 to 12 and $15 for ages 3 to 5. Parking is free.

Money from the ticket sales goes to the Lopez Foundation, started by actor-comedian George Lopez, which helps underprivileged children and adults confronting challenges in education and health. In addition, the Lopez Foundation promotes awareness about kidney disease and organ donation. Money from the Fourth of July Festival will be used to send children with kidney disease to special, medically supervised summer camps.

Also some of the proceeds will go to the East Valley Multi-Purpose Senior Center which provides services to homebound seniors. The Center has anticipated a long-awaited relocation from Valley Village to Van Nuys, and they have lost thousands of dollars in funding because of government budget cuts.

A donation from the event will also be made to the North Hollywood High School Music Department and Zoo Magnet, who provide the volunteers for the event. 

The Black Sheep Squadron will perform a show with their model airplanes and the will be at the event having a car show.

Water, soda and beer can be purchased at the event as well as hotdogs, popcorn and hamburgers.

Children's wrist bands for the Kids Zone is $12 for unlimited rides.Kids 5 years old and under are free.

Tickets can be purchased at the Studio City Farmers Market (on Ventura Place between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Radford Avenue) on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tickets are also available online at www.studiocitychamber.com or by calling the office at 818-655-5916. Online ticket sales will end on July 3rd at noon.

On July 4th tickets are available in the morning in front of the CBS Radford Main Gate (4024 Radford Ave. Studio City) and also at the door from 4:30 to 8 p.m. There will be NO online ticket sales on July 4th.