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Fireworks, Festival To Mark 75th Anniversary Of Golden Gate Bridge

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - Special events are planned over the coming week to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, with the main event planned for Sunday the 27th. The opening ceremony for the bridge took place on May 27th 1937.

A waterfront festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with events planned at Fort Point, Crissy Field, The Presidio and Marina Green. Anniversary activities will also be held at Fort Mason Center, Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco Maritime Historical National Park, Fisherman's Wharf, and Pier 39.

Full Golden Gate Bridge Festival Map
Anniversary Festival List Of Events
Calendar Of Bridge Events

The bridge itself will be closed to pedestrians this May 27th from 6 p.m. until after an 18-minute fireworks show that begins at 9:30 p.m. Event organizers are warning commuters that traffic on the bridge will briefly be stopped during the fireworks display.

PHOTOS: Historical Golden Gate Bridge

Bridge manager Kary Witt thinks the waterfront makes an ideal setting to celebrate the span.

"With the bridge as a backdrop, Crissy Field along with Marina Green; the waterfront of San Francisco is an ideal location for that many people to come celebrate, but also to have adequate food, water, facilities, etc. to have a really fun day," he said.

That day will include vintage cars, a flotilla of ships, a popup museum of bridge history, performances by Mickey Hart and Beach Blanket Babylon, along with the fireworks show.

"There are a few things that we're not letting out of the bag and it's really exciting," said Don Richards, the producer of the event.

Richards said come by foot, bike, bus or boat, but leave the car at home because parking will be very limited.

Spectators will also be able to take in fireworks and some of the festivities from the Marin County side of the bridge as well.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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