It’s time to strike up the band, dress in your finest red, white, and blue, and raise your flags high for some Texas-sized fun. July 4th marks the 240th anniversary of America’s independence, and the Lone Star State is ready to commemorate the occasion in style.
Whether it’s seeing Willie Nelson’s annual 4th of July Picnic, watching a boat parade in Rockport’s Little Bay, or checking out classic cars in Granbury, celebrating the Fourth of July in Texas is a special occasion. You’d be hard-pressed to find a community across the state that isn’t celebrating Independence Day in some form or fashion, but we’ve rounded up some events to give a sampling of what our state has to offer. Find more events in the Texas Highways’ searchable events database.
Hot Picks
Addison: Addison’s annual Kaboomtown event at Addison Circle Park starts off when Addison Circle Park opens at 4 p.m. on July 3 to the Color Guard by Civil Air Patrol Group 3 Honor Guard and music by the 36th and 38th Infantry Division bands. An Addison Airport Air Show at 7:30 p.m. features skydivers flying in formation, stunt pilots and more. A performance by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra leads up to “The Big Show,” often named one of the best fireworks displays in that nation, that will be simulcast to music on Jack 100.3 FM beginning at 9:30 p.m. The evening culminates with music by the Party Machine Band.
Austin: Willie Nelson hosts top-notch performers at his Annual Fourth of July Picnic at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas on July 4. Performers include Kris Kristofferson, Alison Krauss, Lee Ann Womack, Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shakey Graves, David Allan Coe, Amber Digby, Leon Russell and more. Cap off the evening with a fireworks display.
Fredericksburg: Fourth of July celebrations run July 1-4 and include a community parade down Main Street, followed by a patriotic program at Marktplatz, chili cook-off at Becker Vineyards in Stonewall, hot dogs at Pedernales Cellars in Stonewall, live music in Luckenbach and fireworks at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park in Fredericksburg.
Granbury: Granbury’s Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration from July 2-3 features a hometown parade, live music, opera house performances, a classic car show, arts and crafts, food vendors on the square, ghosts and legend tours, a 5k run and a firework show over Lake Granbury. This 3-day celebration begins July 2 and takes place in multiple locations throughout Granbury.
Houston: At Freedom Over Texas, fireworks will ignite the sky, and country tunes will set the stage for Houston’s annual patriotic celebration from 4–10 p.m. on July 4 at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Darius Rucker headlines, joined by The Suffers and Brooke Eden on the main stage. Additional performers include the John Evans Band, Rusted Root, and Cowboy Mouth who will all perform on the Liberty Stage. The event culminates with a spectacular fireworks display.
Lubbock: Fourth on Broadway, from July 2-4, showcases local and regional performers, including street dances with Tejano artists Saturday and Texas Country artists Sunday on courthouse square. Independence Day activities in Mackenzie Park include a fun run, parade, a picnic in the park, children’s area, evening concert and a fireworks extravaganza.
Rockport: Watch the Patriotic Boat Parade beginning at noon on July 4 at Rockport’s Little Bay. Boats begin lining up at Key Allegro Marina at 10:30 a.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 1
Jefferson: Enjoy Historic Jefferson Railway’s narrated historical train tours, a celebration of flags along Big Cypress Bayou and fireworks (July 1-4)
SATURDAY, JULY 2
Angleton: Freedom Festival and fireworks are slated at Brazoria County Fairgrounds.
Comfort: Parade begins at 10 a.m., followed by festivities in Comfort Park and Downtown Comfort, including barbecue, live entertainment and raffles.
Edna: Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks at Breckenridge Park & Campgrounds features an antique tractor show and parade, a kiddie tractor pull and a fireworks display. The kiddie tractor pull starts at 10 a.m. The fireworks display starts just after dark.
Ennis: Ennis Freedom Fest includes a Red, White and Bike Parade, barbecue cook-off and farmers market.
Gladewater: Boat Parade begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by an annual fireworks display at dusk.
Odessa: Firecracker Fandango in Downtown Odessa begins at 6 p.m. and includes live music, food trucks, children’s activities and fireworks. Hours are 6 p.m.-midnight.
Port O’Connor: Annual Fourth of July fireworks display
Sachse: Red, White, and Blue Blast begins at 5:30 p.m. with live entertainment, activities, food, vendors, bounce houses, contests and face painting. Parade starts at 6 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. at Heritage Park.
San Antonio: Freedom Fest at Market Square includes two days (July 2-3) of music, arts, crafts and food at San Antonio’s Historic Market Square.
SUNDAY, JULY 3
Mansfield: Rockin Fourth of July at Big League Dreams with live music, kids’ activities, ice slide, food, drinks and fireworks from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Paris: Fireworks display and live music at Noyse Stadium.
Woodlands: Houston Symphony brings its Star-Spangled Salute to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
Big Spring: Pops in the Park at the Comanche Trail Amphitheater includes fireworks and the symphony starting at 5 p.m.
Castroville: Celebrations include a chili and dessert cook-off on Houston Square on Sunday, July 3 with live music and a dance from 8 -10 p.m.. On Monday, July 4, there’s a parade at 9 a.m., with games and vendors at Castroville Regional Park all day, and a concert and fireworks that night.
Palacios: Palacios Lions Club Fourth of July Celebration at East Bay Park includes Bingo, Palacios VFD washer tournament, kids’ Fourth of July parade, flag-raising ceremony, food and vendors, helicopter rides and a fireworks show.
Grand Prairie: Two days – July 3 and 4 – of the Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration at Lone Star Park incudies the Family Fun Park, live music and fireworks shows choreographed to music.
MONDAY, JULY 4
Alpine: July 4th celebration includes parade, fireworks display, a car show and live music.
Austin: Austin Symphony and Fireworks at Vic Mathias Shores (Formally Auditorium Shores) and the Long Center.
Bay City: Sparks in the Park at Le Tulle Park includes live music, Patriotic Pet Contest, children’s activities and food.
Brownsville: Salute to Freedom at Brownsville Sports Park includes live music, food, drinks and South Texas’ largest fireworks display.
Chappell Hill: Fourth of July Parade with floats, cowboys, antique cars and the renowned Marching Kazoo Band.
Cleburne: Fourth of July celebration at Lake Pat Cleburne feature activities and a fireworks display.
Dalhart: Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks with food and games at Rita Blanca Lake.
Denton: Fourth of July Jubilee at Downtown Quakertown Park features the Liberty Fun Run and 5K, American Pride Cook-off, Yankee Doodle Parade, free children’€s carnival, food, horseshoe tournament, and the craft show and sale. A Denton Kiwanis Fireworks Show is set for University of North Texas Apogee Stadium.
Eastland: Old-Fashioned Fourth of July festivities slated for downtown Eastland, including a 10 a.m. children’s parade, free hot dogs, patriotic music all day, homemade ice cream and pie contests, vendors and a fireworks display to end the day.
Fort Stockton: Fourth of July Celebration at James Rooney Memorial Park includes arts and crafts, food vendors, live music and the annual Paisano Powder Fun Run.
Frisco: Experience Frisco Freedom Fest and its Taste of Frisco, children’s games and local performers starting at 4 p.m. at Simpson Plaza at George A. Purefoy Municipal Center. The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks show from Toyota Stadium.
Giddings: July Fourth Fireman’s Celebration at Fireman’s Park. The Giddings Volunteer Fireman’s Department hosts arts and crafts, games, activities for the kids, rides on an antique 1900’s carousel, music, an auction and barbecue. Fireworks are pending the weather.
Glen Rose: Fourth of July parade and fireworks.
Graham: Red, White and You Fourth of July celebration on the downtown square.
Grapevine: July Fourth Fireworks Extravaganza includes fireworks launched from the shores of Oak Grove Park.
Hondo: Fourth of July in God’s Country includes a golf tournament, open swim, softball tournament, picnic, music and entertainment and fireworks at City Park 1 and Medina County Fair Grounds.
Jacksonville: July 4 Fireworks Display on Lake Jacksonville
Jefferson: Jefferson Salutes America at Otstott Park with a children’s bicycle parade, games, cake auction, live music and fireworks.
Kaufman: Fourth of July Celebration includes a parade on Washington Street and a picnic and fireworks at Citiy Lakes Park.
Sylvan Beach: July 4 Fireworks By The Bay with live music.
Lake Jackson: Fireworks display at Dunbar Park.
Magnolia: Fourth in Unity Park begins at 5 p.m. with waterworks, children’s bike parade, live band, free hot dogs and drinks while they last, and a fireworks show.
McKinney: Red, White and BOOM! kicks off with a parade and classic car, truck and cycle show in this historic downtown. In the evening, head to Craig Ranch for a concert and fireworks.
Midland: Star-Spangled Salute at Hogan Park includes a children’s sidewalk parade, family fun zone, a beer garden for adults, a family-friendly variety concert in the park and a fireworks finale.
Monahans: Freedom Fest at Hill Park includes a 9 a.m. parade, craft and food vendors, swimming, sand dig, live entertainment and the Blistering Sands Bike Tour. Fireworks to follow at The Million Barrel.
Nacogdoches: Freedom Fest at Festival Park includes live music, food and fireworks.
Nederland: Fourth of July Celebration at Doornbos Park includes food vendors, bike and wagon parade, and entertainment. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.
Ozona: Fourth of July Celebrations at Ozona’s Historic Town Square feature a parade in front of Crockett County Courthouse, 5K walk/run, food booths, games and a fireworks display followed by a street dance.
Perryton: Lions Club Fourth of July Fireworks will be held at Wolf Creek Park/Lake Fryer.
Plano: Lions Independence Day Parade begins at 9 a.m. from the Plano Independent School District administration building heading north on Independence Parkway to Plano Senior High School. In the evening, enjoy the city’s All-American Fourth Fireworks Show at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve.
Port Aransas: View the annual fiireworks show at Roberts Point Park.
Port Arthur: Independence Day Celebration at Lamar State College includes a fireworks show.
Round Top: Fourth of July Parade and Celebration begins with a 10:30 a.m. parade. It includes music, barbecue, children’s activities and a biergarten.
Seguin: One of Seguin’s biggest traditions, the annual Independence Day Celebration, includes a 10 a.m. parade and, in the evening, a Fireworks Fiesta after the patriotic concert.
Slaton: July 4 Festival offers food, live music and games.
Stonewall: Experience July Fourth at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm the way German pioneers celebrated Independence Day in 1915.
Taylor: The Independence Festival Day includes fireworks, a tennis tournament and golf championship.
Washington-on-the-Brazos: Fireworks-on-the-Brazos includes a live patriotic concert and a fireworks extravaganza.
Weslaco: Join local musicians, artists, crafters, classic car enthusiasts, food vendors for holiday events, activities for kids, and a free movie screening.
Wimberley: The city hots ist annual Independence Day Parade.
