Fireworks will light the evening skies as North Texas celebrates Independence Day with pyrotechnics, parades and family-friendly festivals. Go big at Fair Park Fourth or Addison’s Kaboom Town, or opt for some old-fashioned fun at a smaller gathering. Here’s a guide to 30-plus events that say, “Happy Birthday, America.”
JULY 1
ALLEN Find a seat on the lawn at Watters Creek for a patriotic music concert by the Allen Philharmonic Winds. Pre-concert fun for the kids starts at 6:30 p.m. Free. watterscreek.com.
FARMERS BRANCH Roaming characters, airbrush tattoos, balloon artists, food vendors and live music by Limelight will precede a low-level fireworks show at Farmers Branch Historical Park. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Free for residents with a Firecracker Fast Pass; $5 for nonresidents. farmersbranchtx.gov/939/independence-day-celebration.
HURST The city’s Stars and Stripes celebration at Hurst Community Park features music by the Big City Outlaws and Emerald City, food vendors, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Free admission and free shuttle service from North East Mall. hursttx.gov.
JULY 2
THE COLONY The Liberty by the Lake festival opens at 6 p.m. at The Colony Five Star Complex with a kids zone; concerts, including Le Freak performing at 8:30 p.m.; and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. There will also be a watermelon-eating contest as well as food trucks and other vendors. Earlier events in The Colony include the Liberty Fun Run and a community parade. Check the website for details of all events. Free admission and parking for Liberty by the Lake. thecolonytx.gov.
DALLAS ARBORETUM Live music, animal encounters, food and drinks, garden blooms and art are part of a weekendlong celebration, July 2-4. Enjoy $5 admission throughout July and free entrance to the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden all weekend. Advance purchase of tickets and parking is required. dallasarboretum.org.
DENTON The Yankee Doodle Parade and Fourth of July Jubilee in Quakertown Park will take place on July 2 with live music, inflatables, games and a hot dog-eating contest. The Kiwanis Club presents fireworks on July 3 from North Lakes Park. Free. discoverdenton.com/events/annual-events/4th-july-denton.
FORNEY The festival at Forney Community Park will include food trucks, games and bounce houses, with a 9:30 p.m. fireworks finale. Free. forneytx.gov.
KLYDE WARREN PARK The downtown Dallas deck park is the setting for an evening of live music, family activities and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Pack a picnic or grab a bite from the food trucks. Pop-up bars will be available throughout the park. Free. klydewarrenpark.org.
LAKE CITIES Lake Dallas, Corinth, Hickory Creek and Shady Shores co-host a party at Lake Dallas City Park. There will be a parade at 9 a.m., fun contests and food trucks, and music starting at 4 p.m. with headliner Jon Christopher Davis onstage at 7 p.m. A fireworks display will begin around 9 p.m. Free. facebook.com/LakeDallasCity.
MUSIC CITY MALL The Lewisville mall hosts an indoor Fourth of July parade and party. Kids and teens can have fun with patriotic giveaways, a TikTok dance contest, a DJ, and free cotton candy and pickles. Free. mcmlewisville.com/events.
RED OAK Bounce houses, obstacle courses, a DJ, food trucks, face painting and an 18-minute fireworks show are planned for the Red Oak, White and Blue festival at Oaks Church. Free. redoaktx.org.
RICHARDSON Four Bullets Brewery throws a Red, White and Brews party with $5 pints all day, hot dogs from TJ’s Dawg House and tunes by the OC3 band from 5 to 8 p.m. Take a pop-up tent or umbrella to enjoy the fun on the brewery’s back lot. Free admission. fourbulletsbrewery.com.
JULY 3
ADDISON The nationally recognized Kaboom Town festival and fireworks show will feature live bands, food and beverage booths, and the classic warbirds flyover. Fireworks light up over Addison Circle Park at 9:30 p.m. Kaboom Town tickets are sold out, but watch parties are planned at many Addison restaurants and bars. Check the website for a list of watch parties and hotel packages that include Kaboom Town tickets. addisonkaboomtown.com.
ARLINGTON The Light Up Arlington festival in downtown Arlington is a day of family adventures, food, live music on multiple stages and fireworks at 9:50 p.m. Head back downtown on July 4 for the city’s Independence Day Parade, at 9 a.m. Check the website for the festival schedule, parade route, parking and other details. Free. arlington4th.org. arlingtontx.gov.
FORT WORTH SYMPHONY CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN Pack a picnic and enjoy patriotic concerts, followed by fireworks, July 3-4 in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. $25-$78. fwsymphony.org.
FRISCO Freedom Fest will kick off on July 3 on Simpson Plaza at Frisco Square with the Hotter ‘n Firecrackers Glow Run, Dachshund Dash, a cornhole tourney and the new Doodle Poodle Parade. On July 4, visit Frisco Square for the Party on the Plaza with a children’s expo, community stage, games, carnival rides, a car and motorcycle show, the Taste of Frisco, and a vendors village. The July 4 fireworks will take place about 10 p.m. after the FC Dallas game at Toyota Stadium. Free admission for Party on the Plaza. $10-$55 registration fee for July 3 events. friscofreedomfest.org.
LONE STAR PARK Stay after the thoroughbred horse races on July 3-4 for a 20-minute fireworks show choreographed to music. Between races, there will be live music on the Courtyard of Champions plaza. General admission is $10; parking is $20. lonestarpark.com.
SOUTHLAKE The Stars and Stripes festival at Southlake Town Square starts at 3 p.m., with seating and entertainment at Frank Edgar Cornish IV Park, McPherson Park and Rustin Pavilion. Among the sights and sounds will be patriotic stilt walkers, live music, and a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Free admission and free shuttle service from White’s Chapel United Methodist Church or Gateway Church. visitsouthlaketexas.com.
WAXAHACHIE A patriotic party at the Waxahachie Sports Complex kicks off the Crape Myrtle Festival with King George playing the hits of George Strait and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. On July 4, a parade steps off at 10 a.m. from Getzendaner Park. Free. waxahachiecvb.com.
JULY 4
DESOTO/LANCASTER The cities co-host fireworks and fun in DeSoto’s Grimes Park with games, bounce houses and music from 6 to 10 p.m. Free. desototexas.gov/333/july-4thfireworks-celebration.
DUNCANVILLE The celebration begins at 9 a.m. with the traditional Lions Club parade. At 6 p.m., festivities continue in Armstrong Park with music, food, bounce houses and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, but wristbands, available in advance only, are required for entrance to the park. duncanville.com.
FAIR PARK FOURTH After a two-year hiatus, Fair Park Fourth returns with family-friendly activities throughout the day, capped off with fireworks from the Cotton Bowl after dark. Entertainment includes a performance by the U.S. Air Force Band, kid-friendly stations, food trucks and other concessions. Take a break from the heat and tour the African American Museum, Children’s Aquarium or Texas Discovery Gardens. Midway rides and games will not be open for this event. Free admission; $10 parking on Fair Park lots. fairparkdallas.com/events/detail/fair-park-fourth.
FORT WORTH’S FOURTH This festival along the banks of the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion will include live music by Metal Shop and Party Machine Band and a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. The swimming area opens at 6 p.m.; bring your own tubes to float until 8 p.m. Free, with paid parking in surrounding lots. fortworthsfourth.com.
GRAPEVINE Fireworks bursting over Grapevine Lake can be enjoyed from many lakeside parks or from the Gaylord Texan Resort or Great Wolf Lodge. Check the website for a list of favorite viewing spots. Parks will charge a per-vehicle entry fee, and gates will close when capacity is reached. grapevinetexasusa.com/summertime-in-grapevine/july-fourth/july-4th-fireworks-extravaganza.
IRVING The city will host a Sparks and Stripes Independence Day celebration with a morning parade and free watermelon reception in the Heritage District. At 6 p.m., there will be live music, rides, games and food vendors at Levy Event Plaza. A fireworks and water show on Lake Carolyn is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. Free admission. Free shuttle service will be available from Toyota Music Factory to the plaza. cityofirving.org.
LEWISVILLE The Freedom Festival at Castle Hills Village Shops and Lake Avalon Park will offer kid-friendly bounce houses, water slides, a ballistic swing ride and a DJ. There’ll be food and drinks for sale from Castle Hills eateries. Fireworks begin at dusk. Free. facebook.com/castlehillscommunity.
LITTLE ELM The party at Little Elm Beach includes entertainment and concessions starting at 5 p.m. Fireworks light up at 9:30 p.m., from the beach and from Little Elm High School. Parking passes and overnight camping are available for purchase. littleelm.org/1058/july-jubilee.
MCKINNEY The city’s annual Red, White and Boom celebration starts downtown with a parade and Yankee Doodle Block Party. In the evening, the festivities move to the McKinney Soccer Complex at Craig Ranch for a family festival with music, food, kids activities, a concert and a fireworks finale. Free. mckinneytexas.org/830/red-white-and-boom.
OLD CITY PARK The Old-Fashioned Fourth event includes an All-Join-in-Parade, Victorian games, a tiny train, food trucks and free Kona Ice treats. $10-$20, free for ages 4 and younger. oldcityparkdallas.org.
PARK CITIES Decorated wagons and bikes are welcome at this community parade. Preregistration is not required for the parade, which starts at 9 a.m. at Highland Park Town Hall and ends at Goar Park. Free. parkcitiesrotary.org.
PLANO Pre-fireworks fun at the All-American 4th on the north parking lot of Collin College will include static parade floats, a free kids zone, food, drinks, and a vendors market. Gates open at 6 p.m.; pyrotechnics start at 9:30 p.m. Free. plano.gov/1042/all-american-4th.
ROCKWALL The Independence Day celebration begins at 11 a.m. with a parade from Utley Middle School to Howard Dobbs Elementary. A parachute jump team opens the festival at Harry Myers Park at 7 p.m., followed by country cover band Southern Ride and fireworks at dusk. Free admission; parking is $5 cash. facebook.com/rockwallparksandrecreation/events.
