Events are scheduled to take place throughout the week across the Houston area as the United States prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence on Saturday, July 4.
Here is a rundown of the some of the events in Houston and surrounding communities. Some are free to attend.
Events in Houston
Freedom Over Texas | 3-10 p.m. July 4
The City of Houston’s 39th annual Freedom Over Texas event will feature several concerts leading up to an approximately 20-minute-long fireworks show.
Country music artist and four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban is headlining the event, while rock band Collective Soul and “Texican rock and roll” trio Los Lonely Boys will be the opening acts.
General admission to the event is $15, and accompanied children ages 12 and under can enter for free.
The musical performances will take place at Eleanor Tinsley Park, and the fireworks show will be along Buffalo Bayou.
Other parts of the event, including the All American Kid Zone and a tribute to the armed forces and first responders, will take place at Liberty Park. There also will be a World Cup-watching party at Sam Houston Park.
There will be free parking available at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts parking garage located at 800 Bagby St. Additional parking will be available in the Theater District Parking Garages.
City of Houston
Kidpendence Day Party | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 4
The Children’s Museum of Houston will be hosting its annual “Kidpendence Day Party,” which will offer families a variety of events to celebrate the Fourth of July.
The events will include interactive art, a science show, face painting, a cotton candy science workshop and more, according to the museum.
Tickets for this event range from $21.95 per adult and child to $19.95 for seniors. Children under the age of 1 can get in for free.
A full breakdown of all the event times can be found on the museum’s website.
Houston Symphony’s “Star-Spangled Salute” | 8:30 p.m. July 4
The Houston Symphony will be performing the Star-Spangled Salute at the Miller Outdoor Theater on Saturday night to celebrate the nation’s independence.
The free event, sponsored by Spec’s and the Spec’s Charitable Foundation, will include performances of the “1812 Overture,” “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “America the Beautiful.”
The concert will conclude with a grand finale fireworks display presented by Huntington Bank and the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.
According to organizers, tickets to the event are free, but will not be made available until 10 a.m. Friday, July 3.
2026 Houston Independence Day Festival | July 4-5
This free event at Market Square Park in Houston will feature a variety of vendors — including handmade crafts, fashion, jewelry, artwork, home décor and more.
Live music will also be performed throughout the event. While the event is free, attendees can reserve a spot online.
Tickets and additional information can be found on the event’s webpage.
Outside the city
The Woodlands’ Red, Hot & Blue Festival | July 2-4
Across two days, The Woodlands Township will be hosting several events as part of its Red, Hot & Blue Festival.
The festivities officially kick off on July 2 with a Firecracker 5K at 7 p.m. along the Woodlands Waterway. The 5K is $50 per participant.
On July 3, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion will host the Star-Spangled Salute — a patriotic concert featuring the Houston Symphony. The concert will be at 8 p.m., with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. This event is free, but participants can RSVP online.
At 9 a.m. July 4, The Woodlands 50th Annual South County Fourth of July Parade will begin at the intersection of Lake Woodland Drive and Grogans Mill Road.
The Woodlands
The Red, Hot & Blue Festival will take place later that day at several locations, offering attendees food, live music and other family-friendly events.
The event locations include Town Green Park, Waterway Square Park, Hughes Landing Park and Rob Fleming Park.
A fireworks and drone show set to begin at 9:25 p.m. will be visible from all four event locations.
America 250 Sparks & Stripes Over Battleship Texas | 6:30-9:30 p.m. July 3
Battleship Texas will be hosting a free fireworks and drone show on Friday night in Galveston.
The event will include live music and a 14-gun salute followed by the fireworks and drone show. The event will conclude at approximately 9:30 p.m. when the Battleship Texas fires its guns again.
Public viewing of the event will be at Pier 21 at 2100 Harborside Dr., in Galveston. The show will also be visible along the wharf.
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City of Manvel America250 Tree Planting Event | 8 a.m. July 4
On the morning of July 4, residents of the City of Manvel, located south of Houston, will host a tree-planting event to celebrate the nation’s independence.
The event is first-come, first-served and is limited to 250 families, with each planting a single tree.
Last week, the city announced that a killdeer nest had been discovered at the tree-planting location. The city said the nest had been taped off to protect the bird during the upcoming planting event.
Galveston Island Parade and Fireworks | 6 p.m. July 4
The City of Galveston will be hosting a Fourth of July parade and fireworks show.
The parade will begin at 6 p.m. and travel west along Seawall Boulevard, starting at 23rd Street and ending at 53rd Street. The parade is expected to end at approximately 8 p.m. and will be followed by a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.
Paid parking for the event will be available along the Seawall Boulevard and the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier parking lot.
Street parking will also be available in the nearby neighborhoods depending on posted signage.
Fort Bend County fireworks and more | July 4
To celebrate the Fourth of July, the City of Rosenberg will be hosting a Saturday celebration with fireworks, music, food and more. This event will be at the Sabourne Creek Nature Park and will run from 6-10 p.m., with the fireworks show set to begin at 9:30 p.m.
Sugar Land will also be having its own fireworks show called “Red, White & Boom” on July 4 at Constellation Field. The event lasts from 6-10 p.m., featuring live music and activities for children. The event will conclude with a fireworks show.
Before the fireworks, The George Ranch in Fort Bend County will be hosting an event on the historic ranch at 10215 FM 762 in Richmond. Visitors will be able to explore the ranch’s “Coastal Cowboys Exhibit” and tour historic homes on the property.
Throughout the day at The George Ranch, a Declaration of Independence Scavenger Hunt will take place across the historic homes. Each home will have a hidden copy of a line from the United States’ founding document, and children who find a missing piece will receive free rock candy from the gift shop.
Admission to The George Ranch is $16 for ages 13-64. Entry for those 65 and older is $13, and tickets for veterans, service members and children ages 4-12 are $11 each. Children ages 3 and under can attend for free.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.houstonpublicmedia.org ’
