Fourth of July 2021 Festivities

Celebrate America’s birthday with live music, family fun, and fireworks displays around town. Check out these exciting 4th of July events happening this weekend. Happy Independence Day! (Note: Please check individual event websites for any weather-related updates.) 

Together, sisters and Buzz residents Ripley and Leela McLeod read Hats Off for the Fourth of July! at Friends Park.

StoryWalk Houston: Hats Off for the Fourth of July!
When you visit a StoryWalk, you can walk - or hop, skip, or run - through a children's story. This week, StoryWalk Houston presents a Fourth of July-themed children's book installation at Friends Park in West University through the 4th of July. This is free and open to the public. Read more about StoryWalk Houston and how it came to be here.

The Kemah Boardwalk invites guests to kick-off the summer with an unforgettable Fourth of July celebration! (Photo courtesy of Landry's)

Fourth of July Festivities at Kemah Boardwalk
The Patriot Pass ($50) - an unlimited, three park pass allowing entry to Downtown Aquarium Houston, Kemah Boardwalk, and the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier – will be available July 2-4. Then on July 4, hang out on the boardwalk and enjoy live music and grab a bite until the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. 

Celebrate Independence Day all weekend long in West University. (Photo courtesy of West University)

Star-Spangled Events in West University
West University will celebrate the 4th of July all weekend long. On July 2, enjoy a concert at Colonial Park featuring the West U School of Rock. Admission is free for West U residents. Non-resident guests must be accompanied by a resident. On July 3 at 9 a.m., come with your bike and dressed in your red, white, and blue to participate in the patriotic bike parade around Town Center and back to City Hall. Finally, from noon to 5 p.m. on the 4th, the weekend of celebrations concludes with family games at Colonial Park. Registration is required to participate in the contests and can be made the day of the event at Colonial Park Pool. Space is limited for each contest. 

Independence Day at George Ranch Historical Park
On July 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., George Ranch Historical Park will celebrate Independence Day. With the price of admission ($15) enjoy fireside popcorn, square dancing, root beer floats, and learning about American cattle ranching and Texas history. Bring a picnic lunch. Buy tickets online in advance because capacity for this event is limited.

Fourth of July in The Woodlands culminates with one of the largest fireworks displays in the Greater Houston area! (Photo: Derrick Bryant Photography)

Fourth of July in The Woodlands
On July 3 at 9 a.m., the Fourth of July Parade in The Woodlands will feature marching bands, fire engines, clowns, floats, and more. The parade route is 1.3 miles around The Woodlands. On the 4th, each community pool in The Woodlands will be decorated and decked out with activities and refreshments. Daily fees will apply for residents and non-residents and entry is free for season pool pass holders. Finally, the weekend in The Woodlands concludes with the 24th Annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be food, live entertainment, and family fun at multiple locations around The Woodlands. The event ends with one of the biggest fireworks displays in the Houston-metro.

Celebration of Independence Parade & Festival in Bellaire
Join Bellaire neighbors on July 3 for a parade starting at 9:30 a.m. followed by a festival at Bellaire Town Square until 1 p.m. The parade, led by the Children’s Bike Parade,  will start on South Rice Ave. at Valerie St. and proceed down South Rice Ave. to Linden St. After the parade, there will be a festival, which will include live music, food, and entertainment for the kids, pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, face painting, and much more! This event is free and open to the public.

Join Children's Museum Houston for Kidpendence Day on the 4th of July! (Photo courtesy of Children's Museum Houston)

Kidpendence Day at Children’s Museum Houston
Wear your red, white, and blue and celebrate Independence Day at the Children’s Museum of Houston with Captain America on Sat., July 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be photo-ops with Captain America and crafts for kids as well as the entire museum to explore. This event is included with the price of admission to the museum ($12 per person).

Patriotic Historic Home Tours with The Heritage Society
Discover historical homes of Houston on Sat., July 3. Book your tour now (10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.) and celebrate Independence Day with a private tour of some of the oldest buildings in Houston. There will be cookies and refreshments included in the price of the tour ($15). An appointment must be made in advance.

The Pavilion welcomes The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra to the Main Stage for a special tribute to our local service heroes. (Photo courtesy of The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)

Stars at Night - A Salute to Service
The Pavilion welcomes The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra to the Main Stage on Sat., July 3. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. The evening will feature a selection of patriotic favorites. The performance will also recognize service stars (teachers, first responders, medical teams, and front-line workers) during the pandemic. The event is free and open to the public.

Red, White, and Boom in Sugar Land
At Crown Festival Park in Sugar Land on July 4, 7-10 p.m., come enjoy live entertainment from a variety of acts and food from local vendors. There will be a fireworks display, one of the biggest in Fort Bend, at 9 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Houston’s signature patriotic celebration, Shell Freedom Over Texas, returns with a salute to America’s Frontline Heroes. (Photo: Richard Carson)

Shell Freedom over Texas
Freedom over Texas returns this year on Sunday, the 4th. The day-long festival leading up to the fireworks show is on hold this year, but fireworks will still light up the sky for all of Houston to enjoy. Fireworks will reach up to 800 feet in the sky, about double the height of a traditional show. A view of the western skyline is ideal for the firework show. There will also be a live broadcast from 7-10 p.m. on ABC 13 featuring music and entertainment from Lee Brice, Jimmie Allen, Alanis Sophia, and Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers. 

Independence Day Parade & Fireworks Celebration in Galveston
On the 4th of July, the parade will begin at 7 p.m. on Seawall Blvd at 59th Street and proceed east to 27th Street, with fireworks to follow at 37th and Seawall. This event is free and open to the public.

Celebrate Independence Day at CITYCENTRE with a fun-filled evening of food, fireworks, and freedom. (Photo: Midway)

Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular at CITYCENTRE
From 7-11 p.m. on the 4th, join CITYCENTRE for a patriotic celebration. There will be food, fireworks, and freedom. At 9:30 p.m., a 15-minute fireworks show will light up the sky. Parking for this event is $10 and on a first come, first serve basis. The event, however, is free and open to the public.

Valley Ranch 4th Fest
The 4th Fest at Valley Ranch in New Caney is back this year with an evening of family fun that concludes with a firework show on July 4. Come and grab food from food trucks on site, enjoy the petting zoo in the Kid Zone, and hear live music from the Eli Young Band and Wade Bowen. The 4th Fest is included with the price of general admission ($25). Kids 12 and under get in for free.  

Memorial Villages Independence Festival Parade
On Monday after the 4th of July weekend, the Memorial Villages Independence Festival Parade kicks off down Piney Point Road at 9:45 a.m. A fun run and children’s bike ride will lead the parade and the vehicle parade will follow behind. The parade will end in front of St. Francis/Ecclesia Church around 11 a.m.. This event is free to participate in and attend as an onlooker.

Editor's note: See all upcoming events here. Before you head out, be sure to check event sites to monitor any Covid- or weather-related changes. Share your Fourth of July photos with us at [email protected].