2022 Fourth of July Festivities

Celebrate America’s 246th birthday with an array of entertaining events, filled with live music and fireworks displays. Here are some 4th of July celebrations happening around Houston. Have a wonderful and safe Independence Day!

Celebrate Fourth of July at Children's Museum Houston's Kidpendence Week, including a meet and greet with Captain America on July 2. 

Kidpendence Week at Children’s Museum Houston
The Children’s Museum is dedicating a whole week (June 28-July 2) jam packed with events for kids to celebrate Independence Day in style. Make sure to bring a camera with you for a meet and greet with Captain America on July 2, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.! Kids can even make matching masks and wear their stars and stripes with pride, just like their favorite Avenger. With multiple other crafting activities to choose from, including making your own Lady Liberty crowns, Kidpendence Week will be a blast. See the full schedule here. 

Independence Day Celebration at George Ranch  
On July 2, venture out to George Ranch Historical Park to celebrate independence day in historic fashion: on an authentic American cattle ranch. Learn more about how our forefathers lived and immerse yourself in the life of a real cowboy with square dancing lessons, cowboy campfire popcorn, and various paper crafts! 

Star-Spangled Salute  
Pregame for independence day on July 3 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion with the Star-Spangled Salute concert, featuring the Houston Symphony as they perform a range of patriotic tunes. The gates to the pavilion will open at 6:30 p.m. for concertgoers to participate in pre-show events including a petting zoo, photo booth opportunities, and art projects. The concert begins at 8 p.m.

Kemah Boardwalk will be offering a range of Fourth of July activities, live music, and a fireworks show beginning at 9:30 p.m. 

Fourth of July Festivities at Kemah Boardwalk 
On Monday, July 4, Kemah Boardwalk will be offering a range of activities and entertainment, including live music and opportunities to hang out with Uncle Sam Stiltwalker before the Star Spangled Sky Fireworks show, which begins at 9:30 p.m. The Boardwalk is open on July 4 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Kemah Boardwalk is also offering a special bundled pass from July 1-4 that will allow unlimited entry to the Downtown Aquarium Houston, Kemah Boardwalk, and the Galveston Island Historic. Find details here. 

Maria Couvillion brought her smiley spirit and a container of bubbles to the 2021 West U bike parade.

West University July 4th Bike Parade and Pool Party  
The West University Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its annual Bike Parade and Pool Party. Grab your bike, trikes, strollers, or wagons on July 4 and enjoy a patriotic walk/bike from West U Elementary school to Colonial Park Pool. To participate, dress up or decorate your ride in patriotic style. The lineup begins at 8:45 a.m. in front of West U Elementary School and the parade starts at 9 a.m. sharp. The parade ends at Colonial Park Pool, where the celebration will continue with a water balloon toss and more contests. Registration is required for each activity on the day of the event and can be made at Colonial Park Pool. 

Kristen Parks, Kristen Davis, Walker Ormsby, Emily Parks, RW Davis, Genivie Davis, and Colton Parks rode through the streets in their most festive accessories during the Memorial Villages' 2021 parade. (Photo: Abby Cowan)

Villages Independence Festival Parade Villages 
The Memorial Villages' Independence Day Car/Bicycle Parade will take place on Mon., July 4 at 10 a.m. The patriotic parade will travel down Piney Point Road. In light of the Covid pandemic, there will not be a gathering after the parade. There is also an open, non-timed “Fun Run” and children’s bike ride to kick off the parade. Meet up at the Memorial High field house parking lot at 9:45 a.m. Runners will go first. The run is a true Fun Run - no timers, no categories, no pressure. Riders of all ages are encouraged to decorate their bikes and ride the parade route. The vehicle parade starts at 10 a.m. The parade will be led by the Village Fire Department, followed by Village Officials, Resident Vehicles and followed up by our Police Departments. The parade will end in front of St. Francis/Ecclesia Church.

The Woodlands Fourth of July Parade and Pool Party
The Woodlands will be hosting a 1.3-mile parade on July 4, showcasing marching bands, fire engines, clowns, and floats, starting at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., all of The Woodlands’ community pools will be hosting the Red, Hot & Pool celebration sponsored by Kroger. The Woodlands is also celebrating both the Fourth of July and its 25th Red, Hot & Blue Festival anniversary so come on down to one of their many public parks, which will be offering live music, balloon art, face painting, and fireworks. The live music will kick off at 6 p.m. and the fireworks will start around 9:30 p.m.

The Vaughan and Salquist families took dressing up to the next level with perfectly coordinated matching costumes for the 2021 Bellaire parade.

Bellaire Celebration of Independence Parade & Festival  
Celebrate America’s independence at Bellaire’s annual 4th of July Parade and Festival. The parade will start at S. Rice Ave. and Valerie St. and the Children's Bike Parade will start at S. Rice Ave. and Evergreen St. Both parades will end at S. Rice Ave. and Linden St. After the parade, the festival will begin around 10 a.m. on the Great Lawn and in Loftin Park, featuring food, live music, and more. 

Houston’s annual July 4th event will feature live music and activities for the whole family. Headliner is country music star Clay Walker. The live performances will be followed by an extraordinary fireworks show. (Photo: Richard Carson)

Freedom Over Texas 2022
Freedom Over Texas is returning to the classic everything’s-bigger-in-Texas Fourth of July celebration with a slew of in-person events along Allen Parkway. Featuring local, regional, and national musical artists, there will be something for everyone to enjoy, from rapper Blanco Brown to country music sensation Clay Walker. Shell Freedom Over Texas will also be marking the 60th anniversary of the  NASA Johnson Space Center’s tenure in Houston by partnering with the Space Center to bring an interactive, galactic experience to visitors, including the opportunity to meet astronauts. The festivities take place July 4, 4-10 p.m. 

CityCentre hosts its annual Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular with live music by After Party and a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. The event takes place from 7-11 p.m. on Mon., July 4. 

CityCentre Independence Day Fireworks 
CityCentre will be hosting a fireworks display and an evening of live music to commemorate Independence Day. The genres of pop and country will unite for an amped concert from After Party, 7-11 p.m. The fireworks will start at 9:30pm. Admission is free and parking will cost $10 in all City Centre garages beginning at 4 p.m. 

Red, White and Boom in Sugar Land
Celebrate Independence Day at The Crown Festival Park in Sugar Land with patriotic family fun! There will be a variety of great food and beverages, live musical entertainment, community booths, activities, photo opportunities, and a dazzling firework display to conclude the celebration. Entertainment, food and activities take place from 6-8:45 p.m. and fireworks will begin at approximately 9 p.m. 

Fourth of July Drone Show Over The Gulf
For the first time ever, Galveston Island will be hosting a drone show on the beach at the 37th Street Groin for viewers to enjoy a drought-conscious celebration. Onlookers will be able to stand right on the beach and view a variety of colorful shapes, including fireworks bursts, the American flag, and local fauna such as sea turtles and fish. Hundreds of drones will be launched directly from the beach, starting at 9 p.m. and there will be a second show at 10:30 p.m. Each shows lasts approximately 12 minutes. 

Editor’s note: Please check individual event websites for any weather-related updates.