Cue the 100-degree weather and patriotic fanfare: Independence Day is finally here. The entire country will be practically oozing red, white, and blue this weekend, but we all know Texas does it best. Here’s a guide to Fourth of July happenings all over North Texas.
Parades
The Park Cities Fourth of July Parade starts at 9 a.m. on Euclid Avenue near the Highland Park Town Hall.
Lakewood’s Fourth of July Parade warms up with a Fun Run mini-marathon, and then the parade begins at 10 a.m. at Lakewood Blvd. and Cambria. Go here for the parade route.
Denton’s Yankee Doodle Parade will begin a 9 a.m. on South Locust Street and wind around the downtown courthouse on the square.
The Red, White, and Boom parade in downtown McKinney starts at 10 a.m.
Take a trip into the past at Dallas Heritage Village, where the Old Fashioned Fourth parade begins at 10 a.m.
The Plano Lions Independence Day Parade starts in the parking lot of the Plano ISD Administration building at 9 a.m., with its route concluding at Plano Senior High School.
Performances
When patriotic piccolo players pick a world record to break, watch out. The Dallas Winds, with the help of volunteer piccolo players, will attain a Guinness-certified achievement with a massive Independence Day performance of John Phillip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” at the Meyerson at 1 p.m.
At the July 3 edition of Concerts in the Garden at Fort Worth’s Botanic Garden, hear the city’s symphony orchestra perform patriotic music.
On July 2, listen to some swinging, patriotic jazz with the retro Singapore Slingers at The Kessler Theater.
At Billy Bob’s legendary Fourth of July (on July 2) Picnic in Fort Worth, enjoy live music from Mike & the Moonpies, Billy Joe Shaver, Shinyribs, and Turnpike Troubadours.
The Dallas Winds will perform at the Hall of State before the fireworks show at Fair Park Fourth, the city’s official Independence Day Celebration.
The Lone Star Texas Heritage Fest at the Bomb Factory on July 1 will feature performances by Shovels and Rope, Okkervil River, and more.
Festivals and Celebrations
For those who want to get the party started early, Light Up Arlington, Southlake’s Stars and Stripes and Addison’s Kaboom Town all have festive fun and fireworks on July 3. Same goes for Red, White, and Boom on the former Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge.
As usual, Fair Park Fourth will have fireworks and all the Midway games you can handle. Munch on concessions while you’re watching with the family.
Frisco Freedom Fest will be kicking off with a Party in the Plaza and Taste of Frisco food festival at Simpson Plaza at City Hall at 4 p.m. The night will continue with an FC Dallas soccer match at 8 p.m. at Toyota Stadium, followed by fireworks.
The Lone Stars and Stripes Celebration at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie will include a zip line, obstacle courses, and pony rides beginning at 3 p.m.
The Dallas Arboretum will be decked out in red, white, and blue for Fourth of July weekend. Veterans and active members of the U.S. armed services will receive free admission throughout the weekend.
The eighth Brass Knuckle Corndog Beatdown will pit Dallas’ most deranged eaters against each other in a hot dog eating competition. The contest starts at 5:30 p.m. at The Libertine Bar.
Fireworks
Go here to see our list of fireworks shows in North Texas this Fourth of July.
For more Fourth of July events, go here.
— Nataly Keomoungkhoun and Alex Macon contributed to this article.
