Celebration Staples
Fair Park Fourth (July 4). It’s free to attend, per usual, so the whole family can enjoy carnival games, patriotic tunes from the Dallas Wind Symphony, and fireworks. Best views are from inside the Cotton Bowl.
Kaboom Town (July 3). Addison’s annual contribution to Independence Day festivities includes a 30-minute show is so big that you could probably see it from outer space. Prime viewing is in the park, however, where you’ll also find live music, food, and a fly-over of historic planes from the Cavanaugh Flight Museum (complete with stunt pilots, parachutists, and more). Emerald City plays the official after party.
Star-Spangled Spectacular (July 4). We like this one because it’s all indoors – even the fireworks. Seriously. The Dallas Wind Symphony’s Star Spangled Spectacular show will also feature patriotic tunes, ice cream and hot dogs, and an 11-foot tall Uncle Sam. And if you can’t make it to this afternoon performance, the wind symphony will be doing the “Oh, Say Can You See” honors at Fair Park Fourth.
Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic (July 4). Nelson’s famous honky-tonk party, a Fort Worth tradition since the pre-Bicentennial days of 1973, is something you have to experience at least once. He flies through songs medley-style just like certain rap acts, though it can be downright cruel to hear your all-time favorite melody dissipate into some lesser song right when you expect the bridge to come in. If we’re lucky, he’ll do “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.”
Fireworks
Texas Rangers vs. the Minnesota Twins (July 6). While technically not an official Fourth of July celebration, it’s the closet thing to it if you want to also celebrate with America’s favorite pastime.
Lake Grapevine’s Annual Fireworks Extravaganza (July 4). Though the fireworks can be seen from any lakeside location, we’d make nice with the neighbors who own a boat. Admission should be free, though some of the parks along the lake may charge.
Lone Stars and Stripes (July 4). Stick around after the last-race dust settles for a rousing fireworks display set to patriotic tunes. For the kids: pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and more.
Old-Fashioned Family Fireworks Picnic (July 2, 3, 4). The Fort Worth Botanic Garden closes out their concert series with an appearance by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and those flammable, light-up rocket things.
BarBelmont (July 4). The hilltop hotel bar isn’t doing anything special, and they’re not staying open late. But if you stake out a seat on the patio, we’re told you can see just about all the displays, “from Fair Park to Lakewood to Victory to the suburbs north of the city.” Sold.
Fourth of July with Shakespeare Dallas (July 4). Join SD for their (excellent) production of Coriolanus on the Fourth, and not only do you get to see a great show, you’ll see the fireworks from Fair Park and Lakewood over the stage during intermission. If you’re an SD member, you get this cool “send a friend” deal:
Send a Friend to Shakespeare in the Park! Send up to two of your friends to the park this summer as honorary members! Redeeming the ‘Send a Friend’ Pass is easy. Just call or email our office and give us two of your friend’s name(s) and email address(s), and we add them to a list to get in for free on July 4th! You don’t even have to attend with them! Passes will allow 2 of your friends to get into the park at 6:45pm and sit in the members section. Remember, this deal is only available for July 4th, so call our office today and help your friends celebrate with us at the Park!
Parties
Brass-Knuckle Corn Dog Beatdown (July 4). Hey hey, freedom fools. You could sit at home, drinking in your backyard and swatting mosquitoes. But wouldn’t you rather watch a bunch of brave people chew up a disgusting number of corn dogs in the span of 15 minutes? Sure you would. Head to the Libertine Bar for their annual contest, four years running. We will not be participating, but we’ll happily cheer everyone on. Winner gets a $100 gift certificate, second place gets a $50 certificate, and third place gets $25…in quarters. If there’s a tie, it’ll be settled with tequila shots. You’re welcome, America.
Midnight Poule Party (July 3). Dress up a drab Fourth of July routine with a poolside party (sorry, no swimming) that includes drink specials, a DJ, and dancing. We assume you’re capable of creating your own fireworks.
Concerts at the Arboretum (July 3). Wear your best red, white, and blue attire (you could win big) and hear music from the 36 Infantry Division Band.
Viva Dallas Burlesque Salute the Troops (July 6). What, we ask you, could be more American than watching beautiful ladies tastefully strip their way down to their star-spangled skivvies? Not much, really. Viva Dallas Burlesque presents their annual patriotic celebration, Salute the Troops, billed as a USO-style tribute to our men and women in uniform. The Jigglewatts of Austin and Dallas’ own Diamond Bettys will showcase the classic, comedic art of the tease.
Independence Day Smokeout (July 7 & 8). Nothing spells America like big hunks of beef. The Holy Grail kindly obliges Fourth of July cravings with a weekend of barbecue (short ribs, “bacon-injected brisket,” house-made hot dogs, beer can chicken), summer seasonal beer, and vodka-fruit infusions. Come to think of it, “delightfully close to being overserved,” spells America, too.
All-American Wine Tasting (July 13). A little far removed, but better late than never. You’ll only been drinking wines made in our very own promise land.
Red White and Blue Times Two (July 4-14). The Mansion Restaurant combines the Fourth with the Fourteenth with two distinctive tasting menus made up of French and American classics (think peach cobbler or bouillabaisse). They’ll have the special menus for ten days, but if you choose to dine on July 4 or July 14, there’s live patriotic tunes in the bar area.
Pre-Fourth of July Party at Inwood Tavern (June 30). $1 margaritas, barbecue from Sonny Bryan’s, and live music.
Fourth of July at Double Wide. No big pool party blow out, but you can still drink Yoohoo Yeehaws and celebrate America. The fireworks over Fair Park start at 9:30, but get there early to ensure that you have a drink in hand and a comfortable place to watch. The usual Wednesday night special, $3 drafts, applies.
Fourth of July at Single Wide. Attention, patriots. Two words: Freedom. Bingo. DJ Charlie Don’t Park spins tunes and hosts, and prices include drinks and “other silly stuff.”
Pool Party at Hotel InterContinental (July 3). If you don’t want to get trapped in crush of Kaboom Town traffic, head to the Hotel InterContinental’s pool, where you can sip watermelon punch and still catch the fireworks. Cash bar; free just to show up. Pool is open from noon-midnight; music starts at 6 pm, fireworks at 9:30 pm.
Community
The Dallas Museum of Art is open for family fun on July 4. But no, you may not set off fireworks inside.
Allen USA Celebration (June 30). Funnel cake, bounce houses, arts and crafts, fireworks. Oh, and a concert by the Bangles. The only other thing you need to know: it’s all free.
Park Cities Fourth of July Parade (July 4). Things get started at 9 am at Highland Park Town Hall. Don’t miss our Park Cities People float, which just gets bigger and better every year, and the post-parade carnival in University Park. The excellent Bradford Pearson is running the dunking booth, so be sure to say hi.
Irving’s Firecracker Celebration (July 4). The city’s annual free celebration (though you have to pay to park) has moved over to the new Irving Convention Center. It’s still the same patriotic music, directed by maestro Hector Guzman, and a dazzling display of fireworks over Lake Carolyn.
Plano All-American Fourth Fireworks (July 4). There’s a parade, a patriotic pops concert, and of course, the fireworks happening a various places around town. The parade is at 9 am along Independence Parkway from 15th Street west to Parkhaven Drive. The Plano Symphony plays at 3 pm at the Eisemann Center in Richardson. Finally, the sky over Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve lights up at 9:30 pm.
