Hot sun and blue skies, mouthwatering food and joyous music, and activities that run the range from high culture to lowbrow—these are the features that make Space City the perfect place to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day.
We are as proud to be members of the Houston community as we are to be citizens of this great country, and we’re pleased to bring you our shortlist of some of the city’s best possibilities for fun during a Houston July 4th.
Alt rocker-turned-country crooner Darius Rucker headlines the Freedom Over Texas at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Rucker will share the stage with local Houston band The Suffers, who are known for livening crowds with a mix of rock-and-roll and infectious “Gulf Coast Soul.” This annual event is legendary for its high-octane patriotism, culminating in the city’s most spectacular fireworks display against the city skyline. It’s also notorious for selling out, so get your tickets early.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is the setting for this free event. Featuring a full array of performers, activities, retail, crafts and food vendors, this event is grounded in the proud history of our nation. At the halfway point of the day’s celebration, crowds will gather for a reading of the Declaration of Independence. In addition, an oversize replica of this seminal document will be available for attendees to sign, offering just a taste of the tremendous responsibility enjoyed by our founding fathers. Oh, and did we mention there will be cake? It is, after all, a birthday celebration.
Conductor Steven Reineke leads the Houston Symphony Orchestra in a moving tribute to our nation’s struggle for freedom. A series of classic patriotic tunes will culminate in a performance of the 1812 Overture—and yes, there will be cannon fire. (Bring your ear plugs if you startle easily.) The only fitting follow-up to this stirring piece of music is fireworks, best enjoyed on the Miller Outdoor Theatre’s sweeping open hillside.
The only thing that can top the variety of musical styles vying for your ear this Houston July 4th weekend is the diversity of flavors available to sample. If your preferred method of celebration is with your taste buds, make your way to Pasadena’s largest city-sponsored event and grab your place in line for the USMC Toys for Tots BBQ Cookoff. This highly kid-friendly event will also feature water balloon fights, astro jumps, inflatable moonwalks and booths offering wax hands, water tattoos and more. There will also be a car/truck exhibition, carnival games, an all-day performance by Houston cover band The Slags, and a 20-minute fireworks show to close it down.
We always look forward to celebrating with our Houston community during this time of year. As always, we encourage everyone to be safe, especially while driving from one event to another, and to treat each other with the courtesy that befits us all as neighbors in this great nation.
