With the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday this year, there is a dearth of new, non-Independence Day events happening in Houston. But that doesn't there's nothing else going on; in addition to the fireworks, you can catch a great rock concert, see a couple of new theater productions or catch of one of the four remaining performances from a certain country music superstar.
Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, July 2
CityCentre presents Fourth of July Weekend Celebration
You can enjoy Independence Day all weekend long at CityCentre, as they will host different activities each day through Sunday. Grady Gaines will perform on Thursday, the Texas Unlimited Band will take the stage on Friday, the Marcus Eldridge Band will perform on Saturday prior to the big fireworks show, and The Coconuts will finish off the weekend on Sunday.
Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional in concert
Co-headlining tours are all the rage during the summer, and this one pairing two turn-of-the-century bands will surely draw its fair share of fans. Third Eye Blind, which recently released its fifth album, Dopamine, and Dashboard Confessional, which hasn't put out any new music since 2009, will play at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, both hoping to regain some of their former glory.
Latin Jazz Jam
The Diaz Music Institute will present the inaugural Latin Jazz Jam with special guest Ignacio Berroa. Berroa is a Grammy Award winner and international star considered one of the greatest drummers of all time. Berroa will be joined at Miller Outdoor Theatre by some of the most innovative, influential, and cutting-edge Latin jazz artists in the world today.
Friday, July 3
Garth Brooks in concert with Trisha Yearwood
Having a big time band or musician put on multiple shows in the same city isn't unheard of, but what Garth Brooks is doing at the Toyota Center is unprecedented. For the second week in a row, he, along with wife Trisha Yearwood, will perform four times over the course of two days. Those in attendance on the Fourth of July will surely be in for some special musical fireworks, if not the actual kind.
Alley Theatre presents The Foreigner
For its last production in its temporary home at the University of Houston, Alley Theatre will present one of the most popular comedies in the company's history, The Foreigner. The play is set in a remote fishing lodge, where the socially awkward Charlie discovers intriguing and dangerous secrets under the guise of a foreigner who speaks no English. It will run through August 9.
Saturday, July 4
Southwest Airlines Freedom Over Texas
While there are plenty of great Fourth of July events happening on Saturday, this one at Eleanor Tinsley Park is always one of most popular. This year’s festivities include a kids zone, a beer garden, an area with set-ups from multiple Houston professional sport teams and performances from Clint Black and Josh Turner. And you'll get all of that before you even get to the exciting fireworks finale; talk about a full day.
Houston Wave presents Fourth of July Burgers & Brews Bus
Burgers and beers are at or near the top of the list for many people on the Fourth of July anyway, so why not combine them in a special tour? The Houston Wave will host the bus tour that starts at Silver Street Studios, heads to BRC Gastropub for burgers and beers, stops at Buffalo Bayou Brewery for a tour and more beer and finishes back at the Wave for yet more beer and fireworks viewing.
Sunday, July 5
AWJ Production presents The Gentlemen
This play at Stafford Civic Center is a special one-night-only event from AWJ Production that tackles a difficult issue. Fed up with the cycle of destructive choices among male young adult offenders, Judge Michael decides to do something about it, ordering a group of men into a type of life rehab before they can go back into the free world.
BRC Gastropub is one of the stops on Houston Wave's Fourth of July Burgers & Brews Bus on July 4.
