Bubbles and Fireworks

Bubbles and fireworks: Best place to watch Houston's July 4th celebration comes with a price

Fireworks from Freedom Over Texas can be seen from the boat ride on the Buffalo Bayou.

Tired of craning your neck amid the Freedom Over Texas hordes at Eleanor Tinsley Park to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July? Looking for something more exciting and different this Independence Day? The Buffalo Bayou Partnership has come up with a unique opportunity.

Enjoy champagne and light snacks while observing the fireworks from a unique vantage point in a pontoon boat smack dab in the middle of Buffalo Bayou.

For the first-time ever, the nonprofit organization that works to protect and preserve the city's main waterway is offering an up-close-and-personal way to view the fireworks celebration. Enjoy champagne and light snacks while observing the fireworks from a unique vantage point in a pontoon boat smack dab in the middle of Buffalo Bayou. (The boat pilot also is likely to point out a lot of interesting facts about the bayou and the celebration.)

The cost for the "Bubbles and Fireworks" experience: $100 per person, which may seem a little steep, but the proceeds go to a good cause and the experience, some would argue, is priceless.

There's only room for 21 people, so if you're interested, sign up here. The boat ride and fireworks viewing takes place Friday from 8 to 10 p.m.

For a round up of-events on the Fourth of July check out the Ultimate Guide to a fun Fourth of July - with fireworks - all around Houston.

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festive cities

Houston dazzles among top 10 most festive cities in America for 2025

River Oaks Christmas Lights in Houston TX/Facebook

The River Oaks Christmas Lights are a fun place to take families.

Houston has once again landed a coveted spot on Thumbtack's annual ranking of the most festive American cities in 2025.

Home services platform Thumbtack analyzed holiday light installation requests from customers from October 2024 to 2025 to determine the most festive U.S. cities. Rankings were based on the "relative frequency" of requests after being adjusted for the population of each state and metro area.

Houston ranked as the 6th most festive U.S. city this year, dropping two spots from its former No. 4 rank in 2024.

Locals searching for inspiration for their homes can find it at the many twinkly displays illuminating Houston for the holidays, from the iconic City Lights to the rustic Dewberry Farm light show. And the holiday season is beginning earlier with every passing year, according to Thumbtack.

"Homeowners are layering their look from October through December, swapping out pumpkins for pine boughs and adding sparkle as the season unfolds," the report said.

Other festive holiday events happening around Houston include cheery pop-up bars, holiday markets, and much more. CultureMap readers can also keep up with all of Houston's holiday happenings in our special editorial series.

Other big Texas cities like Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio also all landed top-10 spots in the report, proving the Lone Star State is much more festive than the rest of the country.

"From Texas to Florida, the South is setting the standard for holiday spirit, and in true Texas fashion, bigger is definitely brighter," the report said. "Mild winters and a strong sense of community keep the Lone Star State shining at the top."

Thumbtack's top 10 most festive U.S. cities in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Austin, Texas
No. 2 – Dallas, Texas
No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 – Sacramento, California
No. 6 – Houston, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 9 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 10 – Atlanta, Georgia

festive cities holidays christmas rankings houston