Hooray for the red, white, and blue

Master list of 4th of July events and fireworks around Houston in 2024

There's a famous letter from John Adams, the second U.S. president, to his wife, Abigail, written shortly after the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He was certain future generations would mark the day with parades and pomp, and "bonfires and illuminations." Houstonians will find all manner of what Adams envisioned starting the weekend before the U.S. marks is 248th birthday on July 4.

Saturday, June 29

Conroe's Stars and Stripes Celebration
Conroe kicks off July 4 partying with a family-friendly evening of kids' activities, food trucks, a vendor market, and fireworks. The Conroe Symphony Orchestra will perform. Revelry begins at 6 pm in Heritage Park.

Wednesday, July 3

Freedom Rocks at Texas Lagoonfest
Two days of tribute band shows will get guests rocking. Enjoy food and drinks in Lagoonfest's incredible water setting. Admission to the festivities is included with regular admission tickets.

Houston Symphony Star-Spangled Salute
The symphony performs a concert of patriotic favorites in The Woodlands. Conductor Jason Seber leads the orchestra in this family-friendly concert. Look for plenty of red, white, and blue gear on the plaza before the show. Admission is free.

Thursday, July 4

Shell Freedom Over Texas
Houston's signature Independence Day party is a six-hour affair along Allen Parkway. There's a slate of local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Russell Dickerson, Jo Dee Messina, and Chapel Hart. The event is capped off with a musically choreographed, “Texas-sized” fireworks finale. Food and drink, and plenty of family entertainment options are available at this popular celebration.

4th of July at the Boardwalk at Towne Lake
This afternoon celebration includes live music, face painting, balloon artists, and plenty of backdrops for photo ops. It's a great option for families who want some daytime fun.

4th of July Celebrations in Galveston
Head to the island for a parade featuring the Marine Corps League, along with floats, decorated vehicles, and performers. Following the parade, enjoy "Fireworks Over the Gulf," a pyrotechnics extravaganza on the beach.

Bubbles and Fireworks Boat Tour
Reservations are extremely limited for this experience hosted by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Guests will enjoy beer, wine, and light bites while floating along the bayou, giving them a perfect view of the Shell Freedom Over Texas fireworks display.

July 4 at the George Ranch
Families are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and head to the historic park for a celebration of our nation's independence, as well as the ranch's 200th anniversary. It promises to be a day of history and fun.

4th of July Celebration on Skylawn
With its sweeping views of Downtown, POST Skylawn is a a great place to watch Shell Freedom Over Texas. The event venue also hosts its own July 4th festivities, with cirque performers, complimentary balloon artist creations, face painting, delicious food, and multiple bars. Both the Houston Brass Band and cover band Alias Band will perform. Early bird tickets start at $20.

City of Baytown presents 4th of July Celebration
This two-day celebration has live music from headliners The Bellamy Brothers and Brett Young. Kids activities, a car show, and food and craft vendors are also part of the fun. There's a fireworks show on July 4.

City of Bellaire Celebration of Independence Parade and Festival
The parade kicks off at 9 am at South Rice Ave. and Valerie St. Festivities take place in Loftin Park, where families will find food, music, and more.

City of Friendswood Fourth of July Celebration
The city starts Independence Day with a parade on Friendswood Drive between Heritage Drive and Stevenson Park. A festival at the park after the parade features rides, games, food, and entertainment. Evening revelry at Centennial Park has more food, entertainment by the Spazmatics, and a fireworks show.

City of Jersey Village July 4th Festival
A parade begins the evening's festivities, followed by an Eagles tribute band performance, food, games and, of course, a fireworks show. It all takes place in Jersey Meadows Park.

City of La Porte presents July 4 Celebrations
Begin the day with a parade down Broadway, before heading to the Five Points Fest, where gusts will find a free hot dog lunch, live music, and family-friendly activities. Fireworks at Sylvan Beach cap off the evening.

City of Pasadena 4th Fest
The fun begins at 4 pm on the grounds of the Pasadena Convention Center and Fairgrounds with a kids' zone, amusement rides, vendors, a live music performance, and food trucks. A fireworks display ends the evening.

City of Pearland presents Celebration of Freedom
Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band headline this event that includes strolling entertainment, food trucks, free giveaways, a photo booth, craft market and more. An 18-minute fireworks display begins at 9 pm.

City of Sugar Land presents Red, White, and Boom
The Crown Festival Park is the epicenter of Fourth of July fun. Look for live entertainment, plenty of social media-worthy photo ops, vendor booths, food, and more. Fireworks light up the nighttime sky. Festivities begin at 5 pm.

City of Tomball presents July 4th Celebration & Street Fest
This street party is an Independence Day bash, with live music, food, and one of the area's biggest fireworks displays. Activities include a cool zone, a kids' zone, patriotic sing-a-longs, and a whole lot more for the whole family to enjoy.

City of West University Independence Day Bike Parade and Pool Party
Families and kids of all ages are invited to roll up on bicycles, tricycles, and wagons to be part of this parade that starts at West U Elementary School and ends at Colonial Park. Post-parade activities are available for all ages.

Family 4th Celebration in Rosenberg
Marking its 25th anniversary, this free, family-friendly festival includes food vendors selling cold treats and patriotic eats. Country music favorites the Casey Donahew Band headline the event. A fireworks show will end the evening.

Freedom Celebration at Typhoon Texas
The City of Katy hosts this day of water-filled adventures. Float along the lazy river, speed down water slides, or splash in the wave pool. A fireworks display caps off the fun.

Houston Symphony presents Symphony Summer Nights: Star-Spangled Salute
The Symphony returns to Miller Outdoor Theatre for this popular, annual event featuring patriotic songs and a fireworks grand finale.

July 4 in The Woodlands
A whole day of fun awaits, beginning with the South County Fourth of July Parade, featuring marching bands, fire engines, clowns, floats, and more making its way along a 1.3-mile route through the city. Enjoy Red, Hot Pool all day at the city's pools, with patriotic decor, activities, and refreshments (while supplies last). Celebrating continues into the evening with the city's 6th Annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza. Look for food, live entertainment, and family fun at Town Green Park and Northshore Park. The event culminates with one of the largest fireworks displays in the Greater Houston area.

Kemah Boardwalk presents July 4th Celebration
Head to the entertainment complex for live music performances and an evening fireworks show. Lone Star All Star Trio, Uncle Sam Stilt Walker, and The Slags are slated to perform.

Kidpendence Day at the Children's Museum Houston
An appearance by Captain America, story time hands-on activities, and more highlight this July 4 celebration for kiddos. The fun is included with museum admission.

Missouri City Independence Day Festival
This free, family-friendly evening includes entertainment, carnival games, live music, local vendors offering treats, and a fireworks display. It's all happening on the Houston Community College - Southwest College campus.

Pine Market presents Star-Spangled Celebration
The Woodlands-area shopping district pulls out all the stops for family-friendly Fourth of July fun. Expect live music from Walker County Line Band, pony rides, face painting, balloons, a rock wall, a giant slide, and more. Red, white, and blue décor will provide a great backdrop for photos.

Seabrook Fourth of July Kids Parade
The community's children are invited to march in this parade along the trail in Meador Park. Kids can also ride their bikes. Following the parade, the Seabrook Rotary has free hot dogs and refreshments.

Valley Ranch 4th Fest
Boasting one of the largest fireworks displays in Montgomery County, this celebration also features a "Shop Small Y'all" market of local vendors, live entertainment, and music.

Freedom Over Texas Eleanor Tinsley Park Fourth of July

Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas

Southwest Airlines Freedom Over Texas celebration, which features live country music performances, ends with an enormous fireworks display.

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RIP, Chuck

Actor Chuck Norris, star of 'Walker, Texas Ranger,' dies at 86

Courtesy photo

Chuck Norris, star of "Walker, Texas Ranger," has died at 86.

Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy — sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents — has died at 86.

Norris died Thursday, in what his family described as a “sudden passing.”

“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.

Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts. He was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion. He also founded his own Korean-based American hard style of karate, known sometimes as Chun Kuk Do, and the United Fighting Arts Federation, which has awarded more than 3,300 Chuck Norris System black belts worldwide. Black Belt magazine ultimately credited Norris in its hall of fame with holding a 10th degree black belt, the highest possible honor.

Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1940, he grew up poor. At age 12, he moved with his family to Torrance, California, and joined the U.S. Air Force after high school, in 1958. It was during a deployment to Korea that he started training in martial arts, including judo and Tang Soo Do.

“I went out for gymnastics and football at North Torrance high,” he told The Associated Press in 1982. “I played some football, but I also spent a lot of time on the bench. I was never really athletic until I was in the service in Korea.”

After he was honorably discharged in 1962, he worked as a file clerk for Northrop Aircraft and applied to be a police officer, but was put on a waitlist. Meanwhile, he opened a martial arts studio, which expanded to a chain, with students including such stars as Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Donnie and Marie Osmond, and Steve McQueen, whom he later credited with encouraging him to get into acting.

From one studio to another
Norris made his film debut as an uncredited bodyguard in the 1968 movie “The Wrecking Crew,” which included a fight with Dean Martin. He had also crossed paths with Bruce Lee in martial arts circles. Their friendship — sometimes, as sparring partners — led to an iconic faceoff in the 1972 movie “Return of the Dragon,” in which Lee fights and kills Norris' character in Rome's Colosseum.

He went on to act in more than 20 movies, such as “Missing in Action,” “The Delta Force” and “Sidekicks.”

“I wanted to project a certain image on the screen of a hero. I had seen a lot of anti-hero movies in which the lead was neither good nor bad. There was no one to root for,” Norris said in 1982.

In 1993, he took on his most famed role, as a crime-fighting lawman in TV's “Walker, Texas Ranger.” The show ran for nine seasons, and in 2010, then-Gov. Rick Perry awarded him the title of honorary Texas Ranger. The Texas Senate later named him an honorary Texan.

“It’s not violence for violence’s sake, with no moral structure,” Norris told the AP in 1996, speaking about the show. “You try to portray the proper meaning of what it’s about — fighting injustice with justice, good vs. bad. … It’s entertaining for the whole family.”

Norris also made a surprise comedic appearance as a decisive judge in the final match of the 2004 movie “Dodgeball.” He only on occasion has taken acting roles in recent years, including 2012's “The Expendables 2” and the 2024 sci-fi action movie “Agent Recon.” He's due to appear in “Zombie Plane,” an upcoming film starring Vanilla Ice.

Chuck Norris: the man, the meme, the legend
It was around the time of “Dodgeball” that his toughman image became the stuff of legend, literally: “Chuck Norris Facts” went viral online with such wildly hyperbolic statements as, “Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the sun -- and won,” and, “They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore, but the granite wasn’t tough enough for his beard.”

Norris ultimately embraced the absurdity of the meme craze, putting together “The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book,” which combined his favorites with supposedly true stories and the codes he aimed to live by. He would also write books on martial arts instruction, a memoir, political takes, Civil War-era historical fiction and more.

“To some who know little of my martial arts or film careers but perhaps grew up with 'Walker, Texas Ranger,' it seems that I have become a somewhat mythical superhero icon,” Norris wrote in the forward to the fact book. “I am flattered and humbled.”

That book raised money for a nonprofit he founded with President George H.W. Bush that promoted martial arts instruction for kids.

The intentionally outlandish statements featured in the 2008 Republican presidential primary, when Norris endorsed Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and shot an ad playing on the “Chuck Norris facts.”

President Donald Trump's supporters later promoted Trump Facts in the same vein, and political pundits tried it as well, describing the commander-in-chief's decision to seize Venezuela's sitting president, Nicolas Maduro, as a “Chuck Norris Moment,” and its initial effect on oil prices a “Chuck Norris Premium.”

Norris was outspoken about his Christian beliefs and his support for gun rights, and backed political candidates for years — he even went skydiving with Bush for the former president's 80th birthday. As for Trump, Norris endorsed him in the 2016 general election and wrote guest columns praising him without explicitly endorsing him the in the days before the 2020 and 2024 elections.

Norris has five surviving children: stunt performers Mike and Eric with his late ex-wife Dianne Holechek, twins Dakota and Danilee with his wife Gena Norris, and Dina, the result of an early 1960s “one-night stand” revealed in his autobiography.

Norris celebrated his birthday just over a week before his death, posting a sparring video on Instagram.

“I don't age. I level up,” he wrote.

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