holiday headaches

A record 5.6 million Texans will travel for the 4th of July, AAA says

Expect busy freeways for the next two weekends.

Photo courtesy of TxDOT

Get ready to share the roads, Texas drivers: A new report by AAA Texas is predicting the highest travel volume on record during the 2024 Independence Day holiday week. An estimated 5.6 million Texans are expected to take a trip at some point during the nine-day period from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 7.

The statewide projection is a 5.2 percent increase over last year's travel numbers, and an 8.3 percent hike from 2019, the report found. Driving has consistently been the most popular form of transportation during the holiday period - with 4.8 million people expected to travel by car in 2024 - followed by 555,000 estimated air travelers, and 242,000 taking public transportation.

It's enough to make Houstonians want to stay home and enjoy all the great local fireworks and events around town.

Summer break is the perfect time for a quick getaway to a family-friendly destination now that children are out of school, and there's no better place to be than Texas, which outshined the rest of the nation as the No. 1 state for for summer road trips in 2024. But don't forget to check your vehicle tires, battery, and fluid levels before embarking on that long road trip, as AAA Texas expects to rescue over 41,000 stranded Texas drivers during the holiday period.

The report says the top destinations in Texas are mostly located on the coast or near a body of water, like Galveston, Corpus Christi, or the San Antonio River Walk. But the beloved Texas Hill Country, plus major cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin, weren't too far behind.

Nationally, AAA Texas predicts nearly 71 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles over Independence Day week in 2024. Though most Americans will be traveling domestically, AAA Texas vice president and general manager Galen Grillo says many people will also be heading out of the country for the occasion.

"We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest for this holiday ever," Grillo says in a release. "Travel is in high gear this summer with more people not only booking domestic trips, but AAA travel advisors are seeing more international and cruise bookings as many people are taking bucket list vacations."

For those who will be flying for Independence Day, make sure to arrive at the airport at least two hours for domestic flights, or three hours prior to an international flight. And try not to check a bag if it can be avoided, just in case there are any flight delays or cancelations.

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LIVING HISTORY

Texas Revolution comes to life at new immersive attraction in Gonzales

Facebook/Texas Legacy in Lights

'Texas Legacy in Lights' puts audiences in the midst of Texas history.

A brand new way to experience the history of the Lone Star State has debuted at the Gonzales Memorial Museum, located about two hours from Houston. Texas Legacy in Lights bills itself as the "world's first permanent, narrative-driven, live-action projection mapping film."

The film was produced and directed by Gonzales native John Franklin Rinehart, who used 3D mapping projection to bring to life the story of the Texas Revolution starting in 1835, including the Battle of Gonzales. It is projected in HD on the museum’s façade after dark, and audiences are encouraged to sit on the museum lawn to take in the one-of-a-kind visual presentation that puts them in the middle of the action.

"It's a great experience for our city," says Gonzales Mayor Isaac Anzaldua. "Everybody here seems to be enjoying themselves, and with this, they begin to understand where they came from. We still embody the same spirit of 'come and take it' that they had back in 1835."

The film delves into the little-known history of the iconic "Come and Take It" flag created by Sarah DeWitt, who sewed it from her daughter's wedding dress. Peggy Schott (Fear the Walking Dead) portrays the iconic Texas pioneer.

"I had family in Texas before the Revolution who were there, and I was so excited to join this project," Schott says in a press release. "It's hard to find stories of the women from that time. I'm honored to play Sarah DeWitt and to tell her story in a way that will inspire people for years to come."

A woman's face in the Texas Legacy in Lights Show An image from the immersive new Texas history projection show. Photo courtesy of Texas Legacy in Lights

Most stories of the Texas Revolution focus on the more famous moments at the end of the war, such as the fall of the Alamo and the decisive victory at San Jacinto. Texas Legacy of Lights, instead, highlights the opening volleys in the war for independence from Mexico, many of which took place in and around Gonzales.

"One hundred years from now," Mayor Anzaldua says, "our community will look back and see how we continued to embody the Come and Take It spirit — a spirit of determination, love, and peace. To know that we share a part in shaping the future of our great city is exciting and very rewarding."

The outdoor presentation runs Tuesday-Sunday at 8:25 pm and 9:15 pm at the Gonzales Memorial Museum (414 Smith St). Screenings are free and open to the public. Watch the trailer for the film here:

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