Here's Your Fireworks Guide For July 4, 2017, For Austin And Surrounding Cities (Updated)

AUSTIN, TX — There will be plenty to do this coming July 4 weekend, from concerts requiring admission to free events that include family fun. The variety of events accommodates every lifestyle, from the hopelessly hip fond of dancing the night away to families with children looking for some wholesome fun.

To an event, the fireworks planned are all described as "spectacular." Aren't fireworks innately spectacular? Or does the descriptor relate to sheer size and scale? It matters not. The point is that fun events will abound just before Independence Day and on the holiday itself.

Here are some of the planned events:

AUSTIN

At the Vic Mathias Shores (formerly Auditorium Shores), the Austin Symphony hosts its annual concert of patriotic music that culminates in a spectacular fireworks display over Lady Bird Lake. The Austin Fourth of July Symphony and Fireworks event is always a crowd pleaser, reliably dramatic and, for those wearing their patriotism on their sleeves, invariably able to engender an emotional stew steeped in love of country. We're talking free fireworks here, and a free live performance. Food and drinks normally abounds, as does a variety of local arts and crafts vendors. The Austin tradition is staged outside the Long Center, 600 W. Riverside Dr. If you go, be advised of street closures to accommodate the event: Riverside Drive from Lamar Boulevard to South First Street closes at 10 a.m. and Cesar Chavez between MoPac and Congress, and southbound MoPac will be diverted to Fifth Street and Enfield/Fifth Street starting at 6 p.m. All streets are reopened no later than midnight. Also bear in mind that surrounding trails will be closed, and motorized vehicles will be prohibited. The lower portion of the Hike & Bike Trail on the north side of Lady Bird Lake (between Seaholm intake Structure and S. 1st St.) will be closed at 10 a.m. The upper sidewalk will along Cesar Chavez will remain open. For safety reasons, Lady Bird Lake between the railroad trestle bridge and the S. 1st St. Bridge will be closed from 8 p.m. to midnight. Organizers bill the pyrotechnics at this event as the largest fireworks display in all of Central Texas, and we are in no position to argue this point.

It wouldn't be Austin without Willie Nelson. And it wouldn't be an quintessentially Austin fireworks show without Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic. Willie will headline a star-studded lineup at the Austin360 Amphitheater, with the surrounding Circuit of the Americas serving as staging area for a spectacular fireworks display. This is an all-day event starting at noon with a wide range of musical acts: Johnny Bush; Hayes Carll; David Allan Coe; Sheryl Crow; Steve Earle & The Dukes; Folk Uke; Ray Wylie Hubbard; Insects vs Robots; Jamey Johnson; Kacey Musgraves; Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real; Raelyn Nelson Band; and Billy Joe Shaver.

The Hill Country Galleria Independence Day Celebration features three of our favorite things: Barbecue, fireworks and music. This is also a family-friendly event, allowing entry even for furry members of the family (which is to say, dogs). The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and those attending are encouraged to bring their chairs or blanket to enjoy live music starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Central Plaza. The Hill Country Galleria offers more than 20 restaurants and eateries in the outdoor plaza for those wanting to eat some dinner ahead of time or order food to go. Merchants will capitalize on the captive crowd with sidewalk sale (a sale of their wares, not sidewalks). Live music will be provided by The Watters and Vallejo bands, with fireworks starting promptly at 9 p.m. Parking and admission is free of charge. For more information, click here.

Two days before Independence Day, the July 4th Celebration at The Reserve at Lake Travis, kicks off to offer musical nirvana to fans of live performances. This is a two-day event from July 2-3, with admission prices ranging from $5 to $25. Organizers beckon would-be attendees to dance the night away with live music by Suede throughout the evening and enjoy "amazing" BBQ from It's All Good Barbecue. The sunset yields a natural timing device to alert to fireworks on Lake Travis. Early bird admission for adults is children ends July 20, and tickets thereafter will jump to $30. For tickets, click here.

The day before Independence Day, the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa stages its Red, White & Blue BBQ with live entertainment, food billed as "Texas' finest oak-smoked barbecue and more. The fun goes from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the pavilion, with music by Cody Joe Hodges preceding a "spectacular" fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. on the back lawn. This is not a free event. Adult admission is $44, with admission for children age 6 to 12 priced at $22 and those between 3 and 5 at $11. Those under two years of age get in free. For those living large, there's a VIP Experience package that includes a private BBQ dinner, access to a private bar in the VIP lounge and reserved seating during the fireworks display. For this package, adult admission is $80, for children 6-12 $40 and $20 for children between the ages of 3 to 5. For the kiddos, there will be a "Glow Jam" package for kids 4-12 wanting to enjoy rock wall climbing, magic, shows, a dance party and more prepubescent fun. The Glow Jam will be staged from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the tennis courts adjacent to the pavilion where the barbecue is taking place. Pricing for resort guests is $35. Reservations is required. For more information, call (512) 329-7984 to reserve your child’s spot. Reservations are required. For more information, please call (512) 329-7906 or visit www.omnibartoncreek.com.

In surrounding cities, there also is plenty to do. From Cedar Park to San Marcos and points in between, Independence Day events will be staged to the delight of young and old alike.

BASTROP

The Bastrop Patriotic Festival takes place on July 1, with fireworks, aquatics features for the kiddos, car show for the grownups and a petting zoo for the kiddos again. The Bastrop Area Cruisers will be on hand overseeing the car show while DJ Beats will provide the music. There will be a washer and domino tournament and other contests. The Austin Symphonic Band also will provide stirring music.

BUDA

Free, fun and going on all day is Red, White & Buda scheduled July 4. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., a patriotic parade will make its way down Main Street, with awards bestowed on the best-decorated bikes along the way. Live musical entertainment will follow, with food vendors offering their wares. This event takes place at Buda City Park on the Buda City Hall grounds, 121 Main St. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. at the park.

CEDAR PARK

Cedar Park won't be left behind in celebrating Independence Day. The city's 4th of July Parade & Celebration is scheduled at Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd. The event is scheduled to take place along Discovery Boulevard from the HEB Center to the Recreation Center from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. To participate in the parade, download the entry form. In store at the celebration, participants can enjoy live music, bingo, a washer tournament, air castle, free watermelon and a fireworks display. Fees apply for food concessions, face painting, carnival games and rides. People can cool off in Milburn Pool, open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. with daily admission rates applying. For more information, call (512) 401-5500. Click on the highlighted word at the end of this sentence if you wish to becoming a sponsor. For more details, click here.

Also in Cedar Park, the official Fourth Annual Fourth of July Parade starts at 10 a.m., officials said. The parade will feature more than 140 marchers, including scouting troops, youth groups, local businesses and musical performance groups along with more than 50 vehicles including police, fire and military vehicles and classic cars. The parade route begins at Cedar Park Center and travels south on Discovery Boulevard before proceeding west on Main Street to the Recreation Center. Parade spectators should park at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park (2100 Avenue of the Stars) or Cedar Park Recreation Center (1435 Main Street) and are encouraged to bring comfortable seating. The City of Cedar Park thanks the residents of Cedar Park Town Center for their hospitality. After the parade, the full post-parade panoply: Face painting, carnival, bounce houses, free watermelon and more. Fore more details, click here.

KYLE

Just south of Austin, the city of Kyle is geared up for its Independence Day Celebration. A golf tournament is scheduled and live music. Cold drinks, hot dogs and snacks will be offered for sale before a fireworks display at the Plum Creek Golf Course. The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Organizers stress that no outside food or drink will be allowed to the site. For more information on pre-fireworks events, call the clubhouse at (512) 262-5555.

LEANDER
Leander will stage their Liberty Fest, a free and family-friendly event with live music, vendors, children's activities and fireworks. Those interested in becoming vendors should call the city's parks and recreation department at (512) 528-9909. There will be three parking areas available at the festival site, although car pooling is encouraged. HEB Plus parking is only available for fireworks viewing. For details, click here.
Patch will continually update this list as more events are announced. Readers, feel free to suggest further entries in the comments section below.

PFLUGERVILLE
The pfolks at Pflugerville enjoy adding a "p" in front of words starting with "f" in a nod to their city name. And so, they have planned their own take on an Independence Day celebration dubbed The Pfirecracker Pfestival. The July 4 event has been moved to The Pfield this year, with the stadium opening at 5 pm. along with the various food trucks with free admission. No, check that: City officials say admission is pfree. Music will be provided from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. by The BlueBonnets followed at 7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. by SkyRocket! The mayor is scheduled to give the officials welcome before the national anthem is played and the Pledge of Allegiance is recited. The fireworks display is scheduled at 9:15 p.m. with an after-show by SkyRocket! starting at 9:45 p.m.
If you go, bear in mind that a "clear bag policy" is in effect. The only items that can be brought in must be in a clear plastic bag, or clear backpack. No purses, diaper bags, or backpacks permitted. This is for security purposes and in line with events protocol at the PfISD Pfield, opffials said.
What to bring:

• Refillable water bottles will be allowed inside the stadium.
• Clear bags only. (no bags, backpacks, etc.)

What not to bring: No coolers or alcohol will be allowed inside The Pfield, but you may bring items purchased at any of the on-site food trucks into the stadium. Tobacco products, umbrellas, and lawn chairs are not allowed. No personal fireworks permitted in the city limits. (including sparklers) No pets.
There will be pfree parking available at the stadium with overflow at Pflugerville High School. No shuttle bus for this event. Traffic notes: The northern most lane of Pecan will be closed from Swenson Farms Blvd. to the stadium. Swenson Farms Blvd. will be closed to through traffic. (persons who live on the northern part of Swenson Farms Blvd. have access via Pfennig). After the event traffic will exit West on Pecan Street.
Pfor more inpformation, click here.

ROUND ROCK

The July Fourth Frontier Days Celebration & Sertoma July Fourth Parade in Round Rock is a free event featuring a parade, fireworks, carnival rides, jalapeño pepper eating contest, Swifty Swine pig races, children's games, Sam Bass Shootout and more family fun. A scheduled Movies in the Park event will feature The Lego Batman Movie. Independence Day festivities start with free watermelon at the Lakeview Pavilion in Old Settlers Park, with music provided by the Austin Symphonic Band. Vendor booths will dot the landscape, and the crowd-pleasing Sertoma Rubber Duck Races and full-scale carnival rides will add to the fun. Organizers report that 2,000 people participated in last year's parade, with another 20,000 watching it go by. This year, the parade moves back to Main Street in downtown Round Rock. To register for the parade, click here. And click in the highlighted potion to see the July 4th Parade Map.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. By 11 a.m., a free parks & recreation activity zone will be staged, with a caricature artist, face painters and balloon twisters providing the fun. This will be staged at Prete Main Street Plaza right after the Parade. At noon, the festival opens at Old Settlers Park. The Sam Bass Shootout and live "stunt men spectacular" will be in the offing, along with a cowboy sing-a-long with the Camp Cookie Trio and Swifty Swine Pig Races. The Round Rock Ballet Folklorico also will be on hand in providing mesmerizing cultural dances. The festival closes by 11 p.m. For a full schedule of events, click here.

SAN MARCOS

Staged at San Marcos Plaza, the San Marcos SummerFest on July 4 kicks off at 6 p.m. at the San Marcos Plaza Park. Live music, a parade and a children's costume contest will precede requisite fireworks scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Vendors will be on hand selling food. This event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is free of charge. San Marcos Plaza Park is located on the banks of the San Marcos River at E. Hopkins Street and N. CM Allen Parkway. For information, contact the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation (512) 393-8400.

WELLS BRANCH

In Wells Branch, there's FourthFest. A parade is scheduled at 10 a.m. followed by a range of family-fun activities, food and entertainment at Katherine Fleischer Park, 2106 Klattenhoff Dr. Exhausted parents needing a break can take the kiddos to the pool at the park, which will be open to the public free of admission charge. By 9 p.m., the fireworks display will start. For more information, visit www.wellsbranchmud.com or call the programs and events coordinator at (512) 251-9814.