4th of July Fireworks Guide

The official guide to the biggest and brightest 4th of July events in Dallas-Fort Worth

As befitting the unofficial motto of Texas, when it comes to Fourth of July fireworks displays in Dallas-Fort Worth, it's go big or go home. Although there are plenty of options for viewing colorful explosions this Independence Day, the following list only includes the biggest and brightest.

Most of the events are free, some cost a nominal amount, but all of them guarantee grand entertainment, both in the sky and on the ground.

Addison Kaboom Town
Kaboom Town, which actually takes place on July 3, has been the standard bearer in the area for years, but recently Addison has had to install measures for crowd control. If you haven't already secured a free ticket to get into Addison Circle Park, you're out of luck, because they've all been claimed. However, the fireworks can be seen from pretty much anywhere in Addison, and many local restaurants and businesses host their own watch parties, so there are still plenty of options if Addison is where you want to be.

Denton Kiwanis Fireworks Show
The Denton Kiwanis Club has been putting on a fireworks show for over 40 years, but it wasn't until Apogee Stadium was built a couple of years ago that they had the perfect venue for the celebration. The event features an array of live music leading up to the fireworks.

Fair Park Fourth
Another stadium, the Cotton Bowl, is the optimal place to view the fireworks at Fair Park Fourth, but the event is an all-day celebration. It features performances by the Razzmajazz Dixieland Band and ZZ Top tribute band Trio Grande, rides, games and concessions along the Midway, and more. Attendees are not limited to the Cotton Bowl for fireworks viewing, though, as pretty much anywhere in Fair Park is a great spot.

Fort Worth's Fourth
Taking place at the riverside Panther Island Pavilion, Fort Worth's Fourth is an extravaganza full of activities like Jet Ski shows, Flyboard shows, pony rides, bounce houses, miniature golf, water slide, levee slide, face painting, tubing and more. Throw in a concert by Larry G(ee) and the fireworks, and you have a helluva free event.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Old-Fashioned Family Fireworks Picnic
Just down the river at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra hosts not one, not two, but three straight days of Independence Day celebrations, starting July 2. The orchestra performs the usual array of marches and military salutes, followed by fireworks. Clever Fort Worthians can enjoy both this and Fort Worth's Fourth by placing themselves in just the right position along the Trinity River.

Frisco Freedom Fest
The celebration in Frisco is a two-fer, as Simpson Plaza outside of City Hall has activities like a zip line, Euro bungees, rock climbing wall, bounce houses and a Taste of Frisco, and FC Dallas hosts the Philadelphia Union for an all-American soccer match at Toyota Stadium later in the evening. Those with tickets to the game will have prime seats for the fireworks show emanating from the stadium at the end of the night.

Grapevine July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza
There's just something about seeing fireworks explode over a lake that makes the experience extra special, which is exactly what you get at Lake Grapevine. There are no extra activities with this one, but it's one of the longer shows around, and people come from miles around to see it, so it's best to try to claim your spot as early as possible. If that's too much of a hassle, they're putting on shorter fireworks shows every Friday night through Labor Day.

Irving Independence Day Fireworks Show
Taking place on a (much smaller) lake is Irving's celebration at Lake Carolyn. You'll want to go to this event not only for the great fireworks and entertainment from the likes of Journey tribute band Escape and Jennifer Nickerson, but also to revel in the fact that Irving was named one of the best cities for Fourth of July celebrations by WalletHub.

Lone Stars & Stripes Celebration
Along with the fireworks at Joe Pool Lake, which cost $20 per car, Grand Prairie residents can get their fill by heading over to Lone Star Park. In addition to the fireworks, entertainment includes live horse racing, family activities and a concert by Incognito. As an extra incentive, free tickets can be had at local Ford dealerships, along with an entry form to try to win a brand new 2014 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Truck, which will be given away that night.

McKinney Red, White and Boom
Last but not least, McKinney's Fourth of July celebration takes place at the massive soccer complex at Craig Ranch, featuring live music by Zane Williams and other family activities. The goings-on there are actually the culmination of a day-long event that also includes a parade and car show in downtown McKinney that morning.

The fireworks at Fair Park Fourth can be seen from anywhere around Fair Park.

Photo courtesy of Fair Park

The fireworks at Fair Park Fourth can be seen from anywhere around Fair Park.

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Big Tex Wrap-Up

State Fair of Texas bounces back with 2.1 million attendees in 2026

Crowds around Big Tex at 2026 State Fair of Texas

Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas

Almost 2.1 people attended the 2026 State Fair of Texas, up from 2025.

After experiencing its lowest total attendance numbers in seven years in 2025, the State Fair of Texas bounced back in 2026, welcoming nearly 2.1 million visitors, according to an official release.

That represents a slight bump up from the 2,020,064 that came through the gates in 2025. Both numbers are still down significantly from the highs of 2019 and 2022, when more than 2.5 million people attended the State Fair.

The uptick in attendance could be attributed to the concerted effort to make the Fair more affordable this year, including lowering ticket prices, making games and rides cheaper, expanding days for free student tickets, and offering a free day of parking.

As usual, the busiest day of the State Fair was Saturday, October 10, the date of the annual Texas-Oklahoma football game, with more than 203,000 fairgoers in attendance, including the 92,100 fans in the Cotton Bowl.

The average attendance for the other 23 days of the fair was around 82,500.

“We are grateful to every fairgoer who joined us this year, as well as the team members, vendors, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this season possible," said State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber in a statement. "As a nonprofit organization, a successful Fair helps fuel our work throughout the year, and we are proud of the impact we continue to make through agriculture, education, and community.”

Other notable numbers from the 2026 State Fair of Texas include:

An all-new look for Big Tex, standing 55 feet tall, sporting a 95-gallon Resistol cowboy hat, a Cavender’s shirt measuring 245 by 192 inches, Levi’s 501 jeans measuring 380 inches wide by 290 inches long, size 96 Lucchese boots, and a Shiner belt buckle.
The unveiling of an official State of Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical Commission for Big Tex, honoring his enduring legacy as a beloved Texas icon and symbol of State Fair tradition.
An estimated 110,655 pounds of food were collected and donated to the North Texas Food Bank.
More than 28,600 members of the military and their families visited the Fair over 24 days, utilizing the special discount offer in gratitude for their service.
Approximately 500,000 prizes, valued at an estimated $1.8 million, were won at the State Fair Midway, enough stuffed animals and prizes to fill approximately 90 semi-trucks.
Approximately 450,000 Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs were enjoyed by fairgoers.
The State Fair of Texas is estimated to generate more than $600 million in economic activity each year, serving as one of the most impactful annual events in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

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