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    Fireworks Aplenty

    The official list of the top 4th of July events around Dallas-Fort Worth

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 29, 2017 | 10:38 am
    Fireworks at Gaylord Texan Resort
    There will be fireworks aplenty around Dallas-Fort Worth on the Fourth of July weekend, including over Lake Grapevine.
    Photo courtesy of Gaylord Texan Resort

    It's the rare person who doesn't "ooh" and "ahh" at a great fireworks display, and, as always, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has no shortage of events from which to choose on this 4th of July weekend. We've rounded up the biggest and best ones for your oohing — we mean viewing — pleasure.

    Saturday, July 1

    Liberty by the Lake
    The Colony kicks off the Fourth of July weekend with this mostly free daylong festival at Stewart Creek Park. The event includes a fun run, a 5K, and a 10K first thing in the morning; a mid-morning Independence Day parade; then the main festival at 4 pm featuring live music, family fun zone, watermelon eating contest, fireworks finale, and much more.

    Viridian presents Stars and Stripes Celebration
    Lake Viridian in Arlington will be the canvas for a firework display celebrating the birth of the nation. The Stars and Stripes celebration begins with live music by the Shane Bell Band and headliner Infinite Journey, food by Blue Mesa, and tons of family-friendly activities. The festivities culminate with a fireworks display, set to music, over the lake.

    Sunday, July 2

    Concerts in the Garden: Old-Fashioned Family Fireworks Picnic
    The combination of fireworks and patriotic music played live by an orchestra is one that can't be beat, and that's what you get at the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's annual Old-Fashioned Family Fireworks Picnic at Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Luckily, you get not one, not two, but three chances to experience the thrill, as the event takes place each night through July 4.

    Monday, July 3

    Lone Star Park presents Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration
    Lone Star Park presents two spectacular nights of fireworks following each day's horse races. In addition to live racing and fireworks, visitors can enjoy additional entertainment for the entire family with live music by the Vegas Stars and the expanded Family Fun Park. In addition, all members of the military receive one free general admission with a valid military ID. You can also watch the Texas AirHogs take on the Lincoln Saltdogs at the AirHogs Stadium right next door, and watch the fireworks after each night's game.

    Kaboom Town
    Every year, a half-million guests come to celebrate Addison Kaboom Town. The celebration is city-wide, with the main party at Addison Circle Park, watch parties at many of Addison’s restaurants and 23 hotels, and the Addison Airport Air Show, which can be seen from anywhere in town. The 30-minute-long fireworks show is among the best in the nation, simulcast on 100.3 JACK-FM. Afterwards, while area traffic calms, attendees are invited to remain in Addison Circle Park as Emerald City takes the stage to entertain the masses.

    Firewheel Town Center presents Star Spangled Spectacular
    Firewheel Town Center, in conjunction with the City of Garland, celebrates our nation’s independence with a full afternoon of family fun. Activities include face-painting, bounce houses, live music, and food trucks. Additionally, the 92.1 Hank FM Party Patrol will be on-site with games, prize giveaways, and even more fun. The event culminates with a fireworks display at 9:15 pm.

    Red White & Boom on the Bridge
    The inaugural Red White & Boom on the Bridge, presented by the City of Dallas and 98.7 K-LUV, takes place on Ronald Kirk and Margaret Hunt Hill Bridges near downtown Dallas. Visitors can celebrate America’s independence at this free event, featuring food, music, other entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks show.

    Light Up Arlington
    Light Up Arlington takes place across downtown Arlington, featuring multiple stages of entertainment, including performances by Daphne Willis, the Brad Thompson Band, Idol Job, Brandon Steadman Band, and Tamara King. There's also be food trucks, bounce houses, rides, games, and fireworks launched from the Municipal Office Tower.

    Tuesday, July 4

    City of Irving presents Independence Day Parade and Reception
    The city of Irving's Fourth of July celebration starts in Irving’s downtown Heritage District with a parade, live music, and children’s activities. In the evening, the party moves to Lake Carolyn, where attendees can snap selfies with a giant Uncle Sam, enjoy musical performances, a “fun zone” with land and water rides, games, a food court, and a glittering fireworks finale.

    Fair Park Fourth
    You can get some State Fair of Texas action by attending Fair Park Fourth, as rides, games, and concessions are open along the Midway. Visitors can also take in Fair Park's museums, historic art and architecture, family activities, concerts, and more, leading up to the fireworks display once the sun sets, viewable from the Cotton Bowl or anywhere in Fair Park.

    Fort Worth's Fourth
    Fort Worth’s Fourth is a day full of free family activities, music, and fireworks along the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion. It features live music as well as free activities such as Jet Ski shows, Flyboard shows, pony rides, bounce houses, miniature golf, a water slide, a levee slide, face painting, tubing, and more.

    Frisco Freedom Fest
    Frisco Freedom Fest is comprised of a variety of events, including Party in the Plaza at Simpson Plaza; a Children's Expo featuring hamster ball races, multiple zip lines, Euro bungees, a rock climbing wall, and more; Taste of Frisco featuring multiple Frisco restaurants; and a fireworks show. FC Dallas is also taking on D.C. United at Toyota Stadium that night, with fireworks following the match.

    City of Plano presents All American Fourth
    Plano’s Amphitheatre at Oak Point is hosting an All American Fourth with a special fireworks show synchronized to music from the local radio station 97.5 KLAK. Beginning at 5 pm, food trucks are parked at Collin College, followed by DJ music at 7:30 pm. The fireworks light up the sky at 9:30 pm.

    Castle Hills presents July 4th Freedom Festival
    Castle Hills Village Shops in Lewisville present its July 4th Freedom Festival. The plaza buzzes with activities like a DJ spinning tunes, bounce houses, carnival games, face painters, balloon artists, a giant water slide, two mobile gaming units, and more. Concessions are available for purchase from food trucks. Make sure to bring blankets and chairs for viewing fireworks over the neighboring lake.

    Cleburne Chamber of Commerce presents 4th of July Celebration
    A lake is even more important for Cleburne's 4th of July Celebration. In addition to music from local Texas band Benay & Logan and food truck fare, the celebration includes the annual boat parade on the lake, viewable from the east side of Lake Pat Cleburne. The night ends with fireworks from the Lake Pat Cleburne dam.

    Denton Kiwanis Club 4th of July Fireworks Show
    Since 1972, the Denton Kiwanis Club has presented the 4th of July Fireworks Show. For the sixth year in a row, the event takes place at UNT's Apogee Stadium. Prior to the fireworks, there's a children’s activity area as well as the band Rubber Brisket performing live. Fireworks start at 9:30 pm. The event is technically free, but there is a $10 charge to park in the surrounding parking lots.

    Grapevine present 35th Annual July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza
    The annual Fourth of July celebration only consists of fireworks, but it has a reputation as one of the best shows around. There are multiple viewing points for the show over Lake Grapevine, including the top floor of the Gaylord Texas parking garage, Acorn Woods Park, Oak Grove Park, Katie's Woods Park, Rockledge Park, and more.

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    news/entertainment

    Charged up

    Magical Plano Elf Town to compete on ABC's Great Christmas Light Fight

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Dec 15, 2025 | 5:45 pm
    Elf Town, Loders, Deerfield Plano, Great Christmas Light Fight
    Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder
    David and Melissa Loder's Elf Town is in on Pembroke Court in the Deerfield subdivision of Plano.

    A family from one of Dallas-Fort Worth's most famous Christmas-light neighborhoods is stepping into the national spotlight: Melissa and David Loder, who present a spectacular "Elf Town" display in Plano's Deerfield subdivision, will compete on ABC's holiday competition show The Great Christmas Light Fight on Thursday, December 18.

    The Loders will be one of three U.S. families battling for a trophy, $50,000, and major holiday-light bragging rights; co-host Taniya Nayak is the judge.

    Elf Town, Loders, Deerfield Plano, Great Christmas Light Fight

    Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder

    David and Melissa Loder's Elf Town is in on Penbrook Court in the Deerfield subdivision of Plano.

    The episode will air at 9 pm (CDT) on ABC stations, but unfortunately for local viewers, WFAA will pre-empt it for the Dallas Mavericks basketball game. Light Fight will stream on WFAA+ channel 8.2 at 9 pm and later on WFAA / Channel 8 at 3:11 am. It will be available to stream on Hulu beginning Friday, December 19.

    "[Filming the show] was surreal at times, but we also knew we had created something special with Elf Town," says Melissa Loder.

    Elf Town, Loders, Deerfield Plano, Great Christmas Light Fight The Elf Town Depot, with mayor Elfus standing guard.Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder

    Exploring Elf Town
    The Loders, who moved to Deerfield in 2008, have been creating and evolving Elf Town since 2011. They use it as a platform to raise money for the Susan G Komen Foundation, an organization especially dear to Melissa, a breast cancer survivor.

    They call Elf Town "a place where holiday elves live, work, and play."

    "Like any town, we have a Main Street with a school, shopping, a bakery and a tavern all leading to a mega tree in the town center," Melissa says. "New this year is the Elf Town Museum that has photos of the evolution of Elf Town."

    "We also have industry - the toys travel via train, and there is a train depot for the elves to get their tickets and wait for the train," she adds. "We also have an entertainment area with a Ferris wheel and a disco for the elves."

    Standing guard over it all is The Mayor of Elf Town, a 20-foot elf named Elfus. And for the show, they created an all-new special feature: Santa's Spa in the backyard - "an area where no elves are allowed," she says.

    David and Melissa, who call themselves the "head elves" of Elf Town, work all year on their DIY display. "Woodworking, welding, painting, design and installation," they say, "are all done on site by our little band of elves," which include their daughter and son-in-law Alex and Joel Loper and their grandsons, Kade (8) and Tristan (5); nieces and nephews Sophie Polma (25), Maxine Polma (23), Beckett Polma (21), and identical twins Marlowe Polma and Julian Polma (19).

    "We also have amazing friends who materialize when we are putting up and taking down the display," they say. "Additionally, friends Roger and Rita Reynolds made guest appearances [on the show] as a famous couple from the North Pole."

    Getting on the show
    The Loders light their display up nightly for the public each holiday season. They were "discovered" by The Great Christmas Light Fight when a casting producer tracked them from a stranger’s TikTok video in spring 2022.

    Dallas-Fort Worth is a popular location for the show. The Loders now join the ranks of other Light Fight-famous homes, including the Burkman Holiday Home of Frisco (2021); the Ward family of Sky Elements Drone Shows in Keller (2023); the Hugheses' "Stay in the Light" in Rockwall (2024); the Joules-Cornettis' "Gift of Light" in McKinney (2024); and the Mach Christmas Display in Ennis (2024).

    "Of course we had seen the show from its first season, but since our focus is less about just lights and more about creating a magical world, we didn’t think we were a fit," Melissa says.

    Elf Town, Loders, Deerfield Plano, Great Christmas Light Fight The Loders have been presenting Elf Town since 2011.Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder

    They shot an audition video in 2023 and soon found out they made the cut. The show filmed at their house over three days in November 2024.

    "The process was three very long days of filming with a very sharp learning curve," Melissa says. "Our on-site producer was an amazing asset in the process. Her tips and tricks helped us all embrace the process, relax in front of the cameras, and hopefully come off well in the show; it was a whirlwind but so much fun.

    "I think the best part of filming was getting to learn so much about another industry that was so foreign to us. I am a clinical psychologist in private practice, and David is in sales with Porsche Plano, so we aren’t 'performers.'"

    Fighting on
    The Loders can't reveal whether they won the Great Christmas Light Fight, of course. (They'll be watching Thursday at a big party at Legacy Social Room.) But they can say with certainty that their display will continue to aid in the fight against breast cancer.

    "We participate in the 3 Day 60 Mile walk each year and the money donated goes to our 3 Day fundraising accounts," Melissa says. "Collectively, our little family of elves have raised over $180,000 to help fund vital cancer research and contribute to patient care and advocacy."

    Elf Town will light up daily from 5:30 pm to midnight through New Year's Eve 2025, with special nights offering hot cocoa, candy canes, or photos with Santa. While it's free to view and experience, visitors are invited to donate via fundraising links on their Facebook page and through Melissa's Susan G. Komen 3 Day fundraising page.

    "I think the most important part of our display is that David and I do this together as a hobby and a gift to the community," she says. "We love that we were able to do The Great Christmas Light Fight, but our true motivation for the time, energy, and money that we pour into the display comes from the stories we hear year after year of families who count on us to be part of their tradition."

    She says those include visitors finding the display as solace in hard times, along with marriage proposals, baby's first visit with Santa, and more.

    "We have even been brought to our knees by a woman who brought her infant daughter and took photos all around the display because she had a terminal cancer diagnosis and wanted her daughter to have 'magical' pictures with her so 'when she was an angel,' her daughter 'will know I believed in magic,'" Melissa says. "All of these stories and so many more are part of the legacy of Elf Town. These are our 'why' to the question we are often asked 'Why would you do this?'"

    ---

    The Great Christmas Light Fight will air at 9 pm December 18 on ABC and will stream December 19 on Hulu. Find Elf Town at 4641 Penbrook Ct., in the Deerfield subdivision of Plano. It's open nightly, 5:30 pm-midnight, through December 31. Follow the Elf Town Facebook page for updates. Visitors are encouraged to park on a less busy street, or at the elementary school off Quincy, and walk through the neighborhood.

    great christmas light fightchristmas lightschristmas lights dallaschristmas lights neighborhoodsreality tvcelebritiestv
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