Fireworks Aplenty

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

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.

holidays

Movie Review

Michelle Pfeiffer is an unappreciated mom in Oh. What. Fun.

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

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Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

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