Star-Spangled Celebrations

Official list of 4th of July events and fireworks around Dallas in 2024

Fourth of July events will be taking place all around the Dallas area.

Photo courtesy of Fair Park

When it comes to Independence Day events in the Dallas area, our cup runneth over in a big way. Whether it's Dallas proper or the surrounding suburbs, almost every city in the area will hold some kind of event in the days leading up to July 4 or on the day itself.

Below is as close to a comprehensive list as there is on 4th of July-themed events happening in the Dallas area in 2024; for a list of Fort Worth-area events, click here.

Saturday, June 29

4th of July Weekend in Denton
Like a bunch of other cities, the festivities will get started early in Denton as they present the Liberty Run 5k and 1-mile walk, followed by the Yankee Doodle Parade on July 29 near Denton Civic Enter. That will be followed by the July Jubilee at Quakertown Park & Denton Civic Center on July 3, featuring live music, food, inflatables, games, rock climbing, face painting, photo opportunities, a hot dog eating contest, and drone shows sponsored by Denton Noon Kiwanis.

City of Arlington presents Light Up Arlington
Arlington's big event, Light Up Arlington, will take place early this year, featuring live music on four stages around Downtown Arlington, vendors, food trucks, kids activities, and a fireworks display shot from the roof of City Tower, which is located east of City Hall. The show will be set to music on 95.9 The Ranch FM.

Ennis Freedom Fest
The City of Ennis' annual Freedom Fest will feature free kids activities, food, and more. The fireworks show, powered by Pyrotecnico, begins at dark, but visitors must be in Veterans Memorial Park to see it. Earlier in the day will be the Red, White and Bike Parade, where residents can deck out their bike, scooter, wagon, etc. and join in for a parade through downtown Ennis and the historic tree-lined neighborhoods.

Market Street Allen USA
Market Street Allen USA is a summer party featuring music from Straight Tequila Night and Infinite Journey, food trucks, a skydiving show, and one of the best fireworks shows in Dallas-Fort Worth. It takes place in Celebration Park in Allen.

Klyde Warren Park presents Independence Day Celebration
Klyde Warren Park's Independence Day Celebration will feature summer treats from a variety of food trucks, live patriotic music, family-fun games, and a pyrotechnic display for the grand finale.

Wednesday, July 3

Lone Star Park presents Lone Stars & Stripes Celebration
Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie will celebrate America with live racing, live music on the Courtyard of Champions Stage from 3-9 pm, featuring The Mullet Boyz; family activities like a petting zoo, pony rides, face painters, airbrush tattoo artists, inflatable slides, obstacle course, and games. After the last race, there will be 20-minutes fireworks show, choreographed to music. The event takes place on both July 3 and 4.

City of Garland presents Red, White & You
Replacing Firewheel Town Center's Star-Spangled Spectacular event, Red, White & You is a new Independence Day celebration from the City of Garland, featuring live music by Randall King and Jon Stork, food, games, vendors, and a drone show. It will take place at Garland City Square.

Addison Kaboom Town!
The official watch party for Addison Kaboom Town! at Addison Circle Park will feature food and drink vendors, musical entertainment, and family-friendly activities. As a townwide celebration, the festivities extend beyond the park with watch parties hosted by many of the Town’s 200 restaurants. As always, the fireworks show will be preceded by the Addison Airport Air Show, an aerial spectacle that can be seen from miles away. The show will begin at 7:30 pm, two hours prior to the fireworks show.

Frisco Freedom Fest
Frisco Freedom Fest will be a two-day event, starting on July 3 with the Party in the USA 5K, the Dachshund Dash, and the annual Cornhole Tournament. It continues on July 4 with live music, a car show, kids activities & entertainment, a Texas Ice Cream Festival, and a 20-minute fireworks show. All events take place in and around Frisco Square.

The Sound at Cypress Waters presents Sensory Sensitive 4th of July Celebration
The Sound at Cypress Waters' annual Sensory Sensitive Fourth of July Celebration is an Independence Day event that provides a fun and safe alternative to people and pets who deal with noise sensitivity. Traditional fireworks will be replaced with the Star Spangle Glow, an innovative show that provides attendees with LED bracelets that synchronize to create an immersive light display. The event will include a concert by Lover, A Tribute to Taylor Swift, animal education from Creature Teacher, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Petting Zoo, Disc Dog Demonstrations on the lawn, face painting, and more.

City of Irving presents Sparks & Stripes
Sparks & Stripes, the City of Irving's annual Independence Day celebration, will be a two-day event, featuring live music, fireworks, and more at Levy Event Plaza on July 3. It will be followed by a morning parade throughout the Irving's Heritage District on July 4.

City of Carrollton presents Independence Day Fireworks Show
The City of Carrollton will present a 15-minute fireworks show over Josey Ranch Lake. Residents are encouraged to view the fireworks show from surrounding neighborhoods or from one of the available parking areas. There will be no on-site event; however, viewing from the grassy area around the site is allowed.

Thursday, July 4

Arlington Independence Day Parade
While the city of Arlington will hold their evening event on June 29 (see above), they'll wait until the actual 4th of July for their Independence Day Parade, the oldest event in Arlington and one of the largest 4th of July parades in Texas. The parade, which features 120 entries, steps off at the intersection of West St. and Mitchell St., traveling around downtown Arlington.

City of McKinney presents Red, White, and BOOM!
The City of McKinney celebrates the Fourth of July at Red, White and BOOM!, a daylong event. At 10 am is the Hometown Parade in Downtown McKinney, followed by the Yankee Doodle Block Party from 11 am-2 pm. From 5-10 pm, festivities at Gabe Nesbitt Community Park include music by The Rich Girls and Aura, food, kids’ activities, and a fireworks display.

Dallas Winds presents "Star-Spangled Spectacular"
Dallas Winds' annual "Star-Spangled Spectacular" is a red, white, and blue musical salute to mom, apple pie and the American way, Dallas Winds style. The concert at Meyerson Symphony Center will feature favorite patriotic songs, hot dogs, ice cream, and indoor fireworks.

Plano Symphony Orchestra presents "Patriotic Pops"
The Plano Symphony Orchestra will present their annual “Patriotic Pops,” which includes a tribute to all the branches of the armed forces, guest vocalist Steve Amerson, and the Patriotic Pops chorus. Led by conductor Héctor Guzmán, the concert will include patriotic music like traditional favorites “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America,” plus the moving “Salute to the Armed Forces.” The concert takes place at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.

Fair Park Fourth
The biggest event in the Dallas city limits, Fair Park Fourth will feature hands-on activities for kids, live music, photo opportunities, food trucks, and other concession offerings. As the sun sets, a spectacular firework show will light the sky. Guests can experience the show inside the iconic Cotton Bowl Stadium or across Fair Park.

City of Rowlett presents Fireworks on Main
The City of Rowlett's Fireworks on Main will feature a dazzling fireworks display, performances by Turnpike Tributedours and Emerald City Band, a children's area, food trucks, and more. The event will take place at Pecan Grove Park.

Monument Realty PGA District presents Fireworks on the Fairway
Fireworks on the Fairway will feature a fireworks and drone show at the Monument Realty PGA District on the Omni PGA Frisco Resort Campus in Frisco. The evening begins with a concert by party band Downtown Fever. The team behind the Guinness World Record-holding Sky Elements will host a drone show featuring 300 independently programmed drones in the sky over Fields Ranch. The fireworks show by PyroShows of Texas will end the night.

The City of Plano presents All American 4th
At Plano’s All American 4th, visitors can enjoy free games and a fireworks show. Vendors will have food and beverages available for purchase. The event will take place at the Collin College Plano Campus, across the street from the fireworks launch area at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve.

The Colony Parks & Recreation Department presents Liberty by the Lake
The 26th annual Liberty by the Lake kicks off with the Liberty 5K, 10K & Mile Fun Run at Stewart Creek Park. That will be followed by the Independence Day Parade, which goes from Peters Colony Elementary to The Colony High School parking lot. Later in the day, visitors can make their way over to The Colony Five Star Complex for an event featuring games, a watermelon eating contest, rides, food, live music, and more. The night will end with a fireworks show set to patriotic music.

Little Elm presents July Jubilee
Due to extensive flooding at Little Elm Park, July Jubilee, Little Elm's annual Fourth of July event, will not have a festival component in 2024. However, there will still be two fireworks show - one at Little Elm Park, and the other at Little Elm High School. Portions of the park will be available for parking and foot traffic.

Grapevine presents July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza
The City of Grapevine will celebrate America’s birthday with their annual July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza, featuring spectacular fireworks set to patriotic music. Due to high lake levels, the fireworks will be set off at a different location, at the corner of Highway 26 and Texan Trail near Great Wolf Lodge. Viewing locations include the Great Wolf Lodge parking lot and several others.

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RIP Don

Don Nelson, legendary Dallas Mavericks head coach, dies at 86

Ronald Martinez /Allsport

Head Coach Don Nelson of the Dallas Mavericks points from the sidelines during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Reunion Arena in Dallas on April 5, 2001.

Former Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday, August 9. He was 86.

Nelson’s family confirmed the death in a statement that did not say where he died or provide a cause.

“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” the statement said. “Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”

Nelson is one of two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three different franchises — Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State — also serving as general manager for all three franchises. He was a three-time coach of the year and made the playoffs 18 times in 31 seasons. He went to the conference finals three times with the Bucks and once with the Mavericks, never winning a title.

Nelson introduced what is now known as the point forward, and his up-tempo style of offense created a buzz. He said the idea of shifting from the dominant big men of the 1970s to an offense focused on speed and the fast break came from his playing days under Celtics Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach.

“The league really hadn’t seen an offense like the one we were running, and the results were undeniable,” Nelson wrote in 2016 in The Players’ Tribune.

Nelson said that “without Red Auerbach teaching me the mechanics of running the fast break, none of it would have been possible. He deserves all the credit for Nellie Ball, and for how fast the game of basketball is played today.”

Nelson played 11 of his 14 seasons in Boston and was on five Celtics championship teams under four different coaches. He became an assistant coach in Milwaukee after retiring as a player, then took over after coach Larry Costello resigned 18 games into the 1976-77 season. Nelson coached the Bucks for 11 seasons starting in 1976 and won seven straight division titles.

In Nelson’s second season, Milwaukee overcame a 29-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Atlanta 117-115 in regulation.

“I coached the team as though I was still playing for the Celtics, while implementing a few of my own strategies,” Nelson wrote. “I knew I wanted to play unconventional basketball and use speed to my advantage.”

His fast-paced offenses were probably best on display with Golden State in the “Run TMC” era featuring future Hall of Famers Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. Nelson said he wanted them on the court at the same time.

Nelson spent 11 seasons over two stints with Golden State. The first one was punctuated by a rift with rookie star Chris Webber, who was traded away a month into his second season. Nelson, demoralized by the trade, missed nine games that season due to illness and resigned under pressure three months later in February 1995.

In between, Nelson was fired after less than one season in New York in 1995-96, then coached in Dallas for eight seasons, missing 21 games with the Mavericks starting in December 2000 to recuperate from prostate cancer surgery.

Nelson’s son, Donnie, joined his father as an assistant coach with the Mavericks in 1998, later became general manager and remained with the organization until 2021. Together they persuaded 20-year-old German star Dirk Nowitzki to pass up European basketball and join the Mavericks. Don Nelson also developed Steve Nash into one of the NBA’s top point guards before Nash went on to win back-to-back MVPs with the Phoenix Suns in 2005 and 2006.

Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks Don and Donnie Nelson persuaded 20-year-old German star Dirk Nowitzki to pass up European basketball and join the Mavericks. Dallas Mavericks Facebook

“Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today,” current Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others often did not. So much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA can be traced back to the way Nellie approached the game."

At Golden State, Nelson’s “We Believe” Warriors led by Baron Davis upset Nowitzki and the top-seeded Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 playoffs in one of the biggest shockers in NBA history. In his final season as a coach, Nelson mentored rookie Stephen Curry in 2009-10.

“One of the big reasons I was drafted by the Warriors was because of Don Nelson. The story is he never liked rookies, but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court,” Curry said in a statement released by the Warriors. “He taught me a lot during our one season together and I’ll never forget the night he became the winningest coach in NBA history in Minnesota. We were so happy for him. He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game.”

Davis added: “When I think of Nellie, I’ll always think of the ‘We Believe’ team and our incredible run in 2007. He understood what made us go and made us believe we could beat anybody, ultimately helping us make history as the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in a seven-game series. That time in my life and career was truly special, and Nellie was a huge part of making it possible.”

Nelson retired as the NBA’s career coaching wins leader with 1,335, just ahead of Lenny Wilkens’ 1,332. Nelson kept that top spot for nearly 12 years before close friend and now-retired San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich passed him in March 2022.

Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2025, he received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the National Basketball Coaches Association. Miffed that the Mavericks sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade, Nelson wore a pair of Doncic’s signature Jordan Brand sneakers to the awards ceremony. He called the trade a “tremendous mistake.”

Don Nelson was miffed that the Mavericks sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade Courtesy photo

Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Nelson attended high school in Rock Island, Illinois, and averaged a double-double in college at Iowa. He spent his retirement years living on the Hawaiian island of Maui and owned several short-term rentals on the island.Dallas

Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont issued the following statement on the passing of Nelson:

“Don Nelson was a true original whose impact on the Dallas Mavericks and the game of basketball will endure for generations. Nellie helped transform this franchise, bringing an innovative spirit, a belief in doing things differently and, most importantly, a winning culture to Dallas. His influence can be seen throughout Mavericks history and across the NBA today.

“On behalf of the entire Mavericks organization, our thoughts are with Don’s family, friends, former players and coaches, and the many people whose lives he touched. We are grateful for all he gave to the Mavericks and to the game he loved.”

Read the Mavericks' tribute to Don Nelson at mavs.com/news/don-nelson-one-of-a-kind.

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Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this story.

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RIP Don

Don Nelson, legendary Dallas Mavericks head coach, dies at 86