Fourth of July-ist

Can't decide what to do for the Fourth of July and upcoming three-day weekend? Don't know which Independence Day scene is quite right for you? Don't worry, patriots: Houstonist is here to help.

Freedom Over Texas

For the traditionalist in you, the City of Houston will hold its annual Freedom Over Texas event at Eleanor Tinsley Park in downtown. Sponsored by Chevy, you can all but count on the attendance of truck-owners and NASCAR fans. The all-Nashville lineup of Jo Dee Messina, Miranda Lambert and Sara Evans will also do its part to ensure that Hobby Lobby will sell out of Stars 'n' Stripes bandannas before the big event on Friday. The plus side? Starting at 9:30 p.m., there will be fireworks and lots of 'em -- this is the largest fireworks display in Houston, the largest in the state of Texas, and the "largest land-based" fireworks display in the entire nation. Houstonist recommends taking them in from La Carafe or Cabo and avoiding the throngs of people at the park. Tickets are $5.00 presale, $8.00 at the door, with children under 10 admitted for free.

A Star-Spangled Salute

If canons and cannons are more your thing, then you'll want to check out Miller Outdoor Theatre's Star-Spangled Salute with the Houston Symphony. Beginning at 8:00 p.m., the Symphony will play a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, complete with live cannon fire capping off the performance. Of course, fireworks will also be part of this traditional Houston festivity, beginning soon after the Overture has ended. Bring a blanket and a bottle of wine, and enjoy the music and lights under the stars. Best part? It's free. Worst part? Good luck on that parking thing.

Galveston's July Fourth

If you live a bit further south, or just want to spend the day at the beach, then Galveston's got an entire day of celebrations for you. Galveston's July Fourth festival kicks off with a parade through the historic downtown and Strand beginning at 10:00 a.m. Immediately afterwards, a celebration featuring the musical styling of Spanky Koerner will take place inside the Railroad Museum, where free hot dogs and sweet tea will be served along with free museum tours. In the evening, catch the fireworks display beginning at 9:15 p.m. from your favorite bar or restaurant along the Seawall. A touch further inland, you can also catch the fireworks from the boardwalk at Kemah beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Stars and Stripes Celebration

If keeping your kids up past their bedtime isn't in the plans, bring them down to the Children's Museum for a day of Fourth of July fun. From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., they'll have arts and crafts activities for the kids (including the dangerous-sounding but disappointingly tame "make your own fireworks" table) and Houstonist favorite The Allen Oldies Band on stage at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 each and free for children under 2 years old.

Red Hot & Blue Festival

The 11th anniversary of this Woodlands tradition will see it move to the newly-completed Waterway Square, The Woodland's small-scale answer to the Riverwalk. Red Hot & Blue boasts free admission and live music from Texas singer-songwriter Rodney Hayden. Their Fourth of July parade begins at 9:00 a.m., while the entertainment starts at 6:00 p.m. Houston's second-largest fireworks display will kick off at 9:30 p.m., so be sure to get to The Goose's Acre or Cru early to catch a good seat.

Red White & Bluefest

Sure, lots of other Fourth of July celebrations offer fireworks and live music. But do any of those other celebrations also offer both clowns and snakes? Sugar Land's 23rd annual Red White & Bluefest will have both of these frightening creatures on hand at their Children's Stage, while the adults can enjoy live music from Password and El Vibes. Free shuttle service runs from Mercer Stadium throughout the evening, with the fireworks display scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. after your children have been terrified into submission by the pythons and Pennywise impersonators.

Celebration at the Park

If the downtown celebration sounds like your bag, but it's simply too far away, then you're in luck. Sam Houston Race Park is hosting Celebration at the Park beginning at 5:00 p.m. with quarter horse racing and continuing into the evening with live music from Three Fantastic and the Southern Backbones. While you're encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food items for the Houston Food Bank, we're willing to bet that you're also encouraged to bring a wad of Copenhagen and your best pair of ropers to enjoy the evening. Fireworks kick off at 9:30 p.m. in a display that's being touted as one of Houston's "most patriotic" displays, although Houstonist is unsure what exactly would make a Fourth of July fireworks display unpatriotic.

Willie Nelson's Picnic

If income tax evasion, illicit substances and legendary musicians all scream "Happy Independence Day" to you, then you won't want to miss Willie Nelson's Picnic at the Sam Houston Race Park's Showgrounds. The Texas icon and his friends -- including Ray Wylie Hubbard, David Allan Coe, Los Lonely Boys and the one and only Merle Haggard -- will be taking the stage beginning at 1:00 p.m on July 5th (the day after the Fourth of July, just so we're all clear on this). Tickets start at $29.50 for lawn seats and $49.50 for reserved seating. You're pretty much guaranteed thick clouds off "herbal cigarette" smoke and an encore of "Pancho and Lefty" that will leave you in tears and hugging random strangers. But isn't that what Willie's all about?

Frankly, no matter which festival you choose to attend -- or whether you elect to stay at home with a cold beer and some friends -- the whole of the city will be lit up like, well, the Fourth of July at around 9:15 to 9:30 p.m. thanks to the numerous displays going on around town (we didn't even write about the ones taking place in Katy, Missouri City, Pasadena or Clear Lake!). Take traffic into consideration and the roof of your house is looking pretty good right about now, ain't it?

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July, from all of us here at Houstonist!

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Photo courtesy of flickr user diseuse.