America’s 250th in Central Texas: Your Holiday Weekend To Do List

This weekend, Texans will celebrate the 250th birthday of the greatest country in the world. If you are looking for a way to celebrate, check out your US 105 4th of July To Do List for Central Texas!!!

Independence Day Celebrations in Central Texas

The upcoming holiday weekend means a ton of parades, live concerts, and dazzling fireworks displays all across Central Texas. See below and plan your weekend accordingly!

Temple

The H-E-B 4th of July Fun Fest & Fireworks Show at Crossroads Park is happening on Saturday, July 4 and is absolutely free. Ground gates open to the public at 6:00 PM, followed by an opening ceremony at 6:45 PM. The band Groove Knight takes the stage at 7:00 PM until the grand finale fireworks display at 9:30 PM.

Belton

The PRCA Rodeo runs nightly beginning Thursday July 2nd through Saturday, July 4th at the Cadence Bank Center. The Belton 4th of July Parade begins at 8:00 AM Saturday morning. The route travels from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor south toward the historic courthouse, turning along Central Avenue before wrapping up near the local police memorial.

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Morgan’s Point Resort

A family friendly morning party is scheduled for July 4th at City Hall and the Mary Ruth Briggs Library from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Families can play interactive games, a specialized glow room, face painting, and cake.

Killeen

Downtown Killeen hosts the Red, White & Blue Music Festival Saturday, July 4th. Starting at 6:00 PM, the free block party will showcase artisan vendor markets, food trucks, family zones, and a Jeep Jam. A pre-show celebration begins at 9:00 PM to prime the crowd for the 9:30 PM fireworks.

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Fort Hood

Freedom Ball: The III Armored Corps hosts its formal 2026 gala from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM Thursday July 2nd at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.

Exchange Celebration: Families can stop by the main Exchange parking lot from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM for food trucks, vendor displays, and giveaways, with the first 250 arriving families securing commemorative gift bags.

Fort Hood: A Delayed Fireworks Spectacular

Fort Hood is deferring its primary fireworks presentation to Friday, July 10. The installation will host Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band for a special Mission Support Concert and Fireworks Spectacular on Sadowski Field. Starting at 6:00 PM, the military community celebration will feature diverse military static displays, family activities, food vendors, and a grand fireworks finale to wrap up the summer tribute.

Copperas Cove: Historic Homes and Veterans' Tributes

In Copperas Cove, the local Historical Society is opening the doors of the historic Allin House at 401 N. Main St. for a family-friendly mid-day gathering on Saturday, July 4. Running from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the celebration will feature a cake walk, bounce houses, traditional games, and live musical entertainment designed for all generations.

The Copperas Cove Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8577

VFW Post 8577 has an all-day celebration at 1506 Veterans Ave. from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The schedule is as follows:

Patriotic Breakfast: From 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, American Legion Post 582 will serve a morning meal, priced at $8 for individuals 69 and younger, and discounted to $6 for seniors aged 70 and older.

Cornhole Tournament: A competitive lawn tournament kicks off at 10:00 AM. Team entry is $30, featuring a 70/30 prize payout split for the top two finishing duos. Pre-registration is available directly at the post.

Afternoon Activities: Between noon and 2:00 PM, a holiday dinner featuring Texas brisket, hamburgers, hot dogs, and cake will be served.

Gatesville

Gatesville/Friday July 3rd 

Gatesville's holiday program is a multi-day civic festival. The fun kicks off on Friday, July 3, with the debut of the city's first-ever Picklefest. Hosted from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Civic Center parking lot at 301 Veterans Memorial Loop, the event will highlight homemade pickles, unique pickle-infused beverages, and themed competitions.

Gatesville/Saturday July 4th

Independence Day afternoon brings a double-header of parade processions around the historic courthouse square:

Kids Toy Parade: Stepping off at 4:30 PM, this youth event invites children aged 6 months to 12 years to decorate and ride their bicycles, power wheels, or scooters. Same-day registration runs from 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM at the South 7th Street staging zone.

Citywide Fourth of July Parade: Returning after a multi-year hiatus, the main municipal parade begins at 5:30 PM. The route moves along East Leon Street and South 5th Street before terminating near Lovers Lane at the pre-fireworks grounds.

Fourth of July Festival: The festival runs from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the open fields flanking the First Methodist Church. Families can explore local food trucks, bounce houses, and carnival games accompanied by live music, all leading up to a grand fireworks finale at approximately 9:45 PM.

Salado/July 3rd

The village of Salado is hosting a three-day American 250 Celebration that stretches across the entire holiday weekend.

On Friday, July 3, the Historic Stagecoach Inn hosts a backyard cookout starting at 5:00 PM, coinciding with an opening reception for the "250 Years of Artistic Freedom" Art Show. Live musical performances feature Josh Martin at The Shed and Wes Perryman at Barrow Brewing. After a 6:00 PM watermelon-eating contest, additional music sets from Dysfunction Junction and Wayworn Traveler will lead into a Patriotic Laser Lights Show Spectacular at Pace Park at 9:00 PM.

Salado/July 4th

On Saturday, July 4, the localized activities continue:

Morning Market: Visitors can source regional goods at the Salado Farmer's Market hosted at Barrow Brewing from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Patriotic Procession: Participants assemble their decorated golf carts at the Brookshire Brothers parking lot at 5:30 PM before parading down Main Street toward Tablerock Park at 6:00 PM.

Evening Music: The Jake Waylon Band performs at 7:00 PM, followed by Will Holiday’s Grand Ol' Americana Show at the Goodnight Amphitheatre at 7:30 PM. The entire village celebration reaches its peak with a traditional fireworks finale at 9:30 PM over Tablerock Park.

Waco / Fourth on the Brazos

The signature gathering in Waco takes place on Saturday, July 4, with the annual Fourth on the Brazos celebration. The event that begins at 6pm is being held at Touchdown Alley right next to Baylor University's McLane Stadium, and is absolutely free. As night falls, the sky will light up with the TNFB Liberty Lights Laser Show at 9:10 PM, leading into a patriotic program accompanied by the Waco Community Band at 9:30 PM. The evening culminates in the massive H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza at 9:35 PM.

Woodway

The 4th of July Kickoff Concert in Woodway is on Friday, July 3, with a free twilight concert on the event lawn at the Carleen Bright Arboretum. The Sundae Drivers will perform from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Saturday, July 4, families can head to the Woodway Public Safety Department on Estates Drive for a community parade starting at 9:00 AM, complete with complimentary popsicles for attendees.

Lorena

Big’s Mayberry Tavern opens its doors at 4:00 PM for an all-day bash featuring drink specials, a hot dog eating contest, evening fireworks, and live musical entertainment starting at 8:30 PM.

West

Neighbors can participate in a unique, follow-the-leader style procession. The West Police Department Golf Cart Train marshals at VFW Post 4819 and the Westfest RV Field at 10:00 AM before rolling toward its destination at City Park.

Mexia

The downtown district features an action-packed morning on July 4, beginning with a 1K and 5K run at 8:00 AM, a classic car show registration at 7:30 AM, a youth bike parade at 9:00 AM, and a costume pet parade at 10:00 AM. After midday water slide activities and a skillet toss competition, the day ends with fireworks at City Park at dusk.