Fourth of July Roundup: 5 Celebrations Not to Miss

As the home of the Alamo, one of America’s greatest monuments of freedom fighting, San Antonio honors our nation’s independence through various events every year on the Fourth of July. Celebrating Independence Day weekend with Fiesta-style fanfare, the three-day Market Square Freedom Festival features local artisan crafts for sale, a plethora of food options, live music from bands spanning several genres, and of course lots of dancing, drinking and fun with family and friends (free, noon-7pm Sun-Tue, Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St., getcreativesanantonio.com). This year during Independence Day at the Alamo, revisit the past with readings of the Declaration of Independence, musket/long rifle firing demonstrations, living history presentations and photo ops with reenactors. Guests can enjoy live performances by the Heart of Texas Band and Bexar Bones Trombone Quartet right in front of the Alamo, and keep cool with free paletas for the whole family (free, 9:30am-4:30pm Tue, The Alamo, 300 Alamo Plaza, thealamo.org). New to the list of the Alamo City’s Fourth of July activities is Red, White & Blues at the Pearl. The Pearl campus will facilitate family-friendly picnicking, hula hoop demonstrations, a water park dance contest, drinks, food and live music by genre-blending singer-songwriter/guitarist Jackie Venson, soulful blues act Nakia and the Blues Grifters and established  local rocker Will Owen Gage (free, noon-6pm Tue, Pearl Park, 312 Pearl Pkwy., atpearl.com). Stinson Municipal Airport hosts an annual Commemorative Air Force event every Fourth of July, which showcases vintage war aircrafts like B-52s and T-51s, specifically honoring the veterans of the U.S. military who have fought to protect America’s freedom. Take swing dancing lessons, listen to live music, and bring the kids for arts and crafts activities. For a fee, take a 30-minute ride in one of the airport’s vintage planes (free, 9am-2pm Tue, Stinson Municipal Airport, 8535 Mission Road, sanantonio.gov/ssf). Last but not least is a perennial favorite, the Fourth of July Celebration at Woodlawn Lake Park. Sponsored by H-E-B, Thomas J. Henry and the San Antonio Parks Foundation, the celebration is an all-day event that kicks off with Zumba classes, mechanical bull rides and a .5-mile family fun walk. Throughout the day guests can enjoy carnival rides, food vendors and live music. Performing at this year’s celebration is New Orleans-style jazz and swing outfit The Dirty River Dixie Band. As the evening draws to a close, cuddle up with your loved ones for a spectacular fireworks finale (free, 8am-9:30pm Tue, Woodlawn Lake Park, 3 Cincinnati Ave., saparksfoundation.org).