4th of July

Transform the pathways of The Woodlands and enter the community-wide "Let Freedom Chalk" patriotic chalking contest!

Packs of 10 pieces of chalk will be available to pick up the front desk of The Woodlands Township Townhall, between 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning Monday, June 22 through Thursday, July 2, 2026 – while supplies last. A winner from each village will be selected and awarded with a trophy and prize on Monday, July 6, 2026.

Submit Your Art for Let Freedom Chalk

Submissions will be accepted Monday, June 29 through Thursday, June 2.

Celebrate America 250 by lighting up The Woodlands Waterway with a unique one-time-only patriotic Firecracker 5K! The Firecracker 5K will take place on Thursday, July 2, 2026 beginning at 7 p.m. along The Woodlands Waterway.

Race Information

Kick off your Independence Day celebrations on July 3 with the Star-Spangled Salute, a beloved tradition at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. This patriotic concert features the world-class Houston Symphony performing stirring renditions of American classics in an unforgettable evening of music, celebration, and community pride. Arrive early to enjoy the festive atmosphere and experience the joy of honoring our nation’s independence under the stars.

Event Information

Please note: This event is organized by The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and is not produced by The Woodlands Township. Event information is provided as a courtesy in partnership with The Pavilion. For questions or cancellation information, please contact The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

Join us for the 50th Annual South County 4th of July Parade, proudly presented by Waste Connections. This grand patriotic event, the largest parade between Houston and Dallas, celebrates with fire engines, floats, marching bands, military units, and much more. It begins at 9:00 a.m., winding through The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street, with pre-parade entertainment starting at 8:00 a.m. in Market Street. This year's theme, “America250 – Come Join the Celebration!” reflects the courage, vision, and enduring ideals that have shaped our country since 1776. Parade announcers, including Emcees located above the North Commons in Market Street will guide the event.  Attendees can look forward to stirring patriotic performances, including the National Anthem and “God Bless America,” along with the traditional cannon salutes by Rolling Thunder that have become a beloved part of our Independence Day festivities. A panel of Community Celebrity Parade Judges will select the best entries in ten award categories.  

Event Information

Please note: This event is organized by South County 4th of July Parade and is not produced by The Woodlands Township. Event information is provided as a courtesy in partnership with organizers. For questions or cancellation information, please contact South County 4th of July Parade.

4th of July Parade Sponsors

• Presenting Sponsor: Waste Connections
• Community Partner: The Woodlands Township
• Bald Eagle: Howard Hughes Corporation
• Statue of Liberty: Market Street
• Founding Fathers Sponsor: Richmond Realty Group, Repsol, Woodforest National Bank, Texas Children's
• Building America Sponsor: Union Pacific Building America
• Drum Major Sponsor: Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Southside Bank
• Parade Entry Awards Sponsor: Webber, Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management
• Stars & Stripes Sponsors: The Strong Firm, City of Shenandoah, Texas, Tough Law Firm
• Red, White & Blue Sponsor: Quest Engineering
• In-kind Sponsors: The Blair Law Firm, The Village at The Woodlands Waterway, Alpha & Omega Mounted Patrol, The Woodlands Lion Club, Woodlands Water, The Woodlands Concert Band, Keating Auto Group, Woodlands Online, Hello Woodlands, MPCE Civil Engineering

Make a splash this Fourth of July at Red, Hot & Pool! Each Township pool will bring the party with its own themed fun, games, and refreshments (while supplies last). The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the biggest bursts of fun happening between noon and 4 p.m. So grab your swimsuit, gather your crew, and dive into the holiday spirit! Daily pool fees apply for residents and non-residents. Entry is included with a season pool pass.

Explore Our Pools

Celebrate freedom in The Woodlands with delicious food, live music, and family-friendly fun across multiple locations throughout the community from 6 to 10 p.m. This signature celebration wraps up with one of the largest and most spectacular fireworks and drone displays in the Greater Houston area. The fireworks and America 250 drone show will begin at 9:25 p.m. for audiences located in Northshore Park. All other fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m. for visibility at Town Green, Waterway Square, Hughes Landing and Rob Fleming parks.

Event Locations

 Festival activities vary by location.

Town Green Park
Located at 2009 Lake Robbins Drive will feature fireworks, strolling entertainment, face painting, balloon art, children's arts and crafts, concessions and live music on two stages:

• Town Green Park Independence Stage – Flashpoint 

• Town Green Park Freedom Stage – Rewind Band

Northshore Park
Located at 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive will feature a fireworks and America 250 drone show at 9:25 p.m., face painting, balloon art, concessions and live music:

• Jonah Miles

• Fourth of July Parade Awards will be presented on the Northshore Park stage at 7 p.m.

Park Access: Please note that access to Northshore Park will be impacted due to event setup and teardown. Vehicular traffic will be limited July 2 through July 3 and again on July 5. For safety and security, no vehicles will be allowed in the park on July 4.

Waterway Square
Located at 31 Waterway Square Place will feature fireworks, face painting, balloon art, concessions and live music:

• Time Warp

Hughes Landing 
Located at 1900 Hughes Landing Boulevard will feature fireworks and live music:

• D’Luna

• Please note there may be limited visibility of the fireworks at Hughes Landing due to trees and buildings. 

Rob Fleming Park
Located at 6055 Creekside Forest Drive will feature fireworks only at 9:30 p.m. Please note there will be no vendor booths, concessions, live music or other activities at this event location. 

Sponsors:

Repsol, Official Sponsor Event Sponsor

Renewal by Andersen, Town Green Park Event Sponsor 

Howard Hughes 

Waste Management 

For more information on fireworks, please review the section below.

The Red, Hot & Blue Festival concludes with one of the largest and most spectacular fireworks and drone displays in the Greater Houston area, and all residents and visitors are encouraged to enjoy a professional display from one of several official viewing locations.

Fireworks Disclaimer: As a reminder, the use of personal fireworks is strictly prohibited in The Woodlands under Township Covenants and Standards. Fireworks are not only prohibited—they are also dangerous and can result in serious injuries or property damage. Let's keep the celebration safe and enjoyable for all by leaving the fireworks to the professionals.

Fireworks & Drone Show Launch Locations

The Fireworks Extravaganza will take place at approximately 9:30 p.m., with the exception for the America 250 drone show starting at 9:25 p.m. The primary display, featuring a fireworks and drone show, will be located near Northshore Park and Lake Woodlands. A secondary close-proximity (special effects) display will be at Town Green Park. The 2026 Fireworks Extravaganza will also feature a fireworks display in the Waterway Square District off the Waterway Square Parking Garage and Rob Fleming Park in the Village of Creekside Park. To ensure spectators have the best fireworks visibility possible, fireworks teaser shots will be fired from all launch locations at 9, 9:10 and 9:20 p.m.

Advisory: Please be advised areas near the fireworks launch sites may experience fireworks fallout including, but not limited to, the Lake Woodlands Bridge, the north side of Northshore Park, the north side of The Woodlands Waterway adjacent to Town Green Park and the parking lot at the Lodge at Rob Fleming Park.

Event-goers and spectators are encouraged to experience both the sights and sounds of the Fireworks Extravaganza by tuning in to KSTAR Country 99.7 FM to broadcast the soundtrack live on www.kstarcountry.com or by downloading the app. The app can be found by searching "KSTAR Country Radio" in the App Store or on Google Play.

Attendees of the Red, Hot & Blue Festival in The Woodlands are encouraged to plan ahead and review available parking options, as parking in Town Center and surrounding areas will be limited.

Parking

Paid covered parking is available at the 24 Waterway Parking Garage (located at corner of Fountains Plaza and Lake Robbins Drive), the Waterway Square Parking Garage (between Fountains Plaza and Woodloch Court) and the surface parking lot along the corner of Waterway Avenue and Timberloch Place.

Limited, free curbside parking is available along Lake Robbins Drive, Waterway Avenue, Waterway Square Place and Timberloch Place. Limited covered parking is available in the Town Center Parking Garage (2005 Lake Robbins Drive) and Whole Foods Parking Garage in Hughes Landing.

Generously donated by Timberloch, Inc., additional parking in Town Center is available in the orange, blue, yellow and white lots along Timberloch Place and Grogan's Mill Road. Parking will also be available at 2801 Technology Forest Boulevard. Carpooling is highly encouraged. Parking along Lakeside Boulevard, Lake Woodlands and Market Street is strictly prohibited. Vehicles will be towed at the owner's sole expense if necessary.

Accessible Parking

Limited, designated accessible parking locations include the Green Lot (2002 Timberloch Place), the Lodge at Rob Fleming Park (6055 Creekside Forest Drive), 9320 Lakeside Boulevard as well as various garages, surface lots and parallel street parking throughout Town Center (prices may vary). A valid placard or plate is required to access these areas.

Parking in the Village of Creekside Park

Parking is available at Creekside Forest Elementary School, Risen Church The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park and Rob Fleming Aquatic Center. 

Shuttle Information

Due to limited parking in Town Center, a FREE shuttle service from the Research Forest Park & Ride (3900 Marsico Place) to The Woodlands Town Center is available. Buses will operate approximately every 20 minutes, with the first departures from the Park & Ride beginning at 5 p.m. and the final departure to The Woodlands Town Center at 8:15 p.m. The last return shuttles from the festival sites will leave at 11 p.m. The Research Forest Park & Ride lot gates will close at 1 a.m. and reopen at 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 5.

All shuttle buses are ADA compliant. Strollers, bikes and coolers are allowed only if space is available in the under-bus storage compartments. Pets are not permitted on the shuttles, with the exception of service animals. For emergencies, please contact the 24-hour dispatch line at 281-227-8264.

Shuttle Stop Locations:

• Northshore Park / Hughes Landing Festival Sites – Drop-off at the Trolley Gate entrance on Lake Front Circle near Lake Woodlands Drive. Please note: there is a 0.5-mile walk to Northshore Park from this location.
• Town Green Park – Drop-off on eastbound Lake Robbins Drive near the park entrance; return pick-up located on westbound Lake Robbins near the entrance to H-E-B.
• Waterway Square Festival Site – Drop-off on eastbound Lake Robbins Drive at Fountains Plaza.

Town Center Trolleys

Attendees are also encouraged to utilize The Woodlands Town Center Trolleys to navigate throughout Town Center. The Trolleys are always free to ride and will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4th.

View the 4th of July Trolley Route(PDF, 670KB)

Please note that there will be adjustments to the trolley service routes July 1 through 6 for access to set up and break down festivities. To see a live map, please explore the Trolley Tracker Map.

Learn more about the Town Center Trolleys

Interested in being part of the celebration? The vendor application for these events will open on Monday, May 18 at 5 p.m. in the link below.

2026 Red, Hot & Blue Festival Vendor Application

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please view the 2026 Red, Hot & Blue Sponsorship Package(PDF, 836KB) for details.