12 Fourth of July festivities in and around Austin

If you’re looking for last minute Fourth of July plans, we’ve got you covered. From dazzling fireworks displays to patriotic pool parties, there’s plenty to do in red, white, and blue.

Fireworks

• 47th Annual Austin Symphony Orchestra July 4th Concert and Fireworks | Thursday, July 4 | 4-10 p.m. | Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | Free | The almost five-decade-long tradition returns to the shores of Lady Bird Lake.
• Red, White + Buda | Thursday, July 4 | 4-9 p.m. | Buda Amphitheater, 204 San Antonio St., Buda | Free | This festival ~20 minutes away from Downtown Austin has it all: food trucks, live music, and fireworks.
• Hill Country Galleria Independence Day Festival | Thursday, July 4 | 4-9:30 p.m. | Central Plaza, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. T-100, Bee Cave | Free | Take in an all-day live music lineup before enjoying a stellar fireworks show around 9:15 p.m.
• Red, White + Boom | Thursday, July 4 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Typhoon Texas Waterpark, 18500 State Highway 130, N. Service Rd., Pflugerville | $40 | Spend the day on the water slides, listening to live music + DJ sets, and watching the fireworks show at 9:05 p.m.
• July 4th Parade and Frontier Days | Thursday, July 4 | 8:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. | Multiple locations | Free | Celebrate America’s birthday with a parade, carnival, live music, and you guessed it — a fireworks show to end the evening.

Pool parties

Photo courtesy Kitty Cohen’s

• BBQ + Pool Party | Thursday, July 4 | 2-6 p.m. | Carpenters Hall, 400 Josephine St., Austin | $55 | Your ticket grants you entry to the pool party with live music by THEBROSFRESH and a plate of BBQ with all the fixins’.
• 4th of July BBQ Bash | Thursday, July 4 | 12 p.m.-2 a.m. | Kitty Cohen’s, 2211 Webberville Rd., Austin | Cost of purchase | Eat barbecue from Micklethwait Craft Meats and sip on drink specials from St. Elmo Brewing and Dos Hombres.

Eats

• 4th of July Party + Hot Dog Eating Contest | Thursday, July 4 | 6 p.m.-1:30 a.m. | Hotel Vegas, 1502 E. 6th Street, Austin | $10 | The 21+ glizzy-eating competition, hosted by comedian Avery Moore, kicks off at 8:30 p.m.
• Pickled Egg Eating Contest | Thursday, July 4 | 4 p.m. | Haymaker, 2310 Manor Rd., Austin | $20 | Find out how many eggs can be eaten in five minutes and watch the winner take home $350.
• Launderette’s Sixth Annual Lobster & Friends | Thursday, July 4 | 12-8 p.m. | Launderette, 2115 Holly St., Austin | $75 | Have a Fourth of July feast with a seafood boil featuring lobster, shrimp, crab, clams, and more.

Celebrations

Photo by ATXtoday

• Party in the USA! Y2K Night | Thursday, July 4 | 10 p.m.-2 a.m. | Barbarella, 611 Red River St., Austin | Cost of purchase | Jam to hits of the 2000s on the dance floor with $3 happy hour running until 11 p.m.
• 4th of July Brain Bash | Thursday, July 4 | 7:30 p.m. | The Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave., Austin | Cost of purchase | See the same lineup that performed at the South Congress music venue four decades ago on this day.