Top 5 Things to Do for the 4th of July

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands, Texas – Rain or shine, 4th of July celebrations are underway in The Woodlands. Here's a look at what's going on to celebrate Independence Day around The Woodlands, beginning Monday July 2. For more details on any of the events below, check out our 4th of July Guide, brought to you by our friends at Hal Watson.

The Glade Arts Foundation has two events on the go to highlight veterans and independence. Brought to you by the Tough Law Firm, the nationally acclaimed "Conflict Zone" features Vietnam War photography. There will also be dog tags from Afghanistan and Iraq. The Open House is 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday July 2 at Glade Arts Foundation, 2000 Woodlands Parkway. After, at 6:30 p.m., is the Freedom to Laugh Comedy Show featuring three comedians including Andy Huggins, as seen on America's Got Talent. Click here for tickets and more information.

Head to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Tuesday July 3 for the Star Spangled Salute with the Houston Symphony. This free event has been a tradition for 28 years! It will definitely fill you with pride and get you in the mood to celebrate 4th of July. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets not required.

South County is hosting the 43rd annual 4th of July Parade starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday July 4 in The Woodlands Town Center. This year's theme is "United We Stand." More than 20,000 spectators will gather to cheer on more than 145 floats. The parade route is 1.3 miles, beginning and ending at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive. Visit the Woodlands Online 4th of July Guide, sponsored by Hal Watson Air Conditioning, for details about when to arrive and where to park. If you can't make it, join us online as we broadcast the parade LIVE on Woodlands Online, with commentators Sean K. Thompson and Kristi Leggett.

After the parade, head to any of these five locations for family fun, food and live music. Northshore Park will feature face painting, food trucks and musical entertainment by Klockwork Band. Town Green Park will have a wide variety of activities, including strolling entertainers, face painters, balloon artists, inflatables, a kids’ zone, food vendors and two stages for music from the Pictures Band and Uptown Drive. Waterway Square Park will have concessions, face painting, a balloon artist and entertainment by the Willow Creek Junction. Hughes Landing will feature musical entertainment from the ‘70s to the ‘80s by Phatso. Rob Fleming Park will have food trucks, face painting and the country musical stylings of Keeton Coffman. For full details about parking, visit the Woodlands Online 4th of July Guide here.

And now we come the granddaddy of 4th of July – the fireworks! Residential fireworks are strictly prohibited in The Woodlands, but that's ok – you'll see an amazing 18-minute show, set to awesome music, around 9:30 p.m. July 4 at multiple launch locations. The primary fireworks display will be located in Lake Woodlands adjacent to Northshore Park, with a secondary close-proximity (special effects) display at Town Green Park. The 2018 fireworks extravaganza will also feature a fireworks display in the Waterway Square District near Timberloch Place and Waterway Avenue and Rob Fleming Park in the Village of Creekside Park. Residents can enjoy both the sights and sounds of the fireworks extravaganza by tuning into WoodlandsHits.com, which will be broadcasting the choreographed patriotic soundtrack for the 2018 event.