Your Guide to Fourth of July Fireworks & Drone Shows Around Austin
America’s 250th birthday falls on a Saturday this year, and Central Texas is going big. Here’s where to catch the sky light up, county by county.
Travis County: Austin’s marquee event is Star-Spangled Fest at Auditorium Shores, where the Austin Symphony‘s patriotic concert leads into fireworks over Lady Bird Lake around 9:45 p.m.
Good viewing spots include the Long Center lawn, South First Street Bridge, Congress Avenue Bridge, and Zilker Park.
Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic at Germania Insurance Amphitheater (Circuit of the Americas) closes with its own fireworks finale.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF WILLIE’S 4TH OF JULY PICNIC
The Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave offers a free, family-friendly festival with fireworks around 9:40 p.m.
Williamson County: Round Rock’s Frontier Days at Old Settlers Park pairs a morning parade with fireworks around 9:30 p.m.
Georgetown’s Fourth of July celebration at San Gabriel Park wraps with fireworks near the McMaster Athletic Fields at 9:30 p.m.
Cedar Park’s Sparktacular at Milburn Park features carnival rides and a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show, followed by an outdoor movie.
Leander’s Liberty Fest at Devine Lake Park (July 3) and Liberty Hill’s celebration (also July 3) both include fireworks and even drone elements.
The City of Pflugerville has decided not to sponsor a fireworks show this year, choosing instead to focus resources on priority services in the FY 2026 budget. A city spokesperson noted this wasn’t cutting one specific service, but part of an overall scaling-back to keep essential daily services funded, and acknowledged the show is a beloved tradition that many will be disappointed to miss.
Hays County: Kyle’s Independence Day celebration at La Verde Park builds to a 25-minute fireworks show around 9 p.m. Buda’s Red, White & Buda festival at the Amphitheater & City Park runs 4–10 p.m. with fireworks closing the night.
Bastrop County: The Big Bang! Celebration at Fisherman’s Park features a pet parade, family activities, and fireworks after dark.
Beyond fireworks: Drone shows are increasingly joining — or replacing — traditional pyrotechnics nationwide for safety and environmental reasons, and several Central Texas events, including Leander’s Liberty Fest, now pair drones with fireworks for a layered show.
Pick your county, arrive early, and look up.
In a final resolution to a seven-year-old high-profile case, Travis County District Attorney José Garza dismissed evidence tampering charges against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and former assistant county attorney Jason Nassour on Wednesday. The charges stemmed from the destruction of reality TV show footage captured the night Javier Ambler II died in custody, effectively ending all criminal prosecutions related to the incident.
A felony arrest warrant was served to a coach at Elgin High School Wednesday. 43-year-old Jacob Donald Johns was taken into custody without incident on a warrant for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. (Austin American-Statesman)
Cedar Park authorities are looking for two suspects wanted for questioning in connection with a burglary of a building.
An investigation conducted by the Caldwell County Constable’s Office Auto Theft Unit led to the recovery of two stolen trailers Tuesday just east of Lockhart.
Two suspects connected to an incident in San Antonio last month that resulted in injuries to two DPS Troopers are in custody.
A traffic stop on a vehicle last month in East Austin off TW-130 for expired registration led to a pursuit. A Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) was utilized to stop the vehicle.
A man has been charged with DWI in connection with a deadly wreck involving an 18-wheeler in Georgetown earlier this week.
There’s new information about the stabbing of a priest by a server at a downtown steakhouse Saturday night.
Elgin police released more information about a death that occurred there Monday afternoon.
A malfunctioning lithium-ion battery sparked a warehouse fire Wednesday at a South Austin electric bike shop before crews brought the flames under control.
An e-scooter rider was killed in an accident in East Austin Tuesday night.
CapMetro’s Transit Police began service one year ago. The agency released some stats.
Meanwhile, the union representing CapMetro workers announced Tuesday that 99.5% of its members voted to authorize a strike, if necessary, against the Austin transit provider.
Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes responded:
A busier-than-usual day today at Austin’s airport.
Travis County officials are seeking answers on a proposed resort development on Highway 71.
Pflugerville residents are still under a Modified Stage 1 conservation restricton even though Lake Pflugerville is practically full.
City officials explain:
A large brush fire has been reported in Llano County, with nearly a dozen firefighting agencies currently battling the blaze. The incident is being managed by multiple local and regional units, and crews are working to contain the fire while also wetting down the surrounding area to reduce the risk of spread.
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A winning Powerball ticket worth $1 million that was sold in Austin has yet to be claimed…and time is running out.
TEXAS TEN MOST WANTED – JULY 2026
A judge has temporarily suspended Hamilton County Sheriff Brad Boulton as a lawsuit seeking his removal moves forward following his indictment on ten criminal charges.
A longtime Dallas Police Department officer has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest Monday afternoon during an undercover prostitution suppression operation, authorities confirmed.
A Liberty County pastor was arrested Monday after being charged with three felony offenses, including continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14.
Gov. Greg Abbott called for an outright ban on new AI data center construction in rural Texas neighborhoods this week, marking a sharp reversal from the governor who once branded the state the “epicenter of AI development.”
Speaking at a campaign stop in Bullard on Tuesday, Abbott declared that data centers must “bring their own money, bring their own power, reuse their own water” — a stance that goes further than the regulatory framework he floated just weeks earlier, and one that arrives as rural counties and grassroots activists ramp up pressure for local control over the industry’s rapid, often unpopular expansion.
Some rural Texans feel the governor is flip-flopping on the issue.
How should Texas prepare for rapid growth, extreme weather, and increasing demands on its infrastructure?
Texas State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt:
Two more new cases of New World screwworm have been detected in Crockett County.
Pecos County has also reported a case.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has launched a new weekly podcast, Lt. Dan, promising unfiltered conversations with the political players shaping Texas and the nation. The show’s debut episode features Attorney General Ken Paxton discussing his Senate campaign, and Patrick — a vocal evangelical Christian who chairs President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission — says he’ll use the platform to “cut through the spin” on the issues driving state and national politics.
(Episode from June 25, 2026)
The Trump administration says immigration crackdowns target the worst of the worst, but what do the numbers say? We’ll dig into the details of a Houston Chronicle analysis of immigration arrest data in Texas and what the numbers suggest about who’s really getting rounded up by immigration enforcement.
(Episode from July 1, 2026)
A private Eid al-Adha celebration booked at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark — a city-owned facility in Grand Prairie — became a flashpoint in early May after fliers advertised it as “Muslims only.” The event, called “DFW Epic Eid,” was organized by Aminah Knight of the East Plano Islamic Center.
The advertising drew swift criticism online and from state officials.
Knight says her life was upended by the backlash and controversy. (New York Times)
According to the CDC, Texas is among the nation’s leaders in a new parasite outbreak.
SPORTS
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP: Wednesday delivered goals, drama, and a few statement wins as the World Cup group stage barrels toward the knockout rounds.
England needed a late surge to see off a spirited Congo DR side, 2-1, while Belgium and Senegal traded blows in a wild 3-2 thriller that went Belgium’s way. In the late window, the USA put on its most complete performance of the tournament, cruising past Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in front of a raucous home crowd.
Today, the action shifts to Group stage heavyweights: Spain, heavy favorites at home odds of over 75%, take on Austria in the early match, before Portugal and Croatia face off in prime time with Cristiano’s side favored but Croatia lurking as a dangerous underdog. Both matches carry real seeding implications heading into the Round of 32.
Dallas Stadium is set for tomorrow’s single-elimination World Cup knockout match as Egypt takes on Australia.
MLB: A case of the L’s for Texas and Houston last night.
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Astros are off today before a weekend series hosting the Rays.
The Rangers begin a series hosting the Tigers.
AL WEST STANDINGS
Matthew McConaughey sits down with his mom, Kay, and son, Levi, to look back at his life in photos, from growing up in Texas to raising a family of his own.
Kay reflects on her philosophy that “you are what you think,” and Matthew recalls how her little white lies — like telling him he’d won “Little Mr. Texas” — may have fueled his confidence to pursue stardom.
They laugh about her sharing his secrets with the press, and Levi joins in to talk about family life with Matthew’s wife Camila, who insists on keeping the family close, even when work takes Matthew on the road.
The conversation also touches on their new film ‘The Lost Bus,’ in which all three McConaugheys act together for the first time. With heart, humor, and a few surprises, the family opens up about the lessons, laughs, and love that shaped them.
