We鈥檙e only a few days away from massive Fourth of July fireworks lighting up the skies over North Texas in celebration of our nation鈥檚 250th birthday.
To help you plan, we鈥檝e created a superlist of where to find the best fireworks displays in our neck of the woods.
But as big and colorful as those displays are, a lot of them also come with large crowds and even larger traffic woes.
For those of us who would rather skip that part of the fun, 四虎影院 producer Alexsis Jones and I are sharing 鈥渟ecret鈥� places to watch the KABOOM! minus the BOO!
WHITE ROCK LAKE
I only live a few blocks from White Rock Lake in East Dallas, so when my daughter was small, neighbors and I would head over to the and spread out our blankets and lawn chairs on the banks of the lake. Most of the displays are a good way off in the distance, but the peaceful atmosphere and cool lake breezes make it worth it if your goal is a stress-free evening.
This year鈥檚 Fair Park Fourth actually happens on July 3rd as part of the . If you want a front row seat to these fireworks at Fair Park without actually being in Fair Park,鈥痟ead to Samuell-Grand Amphitheater in East Dallas for Shakespeare Dallas鈥� production of . The outdoor theater on a hill directly across the highway from Fair Park offers some of the best views of the fireworks show. You don鈥檛 have to worry about missing any of the play because Alice's intermission is perfectly timed for the fireworks that launch after the evening's final World Cup match.
Dallas鈥� official 4th of July celebration is happening right in the heart of the Arts District at Klyde Warren Park.鈥��
If you want to see the show up close without getting in the thick of things, plan on viewing it from the area around the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Grab a parking space from one of the lots on Ross Avenue鈥痑djacent to鈥痶he ATTPAC. From鈥痶here, you can walk over to Strauss Square, where鈥痽ou'll鈥痟ave鈥痑 great view.鈥�疉nd if you want to get鈥痚ven鈥痗loser, you can walk over to McIntyre Park on Pearl Street in front of鈥痶he Meyerson.鈥���
If you want to skip the downtown crowds, head over to Halperin Park--Dallas' other deck park--for their Independence Day celebration.鈥疶he park has a day full of activities planned for the Fourth, including music from the Zee Band and a patriotic concert from the Dallas Chamber Symphony. There won't be a fireworks show originating here, but what really makes this the go-to place is its location high above I-35 in South Dallas.
April Allen is the President & CEO of Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation鈥攖hat鈥檚 the group that oversees the park鈥攕ays the treetop 360 views make this a fun way to see the fireworks happening all across the region.
鈥淲e鈥痟ave great views because of our vantage point.鈥疻e're on鈥痑 high point in Oak Cliff,鈥� Allen said. You'll鈥痝et beautiful views all the way around DFW from our rooftop, City View Terrace.鈥�
To avoid the traffic, you can hop on the DART Red Line to the Dallas Zoo. It鈥檚 a short walk from the station to the park.
Another big Fourth of July extravaganza is Kaboom Town in Addison. The show is widely recognized as the largest fireworks show in North Texas, and because it鈥檚 so big, it attracts about half a million people. 鈥��
A great way鈥痶o avoid the crowds--and the traffic--is to check out the watch parties offered by the bars and restaurants along Belt Line Road.鈥��
One of those restaurants hosting a watch party is located at the corner of Midway and Beltline. Jonathan Peck is the owner of Nate鈥檚 and he鈥檚 also Nate鈥檚 son. He says his family鈥檚 restaurant has been hosting鈥痺atch鈥痯arties since they opened in 1989.
鈥淲e have live music leading up to the fireworks and then everybody鈥痯retty much migrates鈥痶o the parking鈥痩ot鈥痑nd we have just an incredible view.鈥疶here's鈥痭othing obstructing鈥痠t,鈥� Peck said. 鈥���
Besides music, grilled shrimp and a great view of the fireworks, Nate's watch party has another plus--a quick getaway AFTER the party is over.
Peck says his restaurant鈥檚 location on鈥疢idway鈥痚liminates鈥痑 good half hour to 45 minutes from your drive home.鈥���
鈥淚nstead of trying to navigate the bumper-to-bumper traffic on Beltline or the Tollway, all you have to do is head straight south down Midway, hop on 635, and then go to the highway of your choice,鈥� Peck said.
Our next stop is Fort Worth鈥檚 Fourth at Panther Island Pavilion along the banks of the Trinity River.鈥��
After talking to family and friends from Fort Worth鈥攁nd even the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation鈥攚e found out that the best鈥痓et here鈥痠s鈥痵imply鈥痶o avoid the Trinity River altogether and head to a rooftop bar around the city. or the on the top floor of the Le M茅ridien hotel both have excellent views.鈥���
Another idea to have in your back pocket is the It鈥痟as鈥痝reat鈥痷nobstructed views, and they pause the movies during the鈥痜ireworks,鈥痵o鈥痽ou can enjoy both shows.鈥�疉nd鈥痓y the time the movie is over, most of the traffic has cleared out.鈥���
One final thought concerning traffic: Although it might be tempting to stop on the highway or a bridge, according to , it is illegal to park, stop, or leave a vehicle on the main traveled part of a highway or bridge to watch fireworks.鈥��
Not only will you get a big fat ticket, but鈥痠t's鈥痑lso extremely dangerous.
Stay safe out there and happy Fourth of July!
DETAILS: Check out our list of our favorite fireworks shows around North Texas.
