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July 4th traffic, events, and more: What to know as nation celebrates its 250th birthday

Last updated: Saturday, July 4, 2026 2:19PM GMT

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It's America's 250th birthday, and H-Town is celebrating like never before!

Starting with Freedom over Texas, where thousands of Houstonians will be watching the sky over Eleanor Tinsley Park for the big fireworks show, ABC13 gives you a look at the Fourth of July events happening across town.

Eyewitness News will also have the latest traffic updates to help you save some time on the roads -- whether you're planning to travel or celebrate here in town.

Celebrating at home? Join ABC13 as it kicks off 24 hours of special programming, "Disney Celebrates America."

Coverage starts at 7 p.m. Friday and will feature David Muir live from the Statue of Liberty, and on Saturday, it is non-stop parades, parties, and pictures of America's natural beauty.

We cap it off Saturday night with Houston's fireworks celebration, Freedom Over Texas.

For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic, ABC13 is now live on Disney+. Always on, always under the live tab on Disney+ and everywhere you stream.

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Celebrating big at Houston's Freedom Over Texas July 4 celebration? Here's what you'll need to bring

Here's how the Fourth of July holiday is developing.

Jul 02, 2026, 2:59 PM

4th of July celebrations happening around town

Freedom Over Texas
Eleanor Tinsley Park - 500 Allen Parkway
3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
(Visitors can watch the Paraguay/France Round of 16 match at Futbol Park inside Freedom Over Texas starting at 4 p.m.)

4th of July Celebration on Skylawn
POST Houston - 401 Franklin St.
5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Star-Spangled Salute
Miller Outdoor Theatre - 6000 Hermann Park Drive
8:30 p.m.

July 4th Parade, Fireworks, and Coastal Celebration
Galveston, Texas
Parade: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at 23rd and Seawall
Firework display 9:15 p.m. from 37th and the Seawall Jetty

4th of July Celebration
Kemah Boardwalk - 215 Kipp Ave.
9:30 p.m.

Red, Hot and Blue Festival
The Woodlands, Texas - Northshore Park near Lake Woodlands; Town Green Park; Waterway Square; Rob Fleming Park
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Heads up, drivers! Fourth of July events across the Houston area may slow you down this weekend.

Other events also happening on July 4:

FIFA Fan Festival
East Downtown - Rideshare Lot at 2011 Leeland St.
10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Rays at Astros
Daikin Park - 501 Crawford St.
6:10 p.m.

FIFA World Cup Round of 16 Game
Houston Stadium - 1 NRG Pkwy
Canada vs. Morocco match starts at 12 p.m.

Jul 02, 2026, 4:21 PM

13 Alert Traffic: July 4th, FIFA World Cup road closures

Preparations for Freedom Over Texas near downtown are underway and will result in street closures around Eleanor Tinsley Park:

I-45 ramps at Allen Parkway: already closed; will reopen on Sunday at 9 a.m. (some will reopen 5 p.m. Sunday)

Allen Parkway: closed outbound at Bagby and inbound at Taft. (setup happening in this area also affecting Sabine Street, Gillette, Walker, Crosby, and Heiner)

Bagby: will close northbound at Dallas on morning of July 4; will close southbound at Rusk by 3 p.m.

Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive: will see expanded closures in Eleanor Tinsley Park area late in the day.

**Parking is available in the Theatre District on Rusk, with access between Bagby and Smith, or at the Hobby Center, which also enters on Rusk. When driving into downtown, you may want to enter Midtown since the Astros and FIFA Fanfest will make the East End exits busy, and you can also park in Midtown or along the rail and take the train into Downtown.

Road closures for Freedom Over Texas will impact traffic around Eleanor Tinsley Park.

And while America is celebrating its 250th birthday on July 4, Houston is also hosting its last FIFA World Cup match. TxDOT is holding off on major interstate construction closures due to both the holiday and the influx of international soccer fans.

Here's the timeline:

Houston stadium opens three hours before the Canada vs. Morocco Round of 16 match, which starts at noon.

Drivers will see increased traffic on the West and South Loops, on major corridors such as Kirby Drive (parts of Kirby will close), and extra traffic along Main, Fannin, and even, likely, south of the Loop along Bellfort.

Look for additional riders on the south part of the METRO Rail line, Red Line.

Once the match is over, drivers will likely see extra traffic in the area late in the afternoon, depending on how long the game lasts.

As if July Fourth celebrations weren't enough, Houston will also be hosting its last World Cup match! These are the major traffic impacts.

ByAlexandra Hutzler and Nicholas Kerr ABCNews logo

4:15 AM GMT

Trump kicks off America 250 celebrations with Mount Rushmore speech

President Donald Trump kicked off a weekend of celebrations for America's 250th birthday with a speech at Mount Rushmore on Friday.

Ahead of the trip, the White House suggested Trump could be an "addition" to the mountain where the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are etched.

"There would be no better addition to the iconic Mount Rushmore than the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement to ABC News.

Trump has previously mused about putting his likeness on the granite peak. He called it a "good idea" on social media in 2020. But so far in his second term, there's been no significant movement toward making that a reality.

The White House did not respond to questions about whether there are actual plans to add the president's likeness to Mount Rushmore and, if so, in what capacity.

Trump flew to Keystone, South Dakota, on the newly retrofitted Air Force One 747, a gift from the Qatari royal family. The president used the jet for the first time earlier this week for a trip to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

Upon his arrival, Air Force One conducted a flyover over Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota ahead of the president's remarks.

The Mount Rushmore festivities also include performances by military bands and tributes to the Armed Services. It will culminate in a large fireworks display, the first fireworks show at the national memorial in years, according to the National Park Service.

250th celebration begins with rare look from Statue of Liberty's torch

"World News Tonight" anchor David Muir kicked off ABC News' celebration of America's 250th birthday by climbing up through Lady Liberty's right arm to reach the torch, standing over 300 feet in the air.

Fan walks for Canada, Morocco to impact traffic ahead of July 4 match at Houston Stadium, city says

City officials advised that the fan walks for Morocco and Canada will impact traffic ahead of the teams' World Cup matchup at Houston Stadium on Saturday, July 4.

According to the Office of Emergency Management, the fan walks will impact traffic south of the Texas Medical Center and east of Houston Stadium between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Officials said the following streets will be heavily impacted as thousands are expected to attend the festivities:

Fannin (Between Old Spanish Trail - Stadium)

Greenbriar (OST to Fannin)

Fannin (Northbound lanes from 610 South Loop south frontage road to Stadium)

City officials advised motorists to seek alternate routes in the affected areas.

The Round of 16 matchup between Canada and Morocco is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Houston Stadium. This is the last 2026 FIFA World Cup match that will take place in Houston.