Yay! It’s almost time for the Fourth of July and all the fun that goes along with the red, white, and blue holiday. We covered firework displays pretty thoroughly last week–you can see our Superlist of area displays HERE–this week, we wanted to expand the Independence Day list to include those activities that just naturally go along with Fourth. We’ve even included a couple that happen this weekend–long after the popping stops!

Photo: Arlington 4th of July Parade

Everyone loves a parade! See one of the oldest and longest running event in Arlington this 4th of July. Arlington’s Independence Day Parade is a  two-mile, curb-to-curb procession of red, white, and blue that features 150 entries of large and small floats and the music of all six Arlington high schools. The parade rolls through downtown Arlington and UTA’s College Park District starting at 9 a.m. Thursday morning.

Another hometown celebration happening on the 4th is Denton’s annual Yankee Doodle Parade and 4th of July Jubilee. The parade starts at 9 a.m. at the corner of Hickory and Locust in the square and will wind its way around to the Civic Center where you and the kiddos can enjoy a free children’s carnival until noon. While you’re there, mosey over to Quakertown Park where you can watch the Lucky Horseshoe Tournament or catch the hot dog eating competition. After the Jubilee, cool off at Civic Center Pool from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is only $1!

Photo: Dallas Heritage Village

If a simpler 4th of July celebration is what you crave, you don’t have to look any further than Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park. Kids can decorate their bikes and wagons for a parade around the village at noon, and pose for a patriotic picture with the resident donkeys Waylon and Willie. A live reading of the Declaration of Independence will top the day off.

The City of Granbury is also hosting an old-fashioned Fourth of July Celebration. The community’s signature event starts early on the Square Thursday morning with the Tom Ward Decorated Bike Contest followed by the Hometown Parade. Later in the evening, there will be a junior rodeo and a Big Band Concert. The grand finale of the event is the Extreme Pyrotechnics Show over Lake Granbury.

Photo: Sean Deuby

Everyone agrees that the Fourth of July is great. Unfortunately, the heat that usually comes along with the holiday isn’t so great. If you’re looking for a way to skip the scorching temps but still celebrate don’t miss the Dallas Winds’ Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular at the Meyerson Symphony Center.  Besides the glorious cool of the Meyerson, the Dallas Winds will be performing all your patriotic favorites to really get you into the spirit of the day. Get there early at 12 p.m., and enjoy traditional July 4th foods including hot dogs, ice cream, cookies, and chips. They’ll also have indoor fireworks in the form of CONFETTI canons! You can expect plenty of  “oohs” and “ahhs” with this one.

Want to see fireworks but prefer to skip the crowds? Shhhhh…don’t tell anyone, but the best place in Dallas to see fireworks is at the Samuell-Grand Park Amphitheatre during the intermission of Shakespeare in the Park. You read that right. The show’s intermission is timed to the Fair Park Fourth show, which is just across the highway and starts around 9-ish. Get up and stretch your legs and you’ve got a front-row view of a super fireworks show without all the traffic.  The production currently playing is “As You Like It,” a comedy filled with mistaken identity, intrigue, and romance. And before you say “my kids would never understand Shakespeare,” know that these shows are very engaging and kid-friendly. Sure, very small children should probably stay at home, but the rowdy acting, flashy staging, and the outdoor setting make for a very fun time. Bring a picnic, a blanket, and have an evening of fireworks and theater al fresco!

photo: Therese Powell

If you’re looking for a celebratory experience that stretches beyond the 4th and into the weekend you’ll definitely want to make a trip to Candytopia. So what is Candytopia, you ask? Well, imagine if Willy Wonka and Andy Warhol got together and decided to build a fun house. That’s Candytopia. More specifically, it’s the latest interactive art experience to hit Dallas. Guests walk through multiple candy-themed rooms that feature everything from flying unicorn pigs (that shoot confetti) to a giant marshmallow pit, to giant sculptures made entirely of candy. It’s a treat for all of the senses. Catch the confectionary immersive experience at The Hill in Dallas through July 31.

For a complete list of all of the fun in the DFW area check out our special Fourth of July Theme. If it’s fireworks you’re looking for, take a look at our annual Fireworks Superlist. It’s a rundown of all the displays happening in the North Texas area.