July in Austin is hot! But that doesn’t stop us from soaking up the summer. (It just means you may want to stay in the water as much as possible!)
There’s plenty to do in Austin in July with your family, including lots of events for July 4th! If you’re looking for ideas, read my round up below.
In This Post
4th of July Events Around Austin
Star Spangled Fest
Auditorium Shores – Central Austin
Enjoy live music all evening at Auditorium (Vic Mathias) Shores starting at 5 pm. There will be food trucks, lawn games and family-friendly activities. After dark, enjoy a concert by the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the biggest fireworks display in Austin.
Fourth of July in Round Rock
Downtown Round/Old Settlers Park
Head to downtown Round Rock in the morning for the big July 4th parade down Mays Street. Then at noon, head to Old Settlers Park to enjoy Frontier Days. Festivities include carnival rides, live music, pig races, and more, topped off with a firework show after dark.
4th of July Family Celebration & Fireworks in San Gabriel Park
San Gabriel Park – Georgetown
If you’re looking for a big, family-friendly festival for the Fourth, Georgetown throws a good one. Live music, bounce houses, petting zoo, rides, a kid’s parade, and lots lots more. Fireworks happen at 9:30.
Cedar Park 4th of July
Elizabeth Milburn Park – Cedar Park
A fun carnival setting during the day and then fireworks followed by a movie! This is the perfect 4th of July activity for kids.
Hill Country Galleria Independence Day Festival
Hill Country Galleria – Bee Cave
Hang out on the central lawn at Hill Country Galleria for live music, face painting, water games and fair rides, followed by fireworks after dark!
Red, White and Boom! at Typhoon Texas
Typhoon Texas – Pflugerville
Play at the water park all day and enjoy extra surprises like stilt walkers, jugglers, face painting and DJs. Wrap it up with fireworks by the City of Pflugerville.
Red White and Buda
Buda Amphitheater and City Park
Start your Buda July 4th with the downtown bike parade, spend time listening to live music, eating from the many food vendors, bouncing in bounce houses, and more, and end it with a big fireworks display!
City of Kyle Independence Day Fireworks
La Verde Park – Kyle
Grab some food, listen to some music from the Cap City Band and watch a 25-minute firework show at La Verde Park. You can also see the fireworks from Heroes Memorial Park or Hays CISD Performing Arts Center.
July 3rd Events
Liberty Fest in Leander – Devine Lake Park
Independence Day Spectacular in Liberty Hill – Liberty Hill Middle School
Lago Vista 4th of July Celebration – Bar-K Park
Volente Beach 3rd and 4th of July Celebration – Leander/Lake Travis (fireworks BOTH nights!)
Round Rock Express Game – Dell Diamond
July Events in Austin
Zilker Summer Musical: July 12-August 17, Thursday-Sunday
Every July and August, Zilker Theatre Productions puts on a free musical in Zilker Park! 2024’s play is Legally Blonde, The Musical.
Find Waldo: All July
Look for a 6-inch Waldo at businesses around town all month long, hosted by BookPeople to encourage people to shop local. Visit one of the 25 participating locations to pick up a passport and then go to as many of the businesses to find Waldo and earn prizes.
Woodland Faerie Trail: Until July 13
The Woodland Faerie Trail is up at Zilker Botanical Garden until July 13. There are 75 little faerie houses and villages to see. Pick up a scavenger hunt in the gift shop.
The Drop-In at the Long Center: Thursdays in July
Free live music all summer long! Come see local bands on the Long Center’s 3D-printed stage. The next week’s lineup drops the Friday before.
Mozart’s Movies on the Lake: July 3, 5, 18
This would be a late night for kiddos, but every other Thursday at 8:30 pm, Mozart’s Coffee is playing movies right on the lake on their big screen. Watch from the deck or rent a paddleboard.
Free Fourth Sunday at Texas Science and Natural History Museum: July 28
From 1 to 5 p.m. visit the Texas Science and Natural History Museum on the UT campus for free. Dinosaurs, animals, fossils, meteorites and more.
Dinosaurs Around the World at Wildflower Center: Until July 17
See 11 life-size animatronic dinosaurs at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center through mid-July. Grab a scavenger hunt at the ticket booth and explore the gardens.
July is the perfect time of year to visit the splash pads around the area. Most of them are free!
For bigger kids, find some water parks or pools with fun slides.
And chilly water feels so good this time of year — check out Barton Springs, Krause Springs or Blue Hole in Wimberley!
If you prefer air conditioning, I’ve got all the indoor play places (for big kids and little kids) rounded up in this guide. Or go for something educational with some of Austin’s great museums.