What to Do With Kids in Austin in July

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. Updated for 2026!

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 4:30 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 Sparktacular 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 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

Lake Kyle Park – Kyle

Celebrate with a fireworks show at Lake Kyle Park at sundown (around 9 pm) on July 4. Park at Lake Kyle Park or Steeplechase Park.

Round Rock Express Game

Dell Diamond – Round Rock

What’s more American than baseball? Catch a game, with mini American flag freebies while supplies last, and then stay for fireworks afterward!

July 3rd Events

Liberty Fest in Leander – Devine Lake Park

Independence Day Spectacular in Liberty Hill – Liberty Hill Middle School

Volente Beach 2nd, 3rd and 4th of July Celebration – Leander/Lake Travis (fireworks all 3 nights!)

July Events in Austin

Find more upcoming events on the calendar.

Zilker Summer Musical: July 10-August 15, Thursday-Sunday

Every July and August, Zilker Theatre Productions puts on a free musical in Zilker Park! 2026’s play is Singin’ in the Rain.

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 18

The Woodland Faerie Trail is up at Zilker Botanical Garden until July 18. There are 120+ 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 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

This would be a late night for kiddos, but that’s the beauty of summertime! Every 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 26

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.

Ice Age in the Wild at Wildflower Center: All month

See life-size animatronic Ice Age creatures at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center through mid-August. 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! And Austin has more than 25 totally free public pools.

For bigger kids, find some water parks or pools with fun slides.

And chilly water feels so good this time of year — check out Deep Eddy, 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.

Find out what’s going on in Austin in June and in August.

What’s the weather like in Austin in July?

July in Austin is generally HOT. It’s normally a dry month with temperatures in the 90’s and even triple digits. Late July and early August are typically the hottest times of the year, and with the intense sun, it can be hard to be outside in the afternoons.