A children's bicycle and tricycle parade begins at 5:30 p.m. July 4 in Unity Park, Magnolia.[/caption]

Tomball

The city of Tomball hosts its annual Fourth of July Celebration & Street Festival July 4 at Business 249 just north of FM 2920. The festival begins at 5 p.m. and includes children’s activities, food and beverages, live music and fireworks.

Road closures begin at 11 a.m. July 4 in Tomball.[/caption]

To prepare for the festival, Business 249 north from FM 2920 to Hicks Street will be closed beginning at 11 a.m. Hicks, Rudel and Klein streets and Village Square Drive at Quinn Road will be closed at 4 p.m. Hwy. 249 at Hicks Street and Buvinghausen Street at Keefer Road will also be closed at 4 p.m.

The night’s performing artists include rock band The Bottle Rockers, Cajun rock band Bayou Roux, Melonie Brown, Valerie Hill, and Dove Award winners Robert Welch and Paul Staggs. Games, water activities, bounce houses, pony rides and face painting will be available in the Kroger Kids Zone from 5-8 p.m. Food and beverages will be provided by The Original Rib Tickler, Pecos Grill, Kona Ice and others. Fireworks begin around 9:15 p.m. and will be simulcast on 95.3 FM (KTTF-Tomball Texan For Fun).

5 p.m. Free (admission and parking). Business 249 and FM 2920, Tomball. 281-251-5484. www.tomballtx.gov

Magnolia

The city of Magnolia hosts the annual Fourth in Unity Park from 5 p.m. to dark July 4. The event includes free hot dogs and watermelon, games, fireworks and live music by Lonely Road Band. A children’s bicycle and tricycle parade begins at 5:30 p.m.

“We have many nonprofits in Magnolia, and this is a great evening for them to gain exposure and let people become familiar with their focus,” Magnolia Economic Development Coordinator Tana Ross said.

5 p.m. Free (admission and parking). 19450 Unity Park Drive, Magnolia. 281-356-2266. www.cityofmagnolia.com

The city’s events also include the Run the Woods 5K and fitness challenge in Unity Park hosted by the city of Magnolia and Tomball Regional Medical Center. All ages can compete by walking, running or skipping. The fitness challenge includes squats, planks, weight carry, yoga, push-ups, trail running, and more. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each age group.

7:30 a.m. (same day registration), 8:30 a.m. (event begins). $10. Unity Park, 19450 Unity Park Drive, Magnolia. www.cityofmagnolia.com

The Woodlands

Independence Day festivities in The Woodlands begin July 3 with a Star-Spangled Salute by the Houston Symphony at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for the concert.

8 p.m. Free. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/fourthofjuly

On July 4, The Woodlands presents the 1.3-mile South County Fourth of July Parade, which begins at The Woodlands United Methodist Church.

9 a.m. Free. The Woodlands United Methodist Church, 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands. www.4thofjuly.org

The celebration continues from 6-10 p.m. with vendors, food, children’s activities, entertainment and fireworks at the Town Green Park and Waterway Square. The 20-minute fireworks show will be simulcast on 104.1 FM.

6-10 p.m. Free. Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/fourthofjuly

Houston

The city of Houston will host Freedom Over Texas from 4-10 p.m. July 4 at Eleanor Tinsley and Sam Houston Parks on Allen Parkway. The event includes live music from Darius Rucker, the Eli Young Band, The Suffers, Brooke Eden, Zach Person, and more. Attendees can also visit The Bud Light Bayou Beer Garden, the Wal-Mart All-American Kids Zone and the Citgo Fueling Good Zone for games, cold drinks, live music and children’s activities. The evening culminates with a fireworks show that will be broadcast on ABC-13 and live streamed at abc13.com.

4-10 p.m. $8 (June 29-July 3), $10 (July 4), children age 5 and under free with a paid adult. Eleanor Tinsley and Sam Houston Parks, Allen Parkway, Houston. www.freedomovertexas.org

Galveston

The city of Galveston will host fireworks and a beachfront parade July 4 beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Seawall Boulevard. A 20-minute fireworks show over the Gulf of Mexico will begin at 37th Street and Seawall Boulevard after the parade.

7:30 p.m. Free. 59th through 25th streets at Seawall Boulevard, Galveston. www.cityofgalveston.org