Independence Day celebrations around East Texas | Community Spirit

Find a place to enjoy the celebration of our country's freedom with family and friends.

Tyler: The Dam Fireworks Show - Saturday, June 30, on Lake Tyler. Start time is around 9:30pm, and the show will be coordinated with music from local radio station Mix 93.1 fm.

Tyler Jaycees Fireworks Extravaganza - July 4th-  Activities for kids before fireworks begin, such as dunking booth, play area, games, karaoke contest, Salvation Army TX Youth Music Conservatory. Activities begin around 4 p.m. at Lindsey Park. $10 per vehicle charge to enter the park. Fireworks will begin after dark.  Lindsey Park: 1255 Spur 364 West.

Tyler: First Baptist's 2nd annual Free Fireworks Festival Over The Lake,  benefitting the Tyler Family Assistance Center. Will take place at the South Tyler Campus of First Baptist Church at 17002 Hwy 69 South, just south of loop 49 at FM 2813 and Hwy 69S. Friday, June 29; gates opening at 6pm. Admission is free, but asking that each person bring a canned good to be donated to the Tyler Family Assistance Center. After the main lot is full, we will be bussing people from Bethel Bible Church's parking lot across 69S. Please do not walk across Hwy 69! Fireworks will start soon after dark, approx. 9:15pm.

Tyler: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church will host its annual fireworks show on July 4. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. hot dogs, water/sodas, chips, and watermelon will be provided FREE to the community while supplies last. This year will feature a tribute to our military, live music, bungee trampoline, lots of giveaways, face art, popcorn, snow cones, and more. Fireworks will begin at dusk with the fireworks show. Please come and enjoy a family friendly evening at Pleasant Hill Baptist. 13590 Hwy 110 S., Tyler., approximately 2.5 miles south of loop 323 on Troup Hwy (110).

Teneha: Independence Day Celebration: Wednesday, July 4, Teneha High School football stadium. Patriotic and gospel singing, large fireworks display. Gates will open at 7:00 p.m.

Athens: Fireworks at the Fishery: Free fishing until 8:30 p.m., and fireworks will light up the skies over the fisheries center and Lake Athens after dark. July 4 from 5:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Gladewater: Fireworks at dusk after the boat parade on Lake Gladewater on July 3..

Lake Jacksonville fireworks: free family event on July 4th, hosted by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.The fireworks show is held every July 4th at 9:15 p.m.

Jacksonville: Ninth Annual Cherokee County Republican Club  July 4th Bar-B-Q by CCRC President Danny Morris of Troup.  The CCRC Bar-B-Q will be held on Wednesday, July 4, 2012.  The Buffett line will begin at 11:30 AM with the main program beginning at noon.  The event will be held at the Love’s Lookout Pavilion at the north end of the wayside park just off US Hwy 69 North of Jacksonville. Rafael Cruz whose son, Ted Cruz, and Texas Lt Governor David Dewhurst are opposing candidates in the July 31st Republican Primary runoff for U. S. Senator, will be the featured speaker on the picnic-Bar-B-Q program beginning at noon.The CCRC will be providing the Beef Brisket, paper goods, soft drinks, water and ice.  Members and visitors are being asked to bring a large side dish and/or desserts and a lawn chair.  Cool and casual dress is suggested.  CCRC members, their families and guests are being invited to come early to meet and greet Republican Party political candidates and to join in the fellowship, food and fun at this traditional patriotic event with fellow Republicans in Cherokee County and the East Texas area.  New club members are always welcome.

Rusk: Please join us at the Rusk Patriotism on Parade at 9 a.m. July 4 hosted by Rusk Rotary Club. The patriotic event, organized to honor all veterans, will be held Wednesday, July 4, beginning at 9 a.m. on the courthouse steps.

Lindale: Living Alternatives presents an amazing fireworks display, fishing tournament, live music/entertainment, swimming, bounce houses, and puppet shows. Activites begin at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, fireworks start at around 9:00 p.m. Free, but donation of $15 is suggested. 17141 Hwy 110 N.

Longview: Maude Cobb Activity Center hosts The Freedom Celebration and Fireworks Festival. Wednesday, July 4, and fireworks beginning after dark.100 Grand Avenue, Longview.

Lake O' The Pines: Fireworks display will be Saturday, July 7 at Johnson Creek.

Mineola: Civic Center Celebration -  Wednesday, July 4, 2012 from noon until dark, Waterpark ($5 for an armband for all day).  There will be vendors and conclude the day with the Fireworks Display by the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department. For more information call 903-569-6115

Gilmer: The East Texas Yamboree Association will once again sponsor a community fireworks show at Buckeye Stadium to celebrate the Fourth of July. The show will begin at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3 with public seating on the visitors’ side of Buckeye Stadium.  Come early for the Patriotic Aerial Salute.  The music and sound is being sponsored by Etex Communications.Stop by the Gilmer Area Chamber of Commerce Concession for refreshing cold drinks and snow cones.

Big Sandy:  7-11 am Rotary Waffle Breakfast at New Beginnings

5:30 pm line up for parade

6:00 pm parade (to end at the school)

BLOOD DRIVE: from 6pm - 10pm, we'll be doing a blood drive there at Big Sandy High School - one pint for a pint of Blue Bell!

6:30 (after parade) The Boy Scouts will have a flag ceremony

6:30 Booths will open   - there will be several booths including, BBQ and Hotdogs, Cotton Candy, Baked Goods, Fresh fruit (Watermelon and Cantaloupe)

7:00 pm Entertainment starts 

1.     Rick Peterson and friends

2.     The Forgetful Few

3.     Brenda Wendling

4.     Rick Peterson and friends

9:00 pm (approximately) Fireworks by the Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department

Tatum:  BAR NONE Cowboy Church presents 5th Annual July 4th BLOWOUT! Saturday, June 30th, 5:00 p.m.  Free fun for the whole family! Free BBQ sandwich plate dinners, watermelon, mutton busting, wild donkey rides, free entry $400 added. Also, Mechanical bull contest for all ages, prizes awarded; water slides, horse shoes, bouncy houses, Trailer loading is $5 per head - 100% payback. Fireworks! Door prizes! 9162 Hwy 43 West, Tatum, TX (903) 836-7224 for more info. Pastor Jason Taylor. And don't forget, July 21 is movie night at Bar None!

Little Hope- Moore Community Center - 10 am July 4th - We have a Country Kids Parade and this will be 23rd Annual JUlY 4th Parade -started with six kids now have 80 to 100 people. We've had pigs goats and of course ATV'S, Powerwheels, tractors, lawnmowers, etc. We are located between Ben Wheeler and Canton at the Little Hope Moore Community.

WINONA - The annual community-wide 4th of July celebration for the Winona area will be held Wednesday, July 4th, beginning at 6:00 pm. It will be held at the Winona High School Baseball/Softball complex on Wildcat Drive, one block off of FM 16 in Winona. Fireworks show will begin at 9pm.

This is an annual event hosted by First Baptist Church of Winona. Pastor Tony Watson says the church looks forward to presenting this each year. "This annual event was begun more than 10 years ago by our church and we have embraced continuing the tradition. It has taken different slightly different shapes over the years but it is always an event that includes a lot of fellowship and is capped off by one of the greatest fireworks shows you will find," said Watson.

The church will begin gathering at the Winona High School baseball/softball complex at 6pm, where there will be softball games, Monster Wave water slide for the kids, hot dogs, and good fellowship. People are encouraged to bring card tables, dominoes, horseshoes, etc. if they like or just bring a lawn chair and sit under the shade trees and hang out. Watson said "Since we have the two baseball/softball fields available we usually divide up into about 4 teams and play softball until dark for those that want to do that. All the while we are providing hot dogs, sodas and water. As we get closer to dark, our choir will present a mini-concert of patriotic music, leading up to the fireworks show."

The pinnacle of the evening is the fireworks show, which lasts no less than 30 minutes and sometimes more than 45. "I have had people tell me in recent years that they have been to fireworks shows in cities like San Antonio and Seattle and that ours takes not back seat - in fact some said it was better. It is a full professional show and people come in to our event many times just in time for the fireworks," added Watson.

The public is invited to attend. "Bring your softball glove and bat, your lawn chairs, games if you like, swimsuits and towels for the kids and join us!" said Watson. For more information, contact First Baptist Church at 903-877-3273 or e-mail mail@winonafbc.org.

Winnsboro: The Winnsboro Area Chamber of Commerce invites its citizens and neighboring communities to join in celebrating Independence Day at one of the  "Largest Small-Town Fireworks Displays".  The Chamber will host its Annual July 4th Celebration this Wednesday, along with a morning parade sponsored by the American Legion & A.L. Auxiliary and an afternoon Farmer's Market under the Jack Cross Pavilion  at the Winnsboro City Park (900 Wheeler Drive).  There will be free activities for kids, adults, live musical entertainment, unique vendors and a dazzling  fireworks display at dusk (9 - 9:30 p.m.)  To start the day off the American Legion Post 340 and the A.L. Auxiliary presents their 2nd Annual 4th of July Parade.  Line up 9AM at 201 W Broadway - parade starts at 10AM.  Route - East on Hwy 11 - right at Pear Street across railroad - left on Carnegie and right into City Park..Also, the Winnsboro Farmer's Market will be open in Jack Cross Pavilion from 5pm until 9pm. ~ Welcome, ceremonies, water run, food at 6PM - Live Music to begin at 7PM till Dusk then Fireworks display (9:00 - 9:30)  Come early, bring your lawn chair get a good spot!!

Submit more fireworks events and their details to WhereYouLive@kltv.com.