See fireworks light up downtown Austin from Auditorium Shores on the Fourth of July. | Photo by Varun Yadav on Unsplash
249. That’s how old the United States will be on Independence Day 2025.
Before you pack your cooler and stock up on sparklers, we’ve found a few fabulous events for the Fourth. Fourth of July Celebration | 12-8 p.m. | The ABGB | Cost of purchase | Celebrate America’s birthday with a watermelon eating contest, hot dogs, jello shots, food specials, and a bike ride.
Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic and Fireworks | 4 p.m. | Germania Insurance Amphitheater, Del Valle | $57+ | This beloved annual tradition will treat Austinites to sets from Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, Tami Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, and the incomparable Willie Nelson.
Star Spangled Fest: July 4th Celebration | 5-11 p.m. | The Long Center | Free+ | The Mushroom Cowboy and The Concourse Project will host a wellness event in the morning, then the Austin Symphony Orchestra’s July Fourth Concert and Fireworks will light up the night sky.
“North By Northwest” | 7:30 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Catch this classic Alfred Hitchcock film, starring Cary Grant, at Austin’s historic theater.
Wednesday, July 2
Clayton Farmers Market | Times vary | Clayton Towers | Free | Shop for locally grown produce, pasture-raised meats, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, and more at this rain-or-shine market.
Thursday, July 3
Grassy Thursdays | 6-9 p.m. | St. Elmo Brewing Company - Springdale | Free | It’s live bluegrass night at the brewery, so head over for a performance from Sylvan River Band + food truck eats.
Friday, July 4
Red, White & Blue Weekend | 7:15 p.m. | Dell Diamond, Round Rock | $23+ | Take me out to the ballgame and stay for the fireworks after the home team takes on the Space Cowboys.
Saturday, July 5
“2001: A Space Odyssey” | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking film will hit the screen in 70mm.
Saturday, July 26
The Fray | 7 p.m. | ACL Live at the Moody Theater | $118+ | The Strike will join in on the iconic band’s “How To Save A Life: The 20th Anniversary Tour.”
Pair your visit to the Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room with seasonal cocktails and delicious bites from Crimson Creek BBQ, and enjoy a family-friendly setting. | Photo courtesy of Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room
Elevate your summer experience with the perfect accessory line from Deep Eddy Vodka. Your summer survival kit should include these one-of-a-kind Deep Eddy Vodka-branded items:
A seven-quart cooler that will keep your drinks cool while soaking up the sun.
A Hawaiian button-down is the perfect cover-up, whether you’re poolside or courtside.
Speaking of courtside, show off your love of pickleball with a sporty paddle and bag. Sold separately or as a set, these pickleball items are only available for purchase through the end of July at the Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room.
Local restaurant Z’Tejas closed down its final location on Sunday, June 29 in Kyle. It’s been a long road for the mini-chain — Z’Tejas shuttered its Avery Ranch location in April and two locations in Arizona earlier this year. (Austin Business Journal)
Edu
The sun has set on Texas State University’s time in the Sun Belt Conference. The San Marcos university accepted a $5 million buyout to join the Pac-12 — joining Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Utah State — yesterday. (KVUE)
Transit
Happy 40th, CapMetro. The local transport system wants to celebrate by offering free rides all day. Fare-free Day applies to bus, rail, bike share, and paratransit — all you have to do is activate the pass in the app. (Austin American-Statesman)
Open
Feeling empty after finishing “A Court of Thorns and Roses”? A new Austin bookstore has you covered. Located in far west Austin, Flutter is the first shop in the city to exclusively stock romance titles. (Austin Monthly)
Wellness
Patients at all four Austin Gastroenterology locations can now have a colonoscopy performed with the help of AI. Doctors at the practice said the procedure doesn’t feel any different, but the added equipment can help detect polyps that might be trickier to see. (Community Impact)
Sports
Austin isn’t getting a WNBA team during the league’s current expansion window, but some Austinites are hoping for an NHL team. The hockey league isn’t currently expanding, but Austin does already have an AHL team in Cedar Park. (KXAN + Austin American-Statesman)
Sports
It’s the age-old question: Will the Cowboys have a comeback season this year? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Plan Ahead
Hosting an event? Spread the word with ATXtoday. Explore our self-service ad portal to find the perfect fit for your budget — from standout banner ads to scroll-stopping social content. Promoting your event has never been easier.
Stat
100%. That’s Homebuddy’s no-clog guarantee on their premium, top-rated gutter guards. Get a free quote and join 410,000+ other homeowners who trust the maintenance-free gutter solution.*
Category
Culture
🍹 Start sipping pretty
Stop by for Bar Hacienda’s current drink menu, which is inspired by the spirit of summer. | Photo by Wen Fitzgerald
There’s a new, hidden bar open in Downtown Austin.
From the folks behind Here Nor There, Bar Hacienda is now open in the basement under Tiger Lilly. The underground lounge serves a drink menu crafted by Terance Robson — 2019’s “Best Bartender in Texas” — to a hip-hop-heavy soundtrack.
Make a note to try Bar Hacienda during its summer happy hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, during which you can try three signature cocktails for $20. Keep an eye out for food pop-ups + events on the bar’s Instagram.
By the way, the bar doesn’t take reservations. Check out some of our favorite local happy hours.
The Buy
A ZlumberLock secure sheet holder. Say goodbye to tangled + bunched up sheets with this easy-to-install, patented product. It fits all sheet types and boasts a sleek, discreet design.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Longtime readers know I don’t really celebrate the Fourth of July, because to me, it’s always been my mom’s birthday. Instead, we typically enjoy angel food cake, hot dogs, and time spent by the lake.
