Date/Time: Thursday, July 4, 2024, starting at 4 p.m. with fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m. 
Location: Auditorium Shores and the Long Center (800 W Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78704) 
Tickets: Admission is free (VIP options available)
Event Website: Starspangledfest.com/july-4

Join the City of Austin and the Austin Symphony Orchestra (ASO) for the 47th edition of the Austin Symphony Orchestra July 4 Concert & Fireworks Celebration presented by H-E-B. This free and family-friendly event is now produced by ASO's new partner, Forefront Networks, and performed by the ASO and Music Director, Peter Bay, and in partnership with local sponsors. Expect an evening of red, white, and blue patriotic celebration, a diverse lineup of food and drink options, live entertainment from musicians and DJs, and the annual fireworks show accompanied by a live symphony performance to end the festivities.

Schedule of Events 

The July 4th Concert & Fireworks event begins at Auditorium Shores at 4 p.m. with the opening musical act taking the stage around 5 p.m. Performances will continue from 5-8 p.m., then the Master of Ceremonies will take over from 8-8:45 p.m., followed by the Austin Symphony Orchestra from 8:45-9:30 p.m. The sky will then light up with the annual “mile high” fireworks show to close out a fun night of celebrating Independence Day together as a community. Visit the event webpage for additional information.

Attendees are welcome to bring blankets and chairs, but please do not bring pets except for trained service dogs. A variety of vendors will have food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks available for purchase. No outside grills/cooking, alcohol, glass, or personal fireworks (including sparklers) will be allowed at Auditorium Shores. Attendees should familiarize themselves with the additional allowed and prohibited items and activities prior to arriving and follow Leave No Trace principles. 

Getting to and from the Event 

Transportation options for getting to the July 4th Concert & Fireworks include:

• Bike to the event — The park is open, and attendees can ride directly to Auditorium Shores.
• Hike-and-Bike Trail — Bring a light and remember, motorized vehicles are not permitted. 
• CapMetro — Free rides are available after 5 p.m. with bus routes operating on Sunday-level service and rail routes operating at Saturday-level service. Please use the CapMetro Trip Planner to find the best transit option. 
• Shared Mobility / Dockless Devices – The southwest corner of Riverside Drive and South First Street will be available for drop-off.  
• Driving — If you choose to drive to the event, expect congestion in and around the downtown area, South Lamar Boulevard, Barton Springs Road, and Riverside Drive.
• Ride Share — Attendees will be dropped off along Lee Barton Drive just south of West Riverside Drive.
• Neighborhood Parking — Please observe the Bouldin Creek neighborhood “No Parking” restrictions as these will be actively enforced for safety. Parking in prohibited areas (on green spaces and parkland, along rights of way and medians or blocking private drives and lots) or in “Not Permitted” areas may be subject to fines, ticketing and/or towing at your expense.

Attendee parking options include:  

• Public Parking north of Lady Bird Lake.
• One Texas Center - enter via Haywood Avenue off Riverside Drive.
• Palmer Event Center - Barton Springs Road entrance.
• River South Garage - 425 West Riverside Dr.
• City Hall Garage - entrance on Guadalupe north of 2nd Street.
• State Garage N - 300 San Antonio St.

ADA-accessible parking will be available at the Palmer Event Center Garage and One Texas Center.

Road and Lake Closure Information

Road closures in the Auditorium Shores area will be in effect around 7 p.m. to ensure safety, including sections of South First Street and West Riverside Drive. Roads in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood will be open to local traffic only. You can find a detailed road closure map and table of closed streets on the City’s event web page.

Certain roads may close earlier for safety reasons due to heavy pedestrian traffic, but all roads will be reopened by midnight. For safety reasons, Lady Bird Lake between the railroad trestle bridge and the South First Street bridge will be closed to all watercraft from 8 p.m. to midnight.  

Additional Safety Tips for July 4th Concert & Fireworks 

The Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department, and Austin-Travis County EMS work in partnership to create a safe environment in which everyone can enjoy the Independence Day celebration and encourage attendees to:  

• Remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to 9-1-1.  
• Plan for the weather forecast as temperatures may be hot. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and consider wearing a hat.
• Stay with your group and have a pre-planned meeting location in case of separation.  
• Be mindful of pedestrians, scooter riders, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users when traveling.  
• Keep your phone fully charged.  
• Plan ahead to have a safe ride home. 
• Download the what3words app to pinpoint and share your location.  

Austin Public Health recommends attendees familiarize themselves with the signs of heat-related illness, get vaccinated, use hand sanitizer, wash hands often and stay home if you feel sick. Find vaccines near you at vaccines.gov (vacunas.gov en Español).

About the Austin Symphony Orchestra 

Founded in 1911, the Austin Symphony Orchestra is Austin’s oldest performing arts group. The ASO offers a complete season of musical and educational programming. Masterworks Series concerts include eight concert pairs running monthly September through May in the state-of-the-art Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts. Their season also features the Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series which features 4 concerts running October through June Pops also at the Long Center. Programming for the entire family includes the Halloween Children’s Concert, and the Sounds of the Season, as well as the popular James C. Armstrong Youth Educations Programs, which include ASO Tuneful Tales, Young People’s Concerts, High School Concert Tour and a variety of other school programs.

About Austin Center for Events

The Austin Center for Events (ACE) is a collaborative assembly of City of Austin departments and agencies designed to streamline special event permitting on public and private property. ACE is anchored by teams from Austin Public Health, Transportation and Public Works, Parks, Music, Police, Fire, EMS, Austin Resource Recovery, Development Services, and partner agencies, and works closely with event organizers to guide them through the special event permitting process.