Swimming with friends, fireworks, picnics and family barbecues-yes, those are some wonderful activities. Yet, there is more-much more. If you want to journey and see the sights in Texas, take a look at what the ItalyNeotribune has listed for you. These are great alternatives to setting off fireworks by yourself.

WAXAHACHIE
Crape Myrtle Festival July 3 There will be the Battle of the Bands, parade, tailgate party and fireworks show. The Crape Myrtle Parade in Downtown Waxahachie starts at 10:00 a.m. The gates to Lumpkins Stadium Parking Lot will open at 5pm for the tailgate party. Crape Myrtle Battle of the Bands will begin promptly at 6pm and the HEB Fireworks Show begins at 9pm.

CORSICANA
Freedom Festival July 4 Located at I.O.O.F. Park on North 45th Street, from 6-10pm there will be children’s activities, entertainment and food vendors. Be sure to bring your lawn chair. Entertainment scheduled for the evening includes Steve Stone 7-7:30pm, Texas Twister 7:30-8pm, King Rap J 8-8:30pm, Iron Horse Band 8:30-9:30pm and fireworks begin at 9:30pm. There will also be food and games throughout the evening: watermelon, homemade ice cream, hot dogs, barbecue, horseshoes, train, bingo, ring toss, balloon darts, go fishin’, ring a rung, ping and pong, sand hunt and a cake walk.

BELTON
Fourth of July Celebration & PRCA Rodeo June 30-Jul 3 Features parade, the Festival on Nolan Creek, carnival, Texas Ole Time Fiddlers’ Contest, patriotic program, kick-off barbecue and rodeo. Downtown Belton and Bell County Expo. For more details, go to this website or call 254/939-3551.

ADDISON
Kaboom Town July 3 from 5pm to midnight Kaboom Town celebrates its 25th anniversary with a festival. There will be food, music, kid’s activities including rock climbing, giant slide, fun inflatables, sand art, free movie, an obstacle course and much more. The fireworks begin at 9:30pm. This event is free. Located in Addison Circle Park at 4970 Addison Circle Drive.

DALLAS
Fair Park Fourth on the Fifth The city of Dallas will have a fireworks event on Monday beginning at 9:30pm. Live radio simulcast on 98.7 K-LUV. There are dancing water shows in Fair Park’s Esplanade beginning at 6:00pm. The cost is free to enter but $10 to park.

FORT WORTH
Fort Worth’s Fourth Festivities begin at 4:30pm with fireworks at 9:30pm. Located on the Trinity River bank behind LaGrave Field on North Main Street. There will be free live music and family activities. Vendors will offer food, cold drinks and ice cream. Water and watermelon will be provided. Rock the Fourth Battle of the Bands is sponsored by 95.9 The Ranch. The Fort Worth Cats will play ball at 4:35pm. Fort Worth’s Fourth guests can watch the game from levee lawn seats for $5 per person. Free parking.

GRAPEVINE
Lake Grapevine’s 28th July 4th Extravaganza on July 4 at 9:30pm. Located at the Grapevine Lake, be prepared to be astonished by the fireworks spectacular, which can be viewed from any lakeside location. Admission is free at most viewing locations. Some parks along Lake Grapevine may charge a minimal admission fee.

CLEBURNE
All Shook Up July 2-July 31 How about a little theatre? A musical beginning in 1955. A mysterious motorcycling stranger comes to a square town in a square state and changes it and the lives of everyone he meets forever. The story is all new-the hits are all Elvis! Ticket prices are adults-$12, seniors-$10, students-$10 and children-$9. Located at the Plaza Theatre Company, 111 S. Main St. Call 817-202-0600 for more details.

The Greater Cleburne Carnegie Players present The Wizard of Oz playing until July 11th. Located at the Cleburne Civic Theater , 1501 W. Henderson. Friday and Saturday @ 7:30pm, Sunday (4th of July) matinees @ 2:30pm. For more details and lists of plays performing this year, visit their website.

FRISCO
Frisco Freedom Fest 2010 July 3 beginning at 4pm. Located at the Simpson Plaza at City Hall, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd, there will be Euro bungees, mini train and a rock climbing wall. This festival includes a Community Stage, featuring local entertainers, and Hometown Hero Exhibit, showcasing our police and fire departments. The Taste of Frisco returns, beginning at 4pm. Frisco restaurants will be serving some of their most popular menu items. The Pizza Hut Park will host a Major League Soccer match between FC Dallas and the Kansas City Wizards. The grand finale of Frisco Freedom Fest is the 20 minute fireworks display.

GRAND PRAIRIE
Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks on July 3 and July 4. Two nights of fireworks, horse racing and more located at Lone Star Park. Each 20 minute fireworks show will be choreographed to a patriotic soundtrack provided by Lone Star 92.5 KZPS radio on Saturday and 99.5 The Wolf KPLX on Sunday. Entertainment for the entire family includes pony rides, petting zoo, bounce houses, live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors and more. Cost is $5 for adult general admission, $3 for children ages 4-12. Call 972-263-RACE for more details.

WACO
Fourth on the Brazos July 4. This event will take place from 6pm-10:30pm at Indian Spring Park in downtown Waco. Admission is free. Along with music, the event features a variety of sponsored booths, concessions, kids arts and games and scenic views of the Brazos River. Star 92.9 FM will broadcast the Waco Community Band’s performance during the fireworks show. Concert times will take place from 6pm to 10:30pm across from the Waco Hilton at 100 University Parks Drive between Franklin and Washington Ave. Free parking is located near City Hall, River Square Center and Heritage Square. You can ride the free shuttle from the Ferrell Center to Heritage Square continuously until 11pm. For more information call, 254-750-5627.

AUSTIN
Spend this Independence Day with 100,000 of your closest friends! Central Texans will hurry to claim their grassy spot with the Austin Symphony Orchestra this July 4th for the largest Independence Day Celebration in the state. The spectacular Austin Symphony 34th Annual July 4th Concert and Fireworks is planned, produced, and performed entirely by the Austin Symphony. Tens of thousands of families will be decked out in red, white, and blue and heading down to Auditorium Shores this July 4th for an amazing event complete with a fireworks display over the city skyline backed by symphonic patriotic classics and punctuated by the 70 millimeter cannons of the Texas National Guard Salute Battery. The ASO moves this year’s celebration to its original home, on the banks of Lady Bird Lake at Auditorium Shores in front of the new Long Center for the Performing Arts. The orchestra will perform at 8:30pm, followed by “mile-high” fireworks at approximately 9:30pm The event is free and open to the public.

ROUND ROCK
A parade, jalapeno pepper eating contest, children’s games, duck races, Sam Bass Shootout and fireworks are all part of the City of Round Rock’s July 4 Frontier Days Celebration. The day starts with the parade through downtown Round Rock at 12pm followed by festivities all afternoon at Old Settlers Park. At the park, participate in the duck races, pony rides, inflatables and children’s games, arts and crafts vendors, Ballet Folklorico dancers and a reenactment of the historical Sam Bass Shootout, all leading up to the annual fireworks celebration. For more details, visit this website.

GUN BARREL CITY
July Fest and Concert in the Park
Previously, Gun Barrel City’s Fourth of July Festival has had a number of vendor booths and a fireworks display, but this year’s festival has organized a Concert in the Park with four bands-Bart Crow, Johnny Cooper, No Justice and Derek Sholl. These groups will be playing prior to the city’s fireworks display. Concert Times:

Gates will open at 3pm, with the first concert starting at 5:30pm. Tickets will be available at City Hall for $10 until Friday, July 2. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $15, with children 5 and under admitted free. All military/veterans are free with proper identification. Don’t forget to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on! Booths for arts and crafts will be set up outside the entrance to the concert arena and will include Scentsy candles, chunky jewelry, Beautification Committee cookbooks, purses, flip flops, a Presley Reed fundraiser booth and more. Also, there will be a petting zoo and pony rides for the kids, as well as plenty of good food. You’ll find food vendor booths selling burgers, hot dogs, corny dogs, nachos, chopped beef sandwiches, sausages-on-a-stick, Cajun pulled pork sandwiches, gumbo, smoked chicken quesadillas, catfish and snowcones. The city’s main goal is to get people to Gun Barrel City, to stay in the city’s hotels, shop in the city’s stores and eat in the city’s restaurants – to make Gun Barrel City be the place to be on July 4th weekend – not only this year but for years to come! Visit the event website for all the details.

CANTON
Let’s go shopping! First Monday Trade Days June 3- 6, 2010. Booths open 9am. To see more details, visit their website. Find Canton on your GPS by entering in this address: 401 North Hwy. 19 (Trade Days Blvd), Canton, TX 75103.

There is so much to do in this great state of ours. This is only a partial list for the traveling 4th of July participant. Texas has beautiful countrysides to take in and there is so much for everyone to see. Use sunscreen, be careful and stay safe this holiday weekend.