Consider the facts. The Burn Ban is almost state-wide, county-wide for sure, and the 4th of July is just around the corner. Safety is always a key point during this holiday. Instead of raiding a local fireworks stand, which might be illegal, and blasting the countryside with potential fire danger, let’s all go to the safe fireworks shows already scheduled.

With an assortment of dates to choose from, here are some places close to home:

July 2 WAXAHACHIE: 14th Annual Crape Myrtle Festival and Bloomin Boomin Bash which includes a parade, concert and fireworks. PLEASE NOTE: Event location has been changed from Lumpkins Stadium to the WAXAHACHIE SPORTS COMPLEX located at 151 Broadhead Road, Waxahachie – for the tailgate party, Crape Myrtle Battle of the Bands and HEB Fireworks Show. Call 972-937-2390 for more information.

July 2 RED OAK: 5th Annual Red, White & Blue Festival. Fireworks, hayride, food, fishing, balloon release, bounce houses, entertainment, pony rides, games, vendors • and much more! • Make sure that you bring your lawn chairs and blankets to watch the fireworks show by the pond. All begins at 6pm and will conclude with fireworks at 9:15 pm. For more information please call Lauren Findley 469-218-1202. July 3rd Fireworks rain out date.

July 4 WACO: Brazos Nights Concerts Features performances by The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Carolyn Wonderland and the Waco Community Band, culminating in a patriotic fireworks display. Begins at 7 p.m. Indian Spring Park, 113 S. University Parks Drive. Check their website for more details or call 254-750-8080.

July 2 GUN BARREL CITY: July Fest and Concert in the Park — Enjoy music from No Justice, Johnny Cooper and Derek Sholl, as well as a fireworks display, carnival, arts and crafts, and vendor booths. Gun Barrel City Park, 301 Municipal Drive. Go to their website or call 903-887-1087.

July 2 HONEY GROVE: Fireworks Display located at Texas 56 E. at Warrior Drive. See their website or call 903-378-7211.

July 2-4 GRANBURY: Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration features car shows, arts and crafts, live music, parade and fireworks show over Lake Granbury. Granbury Historic Square. Check out their website or call 817-573-1622.

July 3 ADDISON: Kaboom Town! Features dazzling fireworks, plus food and live music, Cavanaugh Flight Museum’s historic warbird flyovers and more. Stay afterwards to watch a free movie during Cinema in the Circle. Hours are 5 p.m. to midnight. Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive. See their website for more details or call 800-233-4766.

July 4 DALLAS: Star-Spangled Spectacular Presented by the Dallas Wind Symphony. Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St. Check out their website or call 214-871-4550.

July 5 DALLAS: Fair Park Fourth! Includes a patriotic program, free admission to all museums, musical performances, games and food. Gates open at 4:00pm. The Dallas Wind Symphony will perform from 8:30–9:30 p.m., with fireworks afterward. Fair Park, 1200 S. Second Ave. See more details at their website or call 214-670-8400.

July 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 DALLAS: Concerts in the Garden Series Performances feature ’60s and ’70s hits by the Cat Daddies on July 5, Blues Brothers tribute band Briefcase Blues on July 7, Monte Montgomery on July 12, disco hits by Le Freak on July 14, Signed Sealed Delivered on July 19, Key West on July 21, Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction on July 26 and ’80s dance hits from the M80s on July 28. Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road. See more details on their website or call 214-515-6518.

July 4 FAIRFIELD: Fireworks Display KNES Radio provides music synchronized with the display. Moody Reunion Fairgrounds, 839 E. Commerce St. See more details on their website or call 903-389-5792.

July 4 GRAPEVINE: Fireworks Extravaganza Over Lake Grapevine — Watch fireworks, launched from the shores of Oak Grove Park, light up the sky. Begins at 9:30 p.m. The fireworks can be viewed from any lakeside location. Check out their website or call 800-457-6338 for more details.

July 4 WASHINGTON: Fireworks on the Brazos — Celebrate the nation’s independence where Texas declared its independence. Includes a live patriotic concert and fireworks extravaganza. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. See their website or call 936-878-2214 or 888/273-6426.

July 9 CROWLEY: Celebration of Freedom — An event expressing gratitude and support to the military, past present and future with vendors, music and free luncheon for all military, past and present and a GRAND fireworks to music. 10am – dusk with fireworks. For more details see their website or email [email protected]. You can call 817-297-2201.

ELLIS COUNTY: Contact: Diana Buckley, 972-825-5087, [email protected]
Clarification of the Burn Ban’s Impact on Use of Fireworks in Ellis County: On 06/13/2011, the Commissioners’ Court of Ellis County adopted a Burn Ban which prohibits any ACTIVITY that could possibly emit or deliver a spark or fire into the area of any combustible material, including – but not limited to – the discharge of ALL fireworks.

The exact wording in Section 3: Actions Prohibited reads: “Except as is specifically set out herein, a person violates this order if he burns or otherwise dispenses, emits, explodes, detonates, throws off, or otherwise delivers any spark or fire to, or in the area of any combustible material, including but not limited to all common fireworks, trash, debris, agricultural products, leaves, trees, paper, unless such material is wholly enclosed in a receptacle adequate to completely contain all such flames and/or sparks.”

The subsequent order passed at this same time had to do with the SALE of fireworks, specifically prohibiting the sale of two types of fireworks: “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins.” Ellis County Communications June 23, 2011

Please be careful this coming holiday weekend. Drought conditions make our little town and countryside very unsafe around fire. Take the time and drive to a fun-filled, family friendly activity. Happy Independence Day from ItalyNeotribune.com.