Festivities, fireworks, fun on tap for the fourth

To celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, parades, music, or other festive means, residents of Wylie will have to take a short road trip.

Wylie stopped funding an Independence Day celebration in 2010, citing financial reasons, and have not restarted. Additionally, it is against city ordinances to discharge fireworks within 1,000 feet of city limits.

There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate the holiday, from full-blown events to simple fireworks shows.

Sachse hosts its Red, White and Blue Blast this Friday starting at 6 p.m. in Heritage Park, 4408 Hudson Dr. The event includes a parade, music, games and 9:30 p.m. fireworks display.

The following day, the city of Garland gets in on the action with a Star Spangled Spectacular at Firewheel Towne Center from 2-8 pm. The will be plenty of kid fun, live music and more. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.

A little to the east, Rockwall celebrates the fourth with an old-fashioned Independence Day fireworks show. Live music kicks off at 5:00 pm and the fireworks will be synchronized to music at dark. The best viewing areas are Harry Myers Park, Dobbs Elementary, Tuttle Athletic Complex, and the RISD Education Center.

The city of Plano presents an All-American Fourth celebration Saturday, July 4, at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve located at 2601 Spring Creek Pkwy. in Plano. A choreographed fireworks display gets started about 9:30 p.m.

Red, White and Boom is an all day affair Saturday in McKinney. Events get underway downtown with a parade at 10 a.m. and car show at 1 p.m., then move to McKinney Soccer Complex at Craig Ranch for family activities from 7-9:30 p.m., a concert by Hollie Cavenaugh at 8 p.m. and fireworks show at about 9:45 p.m.

Frisco Freedom Fest is slated for Friday and Saturday at Frisco Square. Friday events at 7 a.m. are a 5-kilometer run and Dachshund races. On Saturday, starting at 4 p.m., are live music, dancing, food and fireworks.

Wylie residents who want to shoot their own fireworks will have to venture outside city limits to rural Collin County where it is legal to discharge the small explosives on private property, with permission of the property owner.

Restrictions to fireworks use in rural areas are they must not be closer than 600 feet from a church, hospital, and licensed child care center, or a school.