While Independence Day falls on a Saturday this year, celebrations across Collin County begin a day early, with communities offering fireworks, live music, family activities and patriotic traditions throughout the holiday weekend.

Sachse residents will have a chance to kick off their celebrations early as the city’s annual Red, White and Blue Blast returns to Heritage Park on Friday, July 3. The event is one of several Fourth of July festivities planned locally, offering fireworks, live entertainment and family-friendly activities throughout the holiday weekend.

The Red, White and Blue Blast will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at Heritage Park, 4408 Hudson Drive. The celebration features live musical performances by Kendall Shaw and Party Machine, along with stage games, a petting zoo, a Ninja Nation obstacle course, booth and food vendors, yard games, spirit awards and a splashdown hosted by Sachse F-R.

The evening concludes with a fireworks display scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

In Wylie, Founders Park, 851 Hensley Lane, will host the city’s annual fireworks celebration beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 3. Attendees can enjoy live music by Midnight Traveler, food trucks, eight bounce houses and a Wylie Fire Rescue water spray zone. The 17-minute fireworks display, launched from the Birmingham Agricultural Center adjacent to Founders Park, is scheduled to begin at 9:45 p.m. and will feature fireworks reaching heights of 250 to 500 feet.

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Parking will be available at Founders Park, Wylie High School, Cooper Junior High and Draper Intermediate. The event is hosted by the city of Wylie, Wylie Parks and Recreation and Wylie Fire Rescue.

Earlier in the day, the Brown House, 301 N. Ballard Ave., will host “The Party Starts at the Brown House,” an America 250 community celebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities include yard games, refreshments, a costume contest and trivia honoring the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

Rockwall’s annual Fourth of July Celebration also returns July 4, beginning with a downtown parade at 11 a.m. Activities continue at Harry Myers Park from 5 to 9 p.m. with food vendors, live entertainment and a fireworks show to cap off the evening.

For a patriotic event with a different twist, In-Sync Exotics in Wylie will host its annual Watermelon Toss on Sunday, July 5. The event gives visitors a chance to watch rescued big cats enjoy watermelon treats while supporting the nonprofit sanctuary’s ongoing rescue and care efforts.

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