There's No Better Place to Spend the 4th of July Than The Woodlands

The Woodlands is the place to be on the 4th of July weekend, beginning with the traditional Star-Spangled Salute free concert on July 3 and ending with the second largest fireworks display in the Greater Houston region on the evening of July 4. Here are all the details of the many events taking place in this All-American community!

Star-Spangled Salute

This free concert on Independence Eve, July 3 at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion begins at 8 pm. Patriotic music from the Houston Symphony will be performed with a finale of fireworks. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski, the symphony will perform a variety of traditional favorites, American classics and patriotic medleys, ending with Tchaikovsky’s ever-popular “1812 Overture” complete with cannons blasting away at the top of the hill. Joining the symphony will be The Cactus Cuties, a group of four talented young people who have delighted audiences for years with their beautiful harmony and charismatic presence. Their arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner” garnered 5 million hits on You Tube in only three months, touching hearts all over the world.

Gates open at 6:30 pm for pre-concert activities including free photos with lovable mascot of The Woodlands, Puffy Pine Cone. The concert is sponsored by The Woodlands Development Company.

ACTIVE, RESERVE AND RECENTLY DISCHARGED SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN are invited to the FREE Star-Spangled Salute where The Woodlands Development Company and The Pavilion will recognize them at the beginning of the concert for their dedication and service to our country. A specially-marked reserved section is available for these individuals and their families (up to four seats per person). Individuals are asked to RSVP by July 1 to cdubois@woodlandscenter.org if they would like reserved seating.

4th of July Parade

The South Montgomery County 4th of July parade begins at 9 am and runs through The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street, beginning and ending at The Woodlands United Methodist Church on Lake Woodlands Drive. The theme is “Traveling the USA.” The Grand Marshal of the parade will be Dr. Don Stockton, Conroe ISD Superintendent. Pre-parade entertainment, including Darrel the Fire Juggler, Uncle Sam, Clowns, Spiderman, Scooby Doo, Sponge Bob, a stilt walker, balloonist and magician will mingle with the crowd from 8 -9 am in Market Street’s Central Park.

For more information, visit www.4thofjuly.org.

The Great Red, White and Blue Duck Race

Ducks race at the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center in the Village of Creekside Park on July 4, beginning at 1 pm. The Duck Race benefits many local charities including Montgomery County Emergency Assistance.

For more information, visit www.duckrace.com/thewoodlands.

Stay Cool Midday at 4th of July Splash Day

The Fourth of July Splash Day takes place at the 13 community pools in The Woodlands with free admission to all residents from 12 noon – 4 pm. The lifeguards at each pool select special themes and provide free activities and refreshments while supplies last. The event is hosted by the Community Associations of The Woodlands Parks and Recreation Department.

YMCA Hosting Community Splash Day on the 4th

The South Montgomery County YMCAs will be open on Saturday, July 4th from 6 am – 6 pm. The community is invited to a special July 4th Splash Day at the Branch Crossing YMCA Water Park from 2-5 pm. The event is part of YMCA Cool Days, presented by Reliant Energy, and is free and open to the public. YMCA Cool Days is the umbrella theme for all of the YMCA’s summer programs and activities occurring from now until Labor Day. The Branch Crossing YMCA is located at 8100 Ashlane Way in The Woodlands.

For more information, log on to www.YMCACoolDays.org. or call 281-367-9622.

The Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza

The 12th Annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival will be celebrated on July 4 from 6 pm – 10 pm at Town Green Park and Waterway Square along the banks of The Woodlands Waterway®. Entertainment at Town Green Park will feature live music from Yelba and Max Cat, plus family-fun activities like the H-E-B Hot Dog and Watermelon Eating Contests, the Donoho’s Jewellers’ jewelry-making activities, a golf range, rock climbing walls, free Xploration Station’s children’s activities, a Hubbell & Hudson Market booth, inflatables, and a beverage station at the Oasis Garden to cool off.

Activities at Waterway Square include face painting, balloon artists, caricatures and an interactive children’s fountain presented by St. Luke’s-The Woodlands Hospital. Enjoy live music from Ramon Torres at 6 pm on the Huntsman Corporation entertainment stage, followed by The Josh Ward Band from 8-9:30 pm.

Waterway Square is the best spot to view the Red, Hot & Blue Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Woodforest National Bank at dusk (approximately 9:15 pm). Other good locations for viewing the fireworks include the north side of The Woodlands Waterway®, east of the Waterway Avenue Bridge, and the turning basin by Town Green Park. The 20-minute display will also be simulcast on Sunny 99.1. It is the second largest fireworks show in the Greater Houston region.

The Red, Hot & Blue Festival is hosted by The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Parking is available for $5 at both the Town Center Parking Garage located on Six Pines Drive, as well as the parking lot at the corner of Lake Robbins and Six Pines Drive. Visitors may park for free at the orange, yellow and green lots along Timberloch Place. Trolleys will operate from 11 am – 8 pm on July 4. Water taxis will operate along The Woodlands Waterway on July 3 from 11 am – 10 pm and July 4 between 11 am and 11 pm, except during the fireworks display (8:45 – 10 pm). Special pricing of $5 for an all day pass and $2.50 for a seniors/youth/disabled pass will be in effect.

For more information, visit www.redhotblue.org or call 281-363-2447.

Free Concert at Northshore Park

Country singer Nigel Edison performs a free concert at Northshore Park on July 4 from 7 – 9 pm. Also on the 4th of July at Northshore Park, bring your favorite method of transportation (bike, tricycle, scooter or wagon) for the decorating contest and parade. Decorating materials will be provided, or you can bring your own. A parade around the park will give judges time to choose winners! This event is for children 14 years and younger and starts at 5:30 pm just before the concert. The cost is $5 per entry. The event is hosted by the Community Associations of The Woodlands Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information, visit www.thewoodlandsassociations.org.

Presenting Sponsors Named for 12th Annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival

MICRO-MAINFRAME Consultants, Inc. and Woodforest National Bank have signed on as anchor sponsors for the 12th Annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza. This is the second year that MICRO-MAINFRAME will be a presenting sponsor. The company is located in The Woodlands just off New Trails Drive, and is renowned for network and software solutions. Pictured from left to right is Kelly Overbeck, business development manager for The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau; David Hopkins, president of MICRO-MAINFRAME; Lauri Thomas, vice president of MICRO-MAINFRAME and Nick Wolda, president of The Woodlands CVB.

Woodforest National Bank, which operates 10 branch locations in The Woodlands and surrounding areas, will sponsor the 20-minute fireworks show that will culminate the evening’s celebrations. In the photo, Nick Wolda and Kelly Overbeck thank Cindi Stewart (second from left), vice president of marketing for Woodforest National Bank and Patricia Brown (second from right), senior vice president of Woodforest National Bank.

New Patriotic Songs at The Fountains at Waterway Square

With the 4th of July right around the corner, The Fountains at Waterway Square are being programmed with a variety of patriotic songs. The new songs will run July 1 through July 5, 2009 and include patriotic classics including “America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles, “Proud to be an American” by Lee Greenwood, “National Emblem March”, “Seventy Six Trombones”, “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and “God Bless America” by the Houston Symphony. The shows will be from 6 – 11 pm on weekdays and 2 – 11 pm on weekends.

Waterway Square, located along Lake Robbins Drive between Waterway Avenue and Woodloch Forest Drive, features a 120-foot long, 10-foot high stone water wall where ribbons of water flow down seven terraced levels to a lower pond with 20 cascade jets. The water wall is flanked by stairs and stepped water cascades, all leading to an upper fountain containing 80 jets and three boomer jets that shoot water up to 75 feet in the air. The fountains are choreographed to music and feature colored lighting at night.

For more information about the Fountains at Waterway Square, visit www.TheFountainsatWaterwaySquare.com.

Looking for a Fun Place to Stay This Weekend or Any Weekend? Check Out The Woodlands Resort!

If you’re looking for a summer getaway for the entire family that offers a full range of activities and the best rates in Texas, check out The Woodlands Resort’s Destination Fun package. This great value includes full breakfast for two, use of the Forest Oasis Waterscape ™, plus unlimited access to the Fitness Center, Sauna, Eucalyptus Steam Room and Whirlpool. Starting at just $169, you’ll have plenty of cash left to splurge on a spa treatment or a round of golf on one of The Resort’s two championship courses. And if you stay any night Sunday through Thursday, you can earn resort credits towards golf, spa or dining.

For information on the Destination Fun package and other great packages at The Woodlands Resort including golf, spa and shopping, visit www.woodlandsresort.com.