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How to Celebrate Independence Day in Dickinson

4th of July in Dickinson, TX
If you live in the Houston area, you can be sure of finding plenty of places to celebrate the Fourth of July in grand style. Dickinson, Texas may be a bit far from the city center, but it's still in easy driving distance of every festival and fireworks show you might want to attend.

Freedom Over Texas

The most obvious celebration would have to be Freedom Over Texas, the Independence Day festival sponsored by the City of Houston itself. The festival kicks off at 4 p.m. and goes on until well after dark, and it features appearances by country stars and other live musicians, family games, rides, face painting, and a rest station for when you need to take a break. The fireworks display is as big as you'd expect from a major city, and it's set to music. Freedom Over Texas takes over the Eleanor Tinsley Park. Ticket prices depend on when you buy them but don't go over $10 at the gate.

Summer Symphony Nights: Star-Spangled Salute!

Around four miles away from Eleanor Tinsley Park is the Miller Outdoor Theatre located in Hermann Park. Every year, the Houston Symphony puts on a series of outdoor shows that are free to the public, and they always end it with the Star-Spangled Salute! show on July 4. Starting at 8:30 p.m., the symphony plays patriotic classics with a list that changes every year, but the night always ends with the 1812 Overture complete with cannon blasts and fireworks. Free theater seats are available from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day of the event, but you can always sit on the hill behind the seats if you don't get a ticket.

The Friendswood Celebration

If you don't want to drive all the way to the Houston city center, Friendswood celebrates Independence Day in style with a big parade and daytime events starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. The nighttime celebration starts at 7:30 p.m. at Centennial Park and features live music right up until the fireworks display at 9:20 p.m. Attendance at both events is free, but you can get a $10 wristband for unlimited free rides or pay $15 for an all-day pass.

Red, Hot, and Blue Festival

If you feel like driving around Houston, the Red, Hot, and Blue Festival is how The Woodlands celebrates the Fourth. The festival opens at 6 p.m. in Town Green Park and Waterway Square, although if you get there by 9 a.m. you can watch The Woodlands' parade. The free festival offers good food, activities for kids, and several stages, but the big draw would have to be the 20-minute fireworks display that ends the night. It's not hard to have fun on Independence Day when you live in the greater Dallas area, and so the real hard choice is figuring out which of the many events you want to attend. Fortunately, July 4 comes every year, and so if you don't go to one celebration this year, you can always take a look next time. This photo, “Fireworks,” by Amir Kbah used under CC BY-ND 2.0. “Fireworks” is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 by Gay Family Kia.
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Gay Family Kia — 6 Ways to Have Fun on the Dickinson Bayou

The Dickinson Bayou is located in southeast Texas, halfway between Houston and Galveston. The city of Dickinson sits along the Dickinson Bayou and is regarded for its outdoor activities and events. Here are six ways to have fun on the Dickinson Bayou. Fishing and Crabbing Fishing is a popular pastime on the Dickinson Bayou. Largemouth bass, red drum, and black drum are some of the common types of fish found here. Bar ditches, especially where sand has been excavated, are good fishing spots. Late March through mid-May is prime season for freshwater fish in coastal areas. During a dry summer, the water becomes saltier and you'll find smaller saltwater fish not typically seen there. Some of these fish include redfish, piggy perch, ladyfish, speckled trout, and croaker. You can also do some crabbing here too. Crabs are found along the shore, piers, jetties, and docks. Just ensure you know the difference between blue and blue claw crabs, as you can catch as many blue claw crabs as you like, but blue crabs, or stone crabs, have strict catch limits. Canoeing Canoeing is another fun activity to enjoy on Dickinson Bayou. From Dickinson Bayou Boat Ramp Pier 2, you can launch kayaks and canoes. There is parking available, but no restrooms on site. Camping You can camp along the river in spots like the Bayou Campground. It's open all year, and you can set up tents and there are pop-ups and pull-thru sites. The campground also offers Wi-Fi access, a store, and laundry facilities. Nearby activities include San Jacinta Battleground, Texas City Dike, and the campground is only six miles from NASA. Paul Hopkins Park Spend a day at one of Dickinson's parks, like Paul Hopkins Park. You'll find picnic areas and a picnic pavilion that has 10 tables, a playground, multi-purpose trail, pier, and canoe launch. There are restrooms available as well. If you're visiting in late November up until Christmas, you'll want to check out the Dickinson Festival of Lights. This free, walk-through event has been an annual tradition for two decades. Enjoy the beautifully decorated light displays and have your photo taken with Santa. The event gets busy, so there are shuttle buses that get guests to and from Dickinson Plaza Shopping Center. Dickinson Bayou Ranch While the majority of the activities here revolve around water, Dickinson Bayou Ranch offers some different fun on the bayou. The ranch hosts numerous seasonal events, and you can take riding lessons and even get your horse trained! Chaparral Golf Club If you want to golf along the river, you'll want to visit Chaparral Golf Club that offers two 9-hole courses that include water in play on five holes. The course is noted for its very narrow fairways, and you'll start off with the hardest hole, a 375-yard par 4, which is then followed by the longest hole at 520 yards, par 5. You'll find other activities available on the bayou too. With the city of Dickinson running along the river, there is no shortage of ways to have fun! Image by zmortero, used under CCO 1.0

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Gay Family Kia - 5 Best Steakhouses in Dickinson, Texas

When you think about dining in Texas, one thing comes to mind: steak. Home of longhorn and cattle drives, cows are an enduring symbol of the Lone Star State. In Dickinson and the surrounding towns, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to steakhouses. From a traditional meal of steak and potatoes to a modern Cajun interpretation, you'll get your fill of our signature dish. These are five of the best steakhouses around Dickinson that all meat eaters will love. Logan's Roadhouse A traditional "peanut shells on the ground" roadhouse just up the road from Dickinson in League City, Logan's Roadhouse serves up butcher-selected steaks grilled over an open flame using mesquite wood. Their menu includes all the classic cuts of beef, including bone-in ribeye, New York strip, Porterhouse, and filet mignon. For a decadent addition, order your steak Onion Brewski style, and it will come with garlic butter, Samuel Adams beer-braised onions and crispy fried onions. Dickinson BarBQue & Steakhouse The yelp reviews say it all. One reviewer claims it was "by far one of the best steaks I've had in the area." This hole-in-the-wall joint has a menu that caters to all things Texas, from hand-cut ribeye to burgers, to good old fashion Texas Bar "B" Que ribs, pork, and brisket. If you're not sure what to order, one of the chefs will bring out a sample plate for you to try. Main St. Bistro For a Cajun twist on the traditional steak, try Main St. Bistro in League City. A hidden gem with a bistro atmosphere, they serve a variety of dishes, but the steaks stand out. Try the beef & bleu ribeye, a Cajun-spiced blackened steak with bleu cheese crumbles, shallot rings and red wine reduction. TripAdvisor reviews mention exceptional service as another reason to grab dinner at Main St. Bistro. Craft 96 Draught House & Kitchen Beer and steak go together like Texas and cowboy boots. At Craft 96 Draught House & Kitchen, you can order their ribeye served with garlic butter and garlic mash and pair it with one of the 60 beers that are always on tap. Start your meal off with one of their soft pretzels. Guess what? That goes great with a beer too. Saltgrass Steak House Saltgrass is an upscale traditional steakhouse with a rustic Texas-styled decor in nearby Kemah. At Saltgrass they serve only Certified Angus Beef steaks always topped with fresh garlic butter and seasoned with their Saltgrass-7 Steak Spice. Try their Wagon Boss Center-cut Top Sirloin or 16 oz. Texas T-bone, the cut you picture when thinking about Texas steak. The delicious steaks are made even better by the view over the boardwalk toward Trinity Bay. When it comes to steak in Texas, you can't go wrong. Texans pride themselves on having some of the best beef in the country. Around Dickinson, meat eaters are spoiled for choice. Do you go for peanut shells on the floor or a cold craft beer with your steak? Here in Dickinson, the only bad choice is not ordering the steak. Image by Divily, used under CCO 1.0

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Gay Family Kia - The Essential Guide to Hunting in Dickinson

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