On Wednesday, July 4, Americans across the nation will gather to celebrate our country’s founding with barbecues, outdoor games, and, of course, a fireworks exhibition. Residents of Austin can take advantage of multiple fireworks shows on Independence Day, and these four neighborhoods provide the best vantage points for taking in the bright lights.

Bouldin

Auditorium Shores getting ready for fireworks photo courtesy of jdeeringdavis

Located on the south side of Lady Bird Lake, Bouldin features many of the attributes that make Austin so desirable: great food trucks, creative tattoo parlors, abundant greenspace, and an artsy vibe. 

The latter owes a great deal to Vic Mathias Shores (formerly Auditorium Shores), an outdoor performance venue in Town Lake Metropolitan Park that will be home to the city’s biggest 4th of July fireworks display, the H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert and Fireworks. The special event is free and open to the public, and includes a live performance of patriotic musical classics by the Austin Symphony, followed by a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. It’s a bring-your-own-picnic situation, so you’ll want to get to the park early to claim a space to enjoy the show. While dogs are generally welcome at Vic Mathias Shores, 4th of July attendees shouldn’t try to bring their pups along, as fireworks can be upsetting to your canine companion.

While the Symphony Concert & Fireworks welcomes picnic-food repasts, alcohol is prohibited in the park, so if you want a cocktail to go with your fireworks show, you’ll want to head for one of Bouldin’s rooftop bars. El Alma Cafe features a large roof patio with views of the fireworks and skyline, along with a menu of specialty margaritas like the Flaquita (watermelon-serrano infused tequila, watermelon puree, lime juice, agave, and a chile rim). For farm-to-table American bites (like cornmeal hushpuppies with jumbo lump crab, andouille, green lentil jambalaya, and aged parmesan) and an ambitious list of craft cocktails, check out the roof terrace at Eberly.

South Congress

Getting a good spot on the Congress Avenue Bridge

The uber-hip South Austin neighborhood of South Congress offers some of the city’s best shopping, eating, and drinking, and it also includes a prime spot for taking in the H-E-B Austin Symphony Fireworks.

If you take a trip to the Congress Avenue Bridge to see the flight of the bats, you can stick around and be rewarded by a spot-on view of the fireworks. Because you’ll be on a bridge with active traffic, there’s no seating permitted on the overpass, but if you don’t mind standing and leaning, the sight lines can’t be beat.

Barton Hills

Enjoying Fourth of July celebration

A neighborhood replete with natural beauty, including the namesake Barton Creek Wilderness Park and Greenbelt and the adjoining Zilker Metropolitan Park, Barton Hills also plays host to one of Austin’s largest shopping malls, the Barton Creek Square Mall. Those looking for a free, slightly-elevated viewing spot for the Symphony fireworks show will find exactly that in the Barton Creek Square parking lot. The lot rests atop a natural hill, giving it a great view of Downtown Austin and the fireworks happening above Lady Bird Lake. It’s not an official public gathering place, but if you have a flat-bed truck with some floor pillows piled inside, you’ll have a great setup for watching the show.

Elroy

The race track at Circuit of The Americas

While the Symphony fireworks are Austin’s biggest 4th of July show, they’re definitely not the only game in town. Circuit of the Americas in Elroy, Southeast Austin’s racetrack and concert venue, hosts a 4th of July concert every year, headlined by hometown-hero Willie Nelson. Nelson’s Independence Day party runs throughout the day, with a bill of 20+ country rock acts, food and drink vendors throughout the arena, and a lawn area perfect for picnic blankets. Fireworks will begin at around 9:30 p.m., and all ticket holders are welcome to stay and watch the patriotic fireworks display. General admission tickets start at $42.50 and can be purchased here.