Show Your Pride and Patriotism at Light Up Arlington, Texas' Largest Independence Day Parade

By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication

Posted on June 27, 2019, June 27, 2019

Celebrate Independence Day in Downtown Arlington with live music, kid-friendly activities and a spectacular firework display on Wednesday, July 3 followed by a red, white and blue, fun-filled parade the next day.

Festivities start at 6 p.m. July 3 at Parks and Recreation Department's 13th annual Light Up Arlington. This year's celebration, which encompasses several blocks north and south of City Hall and the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, includes some of the top musical acts in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, vendors, concessions, food trucks and plenty of kid-friendly fun. Bands will perform at multiple stages around Downtown, including the Levitt Pavilion.

Pony rides, train rides, face painting, a bubble bus and a petting zoo are just some of the activities planned for the little ones. The children’s area, known as Boomtown, has been moved to the new park space located south of Grease Monkey along Front Street.
The fireworks display, which lasts about 20 minutes, starts at 9:45 p.m. and will be set to music that can be heard from the event main stages at both the Levitt Pavilion and Grease Monkey. Because of construction around City Hall, fireworks will be shot off from the Municipal Office Tower at 101 Mesquite St.

Light Up Arlington Tips:

• Stay in the know on any event updates or schedule changes by registering from SMS text alerts. Text LUA to 86677 to register. Messaging and data rates may apply.
• Free public parking is available throughout Downtown, but visitors need to be aware of some planned parking lot closures and street closures around City Hall and the Municipal Office Tower. Some streets will close for Light Up Arlington festivities as early as 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Download the Waze app for updated road closures and driving directions.
• Access to and from the 101 Center Parking Garage and parking spots immediately surrounding the building will be strictly prohibited beginning at 6 pm until approximately 11 pm. Any vehicles in the parking garage or in the parking spots surrounding the building will not be allowed to leave once the event has started. 
• All vehicles must be removed from the Municipal Office Tower parking lot by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3. All vehicles left in the lot after 5 p.m. will be towed to the northeast corner of the lot and access to those vehicles will be denied until the firework display is over and the lot has been reopened to the public at approximately 1 a.m. July 4.
• The southwest corner of the City Hall parking lot at Pecan and Abram streets will be closed on Tuesday, July 3. All vehicles must be removed from the City Hall parking lot by 5 p.m. that day to make way for Light Up Arlington activities.
• Share your Light Up Arlington photos on social media using hashtag #LUA2019 for a chance to win a NaturallyFun prize pack from the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department.

For the most up-to-date schedule and map, go to lightuparlington.com.

Arlington Independence Day Parade Tips

Light Up Arlington isn't the only way to celebrate July 4th and show your patriotism in The American Dream City. Head on back to Downtown on Thursday morning for the newly rebranded Arlington Independence Day Parade, which started in 1965 and is billed as the oldest, longest running event in the city.

The theme for this year's patriotic parade, which runs from about 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., is "Happy Birthday USA. This year's Grand Marshals are Allan Saxe and his wife Ruthie Brock, long-time Arlington residents and philanthropists known for their support of city and community projects including the Downtown Library and the Levitt Pavilion.

Be sure to arrive early! Each year, tens of thousands of people line the streets to watch the colorful floats, antique cars, marching bands, unicyclists and other parade entries wind through Downtown. More than 130 entries are expected this year. 

This year's parade route begins at West and Mitchell streets. Parade announcers will be stationed along the route, which includes Mitchell Street, Center Street, South Street, UTA Boulevard and Spaniolo Drive.

The new logo for the parade, previously known as the Arlington 4th of July Parade, was designed by Arlington ISD senior Nick Ward. 

Click here for more information about this year's parade.

Light Up Arlington

Time: 6 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Fireworks 9:45 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Location: Downtown Arlington
Cost: Free*
*The event is free but some activities require a fee.
For more information: www.lightuparlington.com.

Arlington Independence Day Parade

Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Date: Thursday, July 4, 2019
Location: Downtown Arlington
Cost: Free
For more information: https://arlington4th.org/.