Here’s what you need to know about Houston’s official Fourth of July celebration, ‘Shell Freedom Over Texas’

HOUSTON – Mayor Turner shared details Tuesday for the city’s official Fourth of July celebration, “Shell Freedom Over Texas,” including this year’s award-winning headliners.

“We are just not there yet,” Turner said as he announced that the legendary fireworks show and celebration will not be held in person and will be streamed live for the second year in a row due to timing, social distancing and low vaccination rates in the Houston area.

“When you’re putting on a large event, it takes time,” Turner said. He said the city only had six weeks in advance to plan for the event.

Normally, thousands of Houstonians celebrate the Fourth of July at Freedom Over Texas. In 2020, the usual festival along Buffalo Bayou did not happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a concert by the Houston Symphony Orchestra and other artists was streamed live and aired on television.

Turner said it’s hard to have a big event with the risk of spreading COVID-19 throughout the community. He said the event will provide a diverse patriotic program that will be televised along with the firework show and concert. Turner thanked several big-named sponsors, such as Shell, Dr. Pepper, Bud Light, Reliant Energy and Walmart.

A spokesperson of the event announced that Country singer Lee Brice will headline the event, which will also be live streamed. Officials said residents can come to Eleanor Tinsley Park and Buffalo Bayou Park to watch the fireworks up close or park downtown.

Officials said the firework show and festival will be at a different location and will not be announced just yet because they are not selling tickets for the event.