HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- You can't celebrate the Fourth of July without fireworks, and spectacular fireworks shows are a Houston specialty. Here are the places you can go to watch fireworks this year.Miller Outdoor Theater8:30 p.m.An evening of patriotic music from the Houston Symphony followed by fireworks.This year's annual Freedom Celebration will be held at 9 p.m. at the Katy Mills Mall/Typhoon Texas.Celebrate America's Independence at Kemah Boardwalk with live music and a patriotic firework show over Galveston Bay.9:30 p.m.Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens12 to 5 p.m.Unique blend of American history and fun for the entire family.Let freedom ring at Galveston's annual Independence Day Celebration, which features a parade of floats, decorated military vehicles and performers, followed by a 20-minute firework show over the Gulf.Parade kicks off at 7 p.m.Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.Presented by Texas Children's Hospital West CampusLaCenterra at Cinco Ranch23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., KatyFreddy Cruz with 104.1 KRBE will host the event kicking off at 5 p.m. with live music performances, games for the kids, food and culminates with the fireworks show around 9:15 p.m.Night program 7:30 p.m.Fireworks begin at 9:20 p.m.Kingwood Town Center Park3 to 9 p.m.Buffalo Run Park6 to 9:30 p.m.Free family fun and activities. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.Decorate your float, golf cart, bicycle, outfits and join the parade. Line up by 5:15 p.m. parade begins at 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m.Independence Park6 to 10 p.m.Jimmy Burke Activity Center5 to 10:15 p.m.Texas Avenue Park5 to 10 p.m.Presented by CHI St. Luke's Health6 to 10 p.m.Celebrate at multiple locations around The Woodlands with food, live entertainment and family fun, with fireworks to finish off the evening! See link above for more information about locations.Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and celebrate America's birthday with a barbeque cook-off, fireworks show, cirque acts, family activities, and live music featuring headliner Pat Green.Valley Ranch Town Center2 to 10 p.m.Celebrate freedom at Karbach Brewing Co. with great food, cold beer and live music featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees CHEAP TRICK.6 p.m.Enjoy live music and fresh craft beer at Platypus Brewing on the Fourth, with a great view of Freedom over Texas fireworks at the end of the night.Noon to 10 p.m.CityCentreMarvel at a 15-minute firework display with live music from the People's Choice Band from 7 to 11 p.m.<doc-sep>High heat, falling humidity and warnings of extreme fire danger triggered burn bans and restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks in Municipality of Anchorage and the Mat-Su ahead of Wednesday's July 4 celebrations. The city of Anchorage banned open fires Tuesday, describing "very high-extreme fire danger." Barbecue grills and enclosed pellet grills are allowed, but portable outdoor fireplaces are not, the city fire department said in a statement. Fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal in Anchorage. In Houston, the only place in the region where fireworks are legally sold, city officials took the unusual step Monday evening of temporarily suspending the sale and use of certain types of aerial fireworks. The fireworks stands stopped selling Roman candles and other fireworks that can be launched into the sky. Any fireworks shows that have gotten the required permits will still take place, said Jodie Hettrick, Anchorage Fire Department chief. Firefighters will be on scene at both the Eagle River Lions Club fireworks show and at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage, she said. Also Tuesday, the Alaska Division of Forestry issued a burn ban for all parts of the Mat-Su area, which includes Willow, Sutton, Caswell, West Lakes, Talkeetna, Greater Palmer, Butte and the Central Mat-Su. The suspension prohibits open debris-burning, burn barrels and lawn burning. Campfires with a diameter of less than 3 feet are still allowed but not advised, the agency said. Officials cited dry conditions. Dry weather and falling humidity led to Houston's restrictions on firework sales, officials said. "We'd rather be on the safe side of the curve," said Christian Hartley, fire chief for the city of Houston. The only place in the Mat-Su Borough that fireworks are normally legal is on private land in Houston, unless a state burn ban is in effect. It's a rite of summer, for some, to shop the fireworks stands that line one section of the Parks Highway. Houston is 18 miles northwest of Wasilla. But restrictions on sales have happened before. In 2015, during the Sockeye Fire, which ravaged the Willow area, the city of Houston suspended all fireworks sales, Hartley said. At the same time, such restrictions aren't common, Hartley said. He said the state is not seeing a normal weather pattern right now. As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the temperature at Anchorage International Airport reached 80 degrees – the highest ever recorded for July 3, according to a tweet from the Anchorage region National Weather Service. The record of 79 degrees was set in 1979. As of 6pm, the temperature at Anchorage Intl Airport reached 80 degrees, setting a new record high temp for July 3rd. The old record was 79 degrees set in 1979. #AKwx #AlaskaHeatWave — NWS Anchorage (@NWSAnchorage) July 4, 2018 Hartley added that the fireworks stands always comply with requests to change or restrict inventory in response to fire danger. The fireworks suspension applies to Roman candles, parachute and helicopter-style novelty fireworks, and Saturn batteries and similar products. The stands already don't stock missiles or rocket-style fireworks because of concerns about wildfires. Robert Hall, the owner of Gorilla Fireworks, which operates a stand at Mile 52 of the Parks Highway, said his staff took those items off the shelves. He said he works with fire officials to reduce the risk of wildfires. The recent suspension affects about half the inventory of fuses in the stand, Hall said. But he said there's still a wide selection of products available for Fourth of July revelers. The ban doesn't apply to sparklers, fountains and "cakes" where fireworks shoot straight up. "There's plenty of stuff to have fun with," Hall said. "Just not the crazy stuff." The aerial fireworks restrictions are in effect until further notice, according to a statement Tuesday from the city of Houston.<doc-sep>
Each July 4th and New Year’s Eve holiday the question is asked out loud around Houston: Where can people make use of those fireworks they bought at roadside stands? Patriotic pyros will be sad to learn that fireworks are not to be used in Houston city limits and local law enforcement makes a point to enforce fines, which can range from $500 to $2,000 depending on the circumstances. PARTY PARTY: Where July 4th celebrations are happening around Houston this year Warnings are not issued for these violations because the use of fireworks is seen to be a very dangerous venture. In the Houston area, anything with a fuse is forbidden. Minors caught with fireworks don’t receive the ticket, their parents do, even if they had no knowledge of the possession or use of them. Outside Houston city limits and in unincorporated parts of Harris County the purchase and use of fireworks is allowed depending on local ordinances. It’s best to check with officials before lighting fuse one for any rules or qualifications. There is a special search tool on the Harris County Fire Marshal Office website located at the bottom on the home page where residents can check their address and see which fire and law enforcement agency has jurisdiction over them. If either the Houston police or fire department are listed, the resident is in the Houston city limits and fireworks are not allowed. Due to safety concerns it’s illegal to shoot off fireworks within 600 feet of a hospital, gas station, or a firework stand. They can be used near school or churches but those entities must give their written permission first. Both the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Fire Marshal Office keep a diligent eye on illegal firework use to the deadliness of the powerful amusements. FYI FOR DRIVERS: Don't park along Houston's freeways to watch July 4th fireworks Of course, as fun and thrilling as fireworks can be, they come with many dangers. Burns and maiming are common around holidays with fireworks involved. Using fireworks while intoxicated or letting children use them unsupervised is also a recipe for receiving emergency medical attention. Officials as always encourage everyone to leave the fireworks displays to trained professionals and point to the several public fireworks shows in the area as safe alternatives. HPD asks concerned residents to call 713-884-3131 to report the alleged illegal use of fireworks. For fire and medical emergencies residents should always call 911. Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com.