FOT 2011 Fact Sheet

 

FREEDOM OVER TEXAS CELEBRATES AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY

City of Houston’s Official Fourth of July Celebration To Light-Up Downtown Skyline

 

 

WHAT:

Mayor Annise D. Parker's official Fourth of July celebration, Freedom Over Texas, will set the stage for an extraordinary patriotic celebration filled with family fun and a spectacular fireworks show. The 25-year-old tradition and lively outdoor festival will feature star-spangled performances by country music artists Jack Ingram, Chris Young and Rodney Atkins. The crowning highlight of Freedom Over Texas, a fireworks show produced by Pyrotecnico, will light up Houston's downtown skyline while combining specially choreographed music with pyrotechnic artistry.

 

During Freedom Over Texas festivities, KBR Liberty Park will showcase military artifacts and vehicles including representation from all five military branches, and on-site recruiting. The Bud Light Zone will showcase its' Budweiser Beer Garden, the Bud Light MXT Vehicle and offer a prime view of the seventh annual Bud Light Texas Volleyball Championship Series Finals. More than 30,000 square feet of free educational programming and entertainment will appeal to children of all ages in the Walmart All-American Kids Zone.

 

Houston Area Land Rover Centres will have the latest and newest innovative vehicles from Land rover and Range Rover. In Reliant Energy's Red, White and Green Scene, families can learn how to reduce their carbon footprint and become energy efficient via various sustainability exhibits on display (recycling, green building, solar power, wind power, sustainable transportation and more). In the Family Fitness Challenge Area activities will be provided by all five of Houston's hometown professional sports teams including the Houston Dynamo, Houston Rockets, Houston Astros and Houston Aeros.

 

 

WHEN:

Monday, July4, 2011

4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

 

Detailed Schedule

4:00 p.m. -- Gates open and festival activities begin

4:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. -- Continuous Entertainment on Stages

8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. -- Featured Artists: Jack Ingram, Chris Young and Rodney Atkins

9:35 p.m. Fireworks extravaganza

10:00 p.m. Event closes

 

 

WHERE:

Eleanor Tinsley Park @ Buffalo Bayou (along Allen Parkway)

 

 

ADMISSION:

FREE: With a can of food benefitting the Houston Food Bank or $8 per person (children under 2 free)

 

 

EXPECTED ATTENDANCE:

Gated attendance: 100,000

Total viewing audience: 2,000,000 (perimeter viewing + television audience)

 

 

DIRECTIONS / PARKING

 

• FROM I-45 NORTH
  • Exit McKinney, left on Bagby, right on Rusk to Theater District Parking (TDP)
  • Exit I-10 east to Milam St. Turn right on Capitol to TDP
• FROM I-45 SOUTH
  • Exit Scott/Downtown to St. Joseph Parkway/Pease St. Right on northbound streets to Capitol, left on Capitol to TDP
  • Exit at Houston/Memorial Ave. Right on Memorial/Rusk to TDP
• FROM I-10 WEST
  • Exit Milam Street. Right on Capitol to TDP
  • Take I-45 South, exit Dallas, Dallas becomes Bagby, right on Rusk to TDP
• FROM HWY 59 NORTH
  • Exit right on Jackson. Turn right on Congress/Franklin. Left on Milam. Right on Capitol to TDP
  • Exit I-10 west to I-45 South, exit Dallas, Dallas becomes Bagby, right on Rusk to TDP
• FROM HWY 59 SOUTH
  • Exit Spur 527
  • Exit Louisiana to Capitol, left on Capitol
• FROM HWY 288
  • Merge to Hwy 59 North; take I-45 North to Houston Ave./Memorial. Right on Memorial/Rusk to TDP
  • Exit Polk. Left on Polk. Right on Bagby. Right on Rusk to TDP

 

FESTIVAL RULES:

To enjoy a safe, enjoyable event, the following should be observed:

 

• Not Allowed on Festival Site: Beverages or food (infant formula and special health needs items allowed), alcohol, cooler, glass containers, bikes, skates, skateboards, weapons, fireworks and umbrellas or other standing devices larger than 4 ft. in diameter.
• Camera and Video Recording Equipment: Please note that no camera, video and audio recording equipment will be allowed during any concert. Any person found using such equipment will be excluded from the venue and all film equipment will be confiscated.
• Pets and Animals: Sorry, Houston city ordinance prohibits pets (including dogs, amphibians, reptiles and snakes; excluding seeing and assistance dogs) from attending the event.

 

SPONSORS:

Freedom Over Texas sponsors include: Anchor Sponsors: Bud Light, KBR, Houston Area Land Rover Centres, Walmart; Additional sponsors include; Houston Chronicle; 100.3 KILT; HOT 95-7; Mix 96-5; SportsRadio 610 and Mega 101 FM, Reliant Energy, Shell, Southwest Airlines, McDonald's, Xerox, Luzianne Iced Tea, Silverleaf Resorts, Direct TV, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Texas Southern University and ABC Entertainment. In-kind sponsors include Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Houston Downtown, Camping World, Greenstar Recycling, Metro, Houston Dynamo, Houston Rockets, Houston Astros, Houston Aeros, Houston Texans, Cool-A-Zone and Street Stadia. Co-producers: City of Houston/Mayor's Office of Special Events and KTRK-TV ABC-13. The Community Partner is the Houston Food Bank. The event benefits Central Houston Civic Improvement, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3).

 

MORE INFO:

Visit www.freedomovertexas.org