Glen Rose, Texas, is gearing up for a summer packed with events, starting with a hometown Fourth of July festival featuring fireworks and live music, followed by a performance from Texas country band Reckless Kelly at the newly remodeled Texas Amphitheater on July 18. The events are designed to encourage overnight stays in the 'Dinosaur Capital of Texas,' offering a mix of holiday fun and world-class entertainment.
'July is the perfect time to discover everything Glen Rose has to offer,' said Traci Niedziela, Tourism Director for Explore Glen Rose. 'Whether you're celebrating Independence Day with fireworks and live music or enjoying a world-class country concert at our beautifully renovated amphitheater, we invite visitors to make it a weekend getaway and explore why we're known as the Dinosaur Capital of Texas.'
The Fourth of July celebrations on July 4, 2026, begin with a pancake breakfast at the Senior Citizen Center at 8:00 AM, followed by a Hometown Independence Day Parade at 10:00 AM around the historic downtown square. Free registration is available for community participants. From noon to 2:00 PM, families can enjoy Dinosaur World Celebration with live music, hot dog eating contests, giveaways, and life-sized dinosaur exhibits. A ceremony at the Creation Evidence Museum takes place at 2:00 PM, and the evening concludes with fireworks and free live music by the Brady Hulsey Band at Wheeler Branch Park, hosted by the Somervell County Water District.
On July 18, 2026, the Texas Amphitheater, a historic open-air venue recently acquired by the MSAS family and completely reimagined with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, will host Reckless Kelly live. The concert runs from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with tickets available on Eventbrite starting at $55. The venue's signature water moat creates a unique concert experience under the Texas stars.
Glen Rose offers a range of accommodations, including luxurious boutique hotels, charming inns, affordable motels, B&Bs, riverside cabins, and vacation getaways. Visitors can also explore the town's 98 custom-painted dinosaurs and participate in the free Glen Rose Dinosaur Pass scavenger hunt, available on the Bandwango app, which guides explorers to 35 of the dinosaurs. Completing all 35 stops earns one free entry pass to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Additional attractions include Dinosaur Valley State Park, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Dinosaur World, Paluxy River Walk, Big Rocks Park, Paluxy Heritage Park, Historic Town Square, and Barnard's Mill and Art Museum.
Glen Rose, located approximately 75 miles southwest of Dallas-Fort Worth and 90 miles north of Austin, offers a blend of natural wonder, outdoor adventure, and small-town hospitality. For more information, visit exploreglenrose.com.
