Every year on the Fourth of July, Austinites celebrate with backyard barbecues, patriotic ensembles, and, of course, fireworks displays. One of the city's most popular Independence Day bashes is the H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert & Fireworks—it usually draws more than 100,000 revelers to Vic Mathias Shores on the Fourth of July.

Head to the 41st annual concert this year on Tuesday, July 4th. Get to the park a bit early to ensure you get a good spot near the stage. That's where the Austin Symphony Orchestra will begin the evening with a lineup of patriotic tunes at 8:30 p.m. Then after the rousing concert, stick around for the main event: the awe-inspiring fireworks show. It kicks off at 9:30 p.m. and is sure to elicit oohs and aahs from the crowd. This event is free to attend, no tickets necessary.

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Most races don't include a foam pit or a slip 'n slide, but the Fun Stop 5K & Fest isn't most races. It's a distinctly Austin experience—in fact, it used to be called the "Keep Austin Weird Fest & 5K." So when you show up for the fun run and festival on Saturday, June 23rd, expect the unexpected.

The run kicks off at 6 p.m. at The Long Center on Riverside Drive. As you jog alongside friends, don't worry about your race time. Make plenty of pit stops to enjoy the fun along the race route. Stop for a shot of tequila at the Ghost Splash Stop or a nip of vodka at Tito's Shot Stop. Zip down the Clif Slip 'N Slide or plow through the organic foam at the Super Fun Foam Pit. Snap a photo as you smooch a pup at the Puppy Kissing Booth or help a friend cool down when you squirt him with a water gun at Super Soaker Street. Then at the festival at the finish live, enjoy live music and food as the evening wears on. Registration is $32 for the 5K and festival.

Public Domain/Photo by Arek Adeoye on Unsplash

Instead of getting your dad a gift for this Father's Day, plan a special outing together. Take him to the Road Relics’ Father's Day Antique Car Show, a longstanding tradition in your community. Now in its 18th year, the annual Father's Day Car Show brings families together every year around this time.

Bring Dad and the rest of your family to the large, grassy field at North Lamar and 51st Street for the car show on Sunday, June 17th. It kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs for five hours, which should be plenty of time to explore the roster of vintage and classic roadsters. Although the exact lineup changes each year, the previous show drew more than 350 awe-inspiring vehicles—so you should plan to spend the whole afternoon at the show. Admission is free.

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