Glen Rose, known as the Dinosaur Capital of Texas, is gearing up for a summer packed with events that combine Independence Day celebrations with live country music. On July 4, 2026, the town will host a full day of activities, including a pancake breakfast, a hometown parade, and fireworks at Wheeler Branch Park. Later in the month, on July 18, Texas country band Reckless Kelly will perform at the newly remodeled Texas Amphitheater, a historic venue recently upgraded with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems.
“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 festivities begin at 8:00 AM with a pancake breakfast at the Senior Citizen Center, followed by a Hometown Independence Day Parade at 10:00 AM around the historic downtown square. From noon to 2:00 PM, Dinosaur World will host a family-friendly celebration with live music, hot dog eating contests, giveaways, and hundreds of life-sized dinosaur exhibits. A ceremony at the Creation Evidence Museum takes place at 2:00 PM, and the evening culminates with fireworks and free live music by the Brady Hulsey Band at Wheeler Branch Park, hosted by the Somervell County Water District.
The Reckless Kelly concert on July 18 will run from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM at the Texas Amphitheater, located at 5000 Texas Dr, Glen Rose, TX 76043. Tickets are available on Eventbrite starting at $55. The amphitheater, recently acquired by the MSAS family, features a signature water moat that creates a unique concert experience under the Texas stars.
Visitors are encouraged to make it a weekend getaway, with a range of accommodations including boutique hotels, charming inns, affordable motels, B&Bs, riverside cabins, and vacation rentals. Glen Rose offers numerous attractions for families, such as Dinosaur Valley State Park, where real dinosaur tracks are preserved in the Paluxy River bed, and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, a drive-through safari park where visitors can feed giraffes and exotic animals. Other highlights include Dinosaur World, the Paluxy River Walk, Big Rocks Park, Paluxy Heritage Park, the historic town square, and Barnard's Mill and Art Museum.
The Glen Rose Dinosaur Pass, available on the Bandwango app, offers a free scavenger hunt guiding explorers to 35 of the town's 98 hand-painted dinosaurs. Completing all 35 stops earns one free entry pass to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Visitors can start the hunt by scanning a QR code at the Visitors Center, where they can also meet "Rexanne," the animatronic dinosaur.
Glen Rose, located approximately 75 miles southwest of Dallas-Fort Worth and 90 miles north of Austin, is nestled along the Paluxy River with rolling limestone hills. The town's picturesque historic downtown square, featuring a stunning courthouse and locally owned shops and restaurants, serves as the heart of a community rich in paleontological history. For more information, visit exploreglenrose.com.
