This year, Arlington is moving its Independence Day fireworks show back to Levitt Pavilion Downtown. The city has held the fireworks show in the Entertainment District the past two years to encourage families to watch from their cars during the pandemic. The show downtown begins at 9:50 pm Sunday, following a concert at the pavilion.
"There will be 20 or 30 thousand people all gathered downtown," said Randy Ford, owner of J. Gilligan's on Abram.
Ford said this weekend has become one of his busiest of the year. He said he draws crowds the night of the fireworks and then after the parade Monday morning.
"As the parade passes through downtown, people see it, then they're ready to get out of the heat, come have something to eat, a glass of tea."
J. Gilligan's opens early on Independence Day, at 10:30, but he then closes at 3 p.m. so his employees can enjoy the holiday.
"They get to have their own holiday. That's picnic time, fireworks time, so we want to let them have that opportunity also," Ford said. "We put in a pretty good day's work Sunday and then Monday morning."
Organizers of the parade say the event has become one of the biggest in Texas, with 50,000 expected to attend.
"I bet Randy Ford loves it when we have the parade because everybody's hot and thirsty, and they're hungry, so they go over to J. Gilligan's or Twisted Root and have some great food that's authentic Arlington," the Arlington Independence Day Parade's Will Busby said.
The grand marshal is Arlington Police Corporal Dick Hill, who normally leads the police escort at the front of the parade each year. Hill graduated from UT Arlington, played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles and then became an Arlington Police officer in 1982.
"We're happy to honor him because he's a friend to all who know him," Busby said. "He puts public safety above himself, and he puts service above himself. He is an awesome member of our community, and we want to thank him for his years of service to the Arlington Police Department and for leading our parade each and every year."
The parade starts at 9 a.m. Monday. Details and the route are available here.
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