City of Kerrville outlines fireworks details and road closures

“Kerrville’s Fourth on the River,” presented by Arcadia Live, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 4 in Louise Hays Park, 202 Thompson Drive.  The event includes a free concert, beverage tent, food vendors, kid zone, and a celebratory fireworks display.  Food vendors will open at 2 p.m., and the concert will begin at 3 p.m. with headliner American Aquarium playing at approximately 8 p.m.

The 2024 entertainment lineup includes:

3 p.m.  – 80H Project

4:30 p.m.  – Bri Bagwell

6 p.m.  – The Wilder Blue

8 p.m.  – American Aquarium

The fireworks display will directly follow the concert at approximately 9:30 p.m.  The fireworks will be launched from Louise Hays Park and can be viewed from the park in addition to the downtown area.

For safety, Louise Hays Park will be closed to vehicular traffic all day.  Free covered parking will be available in the downtown parking garage on Clay Street.  Pedestrians can access the park via the main Louise Hays Park entrance, and the sidewalk connection entrance near Park Lane Apartments.  The River Trail and the ramp and bridge located behind the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library will be open and accessible to the public.

Tranquility Island and the portion of the River Trail from Francisco Lemos Street through Tranquility Island, and the library ramp, will be closed beginning at 6 p.m. until approximately 10 p.m. on July 4 for safety protocols regarding the fireworks show.  The public may enjoy the use of the island until this time.  Park users must vacate this area by 6 p.m. and will not be allowed access for any reason during the closure.  At the completion of the display and once the area has been deemed as safe to pass through, Tranquility Island and the library ramp will reopen.

Citizens are reminded that fireworks are not allowed within the city limits of Kerrville.  Public fireworks displays are permissible provided that all state and local laws are met and a permit is issued.  Glass, outside alcoholic beverages, and dogs/pets are prohibited in the festival grounds.  Smoking (including vaping and e-cigarettes) is prohibited in all city parks.  Motorized vehicles including golf carts and skateboards are prohibited on the Kerrville River Trail.  Pursuant to city ordinance Sec. 74-2, the City shall have and shall exercise the power to control all activities and hours of access by the public into all city parks and recreation areas in order to protect and maintain the public health, safety and welfare.

Throughout the day, both northbound lanes on the Sidney Baker/Highway 16 bridge will be closed for emergency personnel.  Thompson Drive/Spur 98 and Water Street near City Hall and the downtown parking garage will be closed from 5-10 p.m. on July 4 to allow for safe passage of pedestrian traffic to and from the park/event area.  The public is advised to expect delays while attempting to exit the Sidney Baker South mall parking lot and the H-E-B/Office Max areas immediately following the conclusion of the fireworks displays.

Traffic officers, detour signs and traffic cones will be stationed at several intersections, side streets and parking lot entrances to assist motorists with exiting the area as efficiently as possible.  Citizens are reminded that it is unlawful to ignore and/or go around barricades in Parks, trails and roadways.

All eastbound traffic on Thompson Drive will be required to turn south onto Cully Drive.  All northbound traffic on Cully Drive will be required to turn west onto Thompson Drive.  All southbound traffic crossing the bridge on Sidney Baker Street will be required to continue south on Sidney Baker Street North, and southbound traffic on Sidney Baker Street will NOT be allowed to turn east onto Park Lane in order to better facilitate the large numbers of vehicles exiting the park/event area.  All westbound traffic on Park Lane will be required to turn either north or south onto Sidney Baker Street.  All eastbound traffic on Water Street will be required to turn left on Clay Street, and all westbound traffic will be required to turn right on Earl Garrett Street.

Additionally, in order to efficiently facilitate exiting traffic following the fireworks displays, no left turns will be allowed from area parking lots.  All eastbound traffic on Hill Country Drive and Lehman Drive will be required to turn south onto Sidney Baker Street.  All traffic exiting the Office Max/H-E-B parking lot (all exits), to include City South Street, will be required to turn north onto Sidney Baker Street.  All westbound traffic on La Casa Street, including the Valero parking lot, will be required to turn north onto Sidney Baker Street.

The traffic congestion in this area usually lasts less than one hour.  For more information and to see a detour map, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (830) 257-7300, or visit the city’s website at www.kerrvilletx.gov.