Glen Rose, Texas, known as the 'Dinosaur Capital of Texas,' is set to host two major summer events in July 2026: a traditional Fourth of July festival and a concert by Texas country band Reckless Kelly at the newly remodeled Texas Amphitheater. The events aim to draw visitors to this small town, located about 75 miles southwest of Dallas-Fort Worth, for a weekend getaway combining live entertainment with outdoor activities.
The Fourth of July celebration begins early with a pancake breakfast at the Senior Citizen Center at 8:00 AM, followed by a hometown parade around the historic downtown square at 10:00 AM. From noon to 2:00 PM, families can enjoy Dinosaur World Celebration with live music, a hot dog eating contest, and 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 music by the Brady Hulsey Band at Wheeler Branch Park starting at 7:00 PM, hosted by the Somervell County Water District.
On July 18, 2026, Reckless Kelly will perform at the Texas Amphitheater, a historic open-air venue recently acquired by the MSAS family and upgraded with state-of-the-art lighting and sound. The venue's signature water moat offers a unique concert experience under the stars. Tickets start at $55 and are available on Eventbrite.
Visitors are encouraged to extend their stay and explore Glen Rose's attractions, including Dinosaur Valley State Park with real dinosaur tracks, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Dinosaur World, and the Paluxy River Walk. The town features 98 custom-painted dinosaurs, and the free Dinosaur Pass scavenger hunt on the Bandwango app guides visitors to 35 of them, with a reward of a free entry to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center upon completion.
Glen Rose offers a range of accommodations, from boutique hotels to riverside cabins, making it an ideal weekend destination. 'July is the perfect time to discover everything Glen Rose has to offer,' said Traci Niedziela, Tourism Director for Explore Glen Rose. 'We invite visitors to make it a weekend getaway and explore why we're known as the Dinosaur Capital of Texas.'
