The city of Glen Rose, Texas, known as the 'Dinosaur Capital of Texas,' is gearing up for a summer packed with events, starting with a hometown Fourth of July celebration and followed by a performance from Texas country band Reckless Kelly at the newly remodeled Texas Amphitheater. The announcements highlight the town's efforts to attract visitors for weekend getaways and showcase its unique blend of natural wonders and family-friendly attractions.
'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 on July 4, 2026, will span the entire day, beginning with a pancake breakfast at the Senior Citizen Center at 8:00 AM, followed by a Hometown Independence Day Parade around the historic downtown square at 10:00 AM. Free registration is available for community participants. From noon to 2:00 PM, families can enjoy Dinosaur World Celebration, featuring 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 concludes with fireworks and free live music by the Brady Hulsey Band at Wheeler Branch Park, hosted by the Somervell County Water District.
On Saturday, July 18, 2026, Reckless Kelly will perform live at the Texas Amphitheater, a historic open-air venue recently acquired by the MSAS family and completely reimagined with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The amphitheater's signature water moat creates a unique concert experience under the Texas stars. Tickets are available on Eventbrite starting at $55 for the 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM show.
Glen Rose offers visitors the rare opportunity to combine summer events with outdoor adventures and family attractions. The town is home to 98 custom-painted dinosaurs placed throughout the community, each sponsored by local businesses. The free Glen Rose Dinosaur Pass, available on the Bandwango app, is Bandwango's #1 pass by volume nationwide. The scavenger hunt guides explorers to 35 of the 98 dinosaurs; those who complete all 35 stops earn one free entry pass to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Visitors can stop by the Visitors Center to meet 'Rexanne,' the animatronic dinosaur, and scan the QR code to start their hunt.
Other attractions include Dinosaur Valley State Park, where visitors can explore real dinosaur tracks preserved in the Paluxy River bed; Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, a drive-through safari park; Dinosaur World with hundreds of life-sized dinosaur exhibits; the Paluxy River Walk; Big Rocks Park; Paluxy Heritage Park; the Historic Town Square; and Barnard's Mill and Art Museum. With a range of accommodations including luxurious boutique hotels, charming inns, affordable motels, B&Bs, riverside cabins, and vacation getaways, visitors have plenty of options when planning their trip.
Glen Rose is located approximately 75 miles southwest of Dallas-Fort Worth and 90 miles north of Austin, nestled in the rolling limestone hills along the Paluxy River. For more information, visit exploreglenrose.com.
