Tens of thousands of Houstonians will head to Allen Parkway on Friday for the city's signature July Fourth event - Freedom Over Texas. The show, hosted by Mayor John Whitmire's Office of Special Events, has garnered quite the popularity over the years and is known as the largest fireworks show on land.

Fourth of July celebrations and activities across the Hill Country have been canceled as historic flooding swells the Guadalupe River. The surge has triggered evacuations, multiple emergency alerts, and now, confirmed fatalities.

Displays of patriotism were evident at parades and hot dog eating contests, even at a time of deep political divisions among Americans.