Prepare for road closures, crowds for Fourth on the River

Kerrville’s annual Fourth on the River celebration figures to be even bigger than 2022 when Robert Earl Keen played the concert he helped initiate, and that’s because the Randy Rogers Band brings his act to the stage on Tuesday night.

Fireworks cap the night starting at about 9:30 p.m., and that’s where the challenges begin. 

Traffic control

One lane on the Sidney Baker/Highway 16 bridge will be closed for emergency personnel throughout the day. Thompson Drive/Spur 98 and Water Street near city hall and the 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 display.

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. Please be mindful of all officers, emergency vehicles, safety signs, and barricades in parks, trails, and roadways. It is unlawful to ignore and/or go around them.

All eastbound traffic on Thompson Drive must turn south (right) onto Cully Drive. All northbound traffic on Cully Drive will be required to turn west (left) 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 (right) or south (left) 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 display, no left turns will be allowed from area parking lots. That means all traffic exiting the mall parking lot (all exits) will be required to turn south (right) onto Sidney Baker Street. All east bound traffic on Hill Country Drive and Lehman Drive will be required to turn south (right) 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 (right) onto Sidney Baker Street. All westbound traffic on La Casa Street, including the Valero parking lot, will be required to turn north (right) onto Sidney Baker Street.

The traffic congestion in this area usually lasts less than one hour. Please see the attached detour map and plan accordingly for heavy traffic and delays during this time.

Closures

Louise Hays Park will be closed to vehicular traffic all day on July 4, with the exception of legally marked handicap vehicles (plates/placards), while spots last. Drive-through requests for pickup and/or drop off will not be allowed, and only authorized vehicles will be allowed access to the park.

Free covered parking is available in the downtown parking garage on Clay Street, and some spots will be available in the grassy area in front of Lehmann-Monroe Park at the intersection of La Casa Drive East and Park Lane East on a first come-first served basis.

Pedestrians can access the park via the main Louise Hays Park entrance, the Lehmann-Monroe entrance, and the sidewalk connection entrance near the 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 before 6 p.m.

Kerrville River Trail/Tranquility Island/Library ramp

Tranquility Island and the portion of the Kerrville River Trail from Francisco Lemos Street through Tranquility Island and the library ramp will be closed beginning at 6 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. After the fireworks, the Kerrville Fire Department will reopen Tranquility Island and the library ramp once it is safe to do so.

Rules and Reminders

Please remember 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 also prohibited on the Kerrville River Trail. Please adhere to rules and comply with event staff. 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.

For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (830) 257-7300, recreation@kerrvilletx.gov, visit the city’s website at www.kerrvilletx.gov, or follow us on Facebook at City of Kerrville TX – City Hall or Instagram at cityofkerrville