Tens of thousands celebrate Independence Day in Houston

HOUSTON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of people joined parades, parties and shows in this Texas city Thursday to celebrate Independence Day.

Independence Day is one of the most popular annual holidays in the United States. More than 120,000 Houstonians thronged Eleanor Tinsley Park in downtown Houston to participate in the biggest event of the day, which was named Freedom over Texas. The event featured live music, family activities and beach volleyball.

Nine-time Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow and four-time Country Music Association vocalist of the year Martina McBride performed for swarms of fans who braved heat and rain during the six-hour celebration.

Special operation divisions from Houston Police Department and bomb-sniffing dogs were positioned at the entrance and across the festival grounds to ensure security.

The event was wrapped up with a dazzling fireworks spectacular, lighting up the skyline of the country's fourth-largest city.

Thursday marked the 237th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring the United States' independence from the Great Britain.

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