Austin is gearing up for a lively July Fourth as America celebrates its 250th anniversary.

The big picture: From Willie Nelson's annual picnic to fireworks over Lady Bird Lake, here are our favorite shows, celebrations and giveaways all weekend long.

Pro tip: An Austin law firm is offering 1,000 Uber vouchers to prevent drunken driving.

• Fill out the form on this webpage to receive your voucher — while supplies last.

🏊‍♀️ Pool parties

Looking to lounge? There are plenty of spots to cool off, whether you're after rooftop vibes or a front-row seat to the city's fireworks.

• Austin Proper Hotel's La Piscina pool deck will host DJ sets Friday and Saturday at 6pm. RSVP for free, but arrive early to make sure you get a spot.
• Hotel Magdalena's pool is open to hotel guests and locals Friday and Saturday, with live music, food and drinks. Music starts at 3pm Friday and 1pm Saturday. Free.

🎆 Firework shows

Think twice before lighting your own fireworks. It's illegal to possess or use them within city limits. Instead, head to one of these displays for a safer (and bigger) show:

• The city is hosting its annual fireworks show and concert from the Austin Symphony Orchestra at Auditorium Shores. Entertainment starts at 4:30pm, free.
• The Hill Country Galleria will host its Independence Day Festival with fireworks, backyard games and live music. 4-10pm, free.

🍽️ Restaurant and bar deals

Bars and restaurants are serving up holiday specials, themed parties and family-friendly fun.

• Hotel Vegas and Volstead Lounge will host its annual hotdog eating contest Saturday, along with a World Cup viewing party beginning at 11am. Hotdog contest signups are at 6pm. Glizzy guzzling starts at 8pm. Free.
• Hole in the Wall's annual Hole-A-Palooza 4th of July 90s tribute fest brings a day of nostalgic music and food vendors. Music starts at 4pm, $24.
• Meanwhile Brewing Co. will host World Cup watch parties and a family-friendly Fourth of July Fest, with face painting, a cornhole tournament and specials from the brewery's food trucks. 10:30am-7pm, free.

Live music options

Watching the bats emerge at Bracken Cave Preserve is a special summer activity that draws travelers from around the globe to a field outside San Antonio.

Why it matters: The cave is home to the largest bat colony in the world, and it's only an hour and 15 minute drive from Austin.

By the numbers: About 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats stay at Bracken Cave during the summer, generally May through September. Bats have been roosting there for about 10,000 years.

The big picture: Mexican free-tailed bats, which are relatively small, are key to our health. They are effective pollinators and eat several agricultural pests.

State of play: The bats are migratory, and those that come to Bracken Cave are pregnant females.

• They give birth in June and the babies often begin flying in July, learning the ropes through the end of the summer so they can survive the trip back to Mexico and South America for the winter.

How it works: The bat viewings are ticketed and in high demand.

• Times vary depending on sunrise and sunset, but there are both morning and evening bat flights.
• Tickets cost about $33.

Zoom in: Your listed arrival time might be well before sunset, but there's plenty to do at the preserve. Hike the short trails and check out an old guano mine. Take some binoculars into the bird blind.

What's next: If the night you want is sold out, be sure to join the waitlist in the purchase window.

More tips

⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship, reaffirming the long-held belief that any person born on American soil is a citizen. (Axios)

❤️ Austin ISD's police chief is out of the hospital after he crashed his motorcycle while escorting Superintendent Matias Segura from a graduation ceremony. (KVUE)

🦟 The West Nile virus was found in a mosquito pool in Travis County, the first positive pool of the year. (CBS Austin)

🪧 The union representing CapMetro workers says 99.5% of its members voted to authorize a strike if necessary amid contract negotiations. (KXAN)

If you're hitting the road this weekend, we have good news. Austin residents are paying less at the pump than a month ago, but still about 68 cents more per gallon than this time last year, per GasBuddy data.

Why it matters: Gas prices are one of the fastest ways a global energy shock reaches household budgets. Even when Texas prices are better than the national average, a sharp run-up can still impact families' driving choices.

By the numbers: Regular unleaded in Travis County averaged $3.21 per gallon as of Tuesday afternoon, per AAA.

• The national average was about $3.85, per AAA.

Zoom out: Retail gas prices are tethered to oil prices set on global markets, even though the U.S. is the world's largest producer and imports relatively little from the Middle East.

• Gas prices have eased somewhat, but it's unclear how long that'll last with tensions still high between U.S. and Iran.

👋 Asher here. As part of our running summer series on cold drinks, we stopped by Pepe's Kitchen, the in-house restaurant at Fiesta supermarkets, for some aguas frescas.

Why it matters: You need as many options as possible to slake your thirst.

What we ordered: The horchata, the melón, the sandía ($3.70 each) — and some fresh-squeezed orange juice ($7.49 for 32 ounces).

• We loved the sandía — not too sweet, and a beautiful watermelon-red — and the OJ was so good New Yorkers would love to have it with their bagel brunch.
• The melón (cantaloupe) was great, too, and — for good or bad — pulpy. The horchata — like most horchatas — was too sugary.

Six-word review: Thirst quenching without leaving the supermarket.

🏆 Pro tip: Combine it with a shop for toilet paper, Ziploc bags, Saran wrap and all the other household goods you keep forgetting to buy.