HOUSTON — Fireworks, festivals and parades return in full force this July 4 with events planned across the Greater Houston area. The celebrations of America's independence will include everything from traditional parades to festivals -- large and small -- concerts and, of course, the star of the show: fabulous fireworks.

The Houston skyline will be lit up on the Fourth of July by thousands of fireworks, but Thursday morning, hidden behind a treeline, a crew of six was hard at work, carefully arranging the explosives at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park.