SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio hosted many July 4th events on Wednesday, including a full slate of events at the Alamo.
The event featured music, along with demonstrations, food and a reading of the United States' Declaration of Independence.
"It's a yearly tradition with us. It's a great setting (with) great music and great people," said San Antonian veteran Carl Meinhardt.
The patriotic music served as a draw for large crowds. It even inspired some impromptu dancing from 30-year Army veteran Wendy Martinson.
"It's the music, the atmosphere, the patriotism; we're both vets and enjoy this music very much," said Martinson.
There was also plenty of history to be found, with many relics from the Battle of the Alamo.
"It's kind of a crossroads where Texas history, U.S. history and world history all come together," said the Alamo Curator and Historian Bruce Winders, when speaking of the historic monument.
July 4th serves as an important date for the state of Texas, too.
"On July 4th, in 1845, in Austin, there was a convention being held to discuss the issue of statehood," said Winders. "What came of that was Texas statehood."