We came to the slow realization this week that we weren’t sure what we were going to do for the Fourth of July this year. Normally there would be concerts and parades and festivities all over the state to take advantage of and while there are still some events going on, we thought we’d look into some options a little closer to home. Here’s a couple of ideas we thought might be fun to try this year in lieu of our regular Independence Day celebrations.
Patriotic crafts - There are a ton of easy craft ideas you can do with your family. We found a list at Personal Creations that includes art, jewelry, games, food and more. Speaking of food, cooking with the family is certainly a tradition around here. The Food Network has ideas for red, white, and blue sides, salads, desserts, and drinks you can make together.
Do your own parade - You don’t need Main Street to keep this tradition going. Decorate yourself your bikes and your wagons and plan a route around the house or cul-de-sac. Want to take it a step further? Throw candy, play that patriotic playlist, and vote for your favorite “float”. We’d follow it up with ice cream and sparklers, but that’s just how we roll.
Project a movie - The Fourth of July is the perfect opportunity to crank to volume to 11 and watch your favorite freedom-related film. If you have a projector, you can take the party outside and invite the neighbors to watch over the fence or from their patio. We love letting the kids run concessions during the movie and sometimes we’ll plan a menu specifically for the event with Independence Dogs or Freedom Frostys.
Invite family and friends virtually - If the last few months have taught us anything it's that it's pretty easy to get together virtually. This year why not dial out of state family and friends into the festivities. We’ve been able to connect virtual meetings to our TV so we can see everybody. It’s also fun to connect on mobile devices so that you can walk them around the party and hand them off to catch up with other members of the family.
Fireworks - If there isn’t going to be a big display this year, maybe do a little fireworks show yourself. Obviously you have to check with your local laws and fire restrictions when considering fireworks at home and you have to be sure that everyone is being super safe. It's also worth mentioning that fireworks that make a lot of noise might trigger veterans or scare animals, so if there are quieter options, we suggest going that route.
Chances are, our Fourth of July weekend will be some combination of this. Strawberry and blueberries pancakes with whipped cream, some crafts, a BBQ, music, family, and maybe a sparkler or two. What about you? Got big plans this weekend? We may not be the only ones searching for inspiration. Share your ideas with the group and let’s keep the conversation going.
P.s. If it’s been awhile since you’ve had a water balloon fight, your children will not expect it, at all. Just going to leave that information here. You do with it what you will. : )