Zero Fourth of July Plans
During young adulthood—college and beyond—we would trek down to the Capitol and stake out seats on the Capitol steps to watch the fireworks. Deeper in adulthood, newly married, we took over space on the Mall, wanting a little room to lie down and spread out.
Early in parenthood, we sat on a field and watched the fireworks over the trees with the other local families. We unfolded beach chairs and talked while the kids ran around or played on the nearby playground.
And then last year, everything was canceled and we stayed home.
And this year, everything was canceled again and we’re staying home.
Our celebration has gotten smaller and smaller over time until it is barely existent at all. Maybe we’ll watch a replay of fireworks on television.
What are your Fourth of July plans if you’re in (or from) the US?
8 comments
Our celebrations have not been cancelled. Depending on our mood, my friend and her family (who made a trip detour to spend the day with us) and I might go see some local fireworks. We’ll have to see. Or maybe we’ll just go play with the dog. I don’t really care either way. Independence Day was a lot more fun before I knew any history.
The celebration is small for us again this year. Last year everything was canceled due to COVID; this year it’s due to threats of fire. Swimming and playing outside on the agenda. Spending some reading time in the hammock (we have a timer so everyone gets some time). Only thing that is currently for debate is whether to include sparklers.
Happy 4th Mel. May today be a peaceful one as we celebrate the birth of this nation.
We are having my in-laws over for dinner, but no fireworks and no other celebration. For the past several years, when we haven’t been out of town visiting my father, we have gone to a close friend’s nearby house to watch fireworks from their backyard (where there is a good view of several local fireworks displays). But this year my father has passed away, my friend is out of town, and I didn’t have the energy or motivation to research other entertainment options.
We just celebrated Canada Day on Thursday. We’ve never done much to celebrate personally, aside from maybe watching the neighbourhood fireworks from our doorstep/balcony. You noted that you’ve done less on the Fourth of July as your kids have grown up — maybe if we had kids we would have made more of a big deal of it?? Things were already going to be lower-key than usual this year because of covid (as they were last year — a few provinces threw everything open on Canada Day, but there are still lots of restrictions in place where we are) — and then the Indigenous peoples asked that celebrations be cancelled or scaled back out of respect for the recent discovery of hundreds of unmarked children’s graves found near former residential schools. Judging by the barrage of fireworks in the neighbourhood (that night and every night this weekend…!), I guess not too many people (hereabouts anyway) got the message…!
I spent quite a few Fourth of Julys at my grandparents’ in Minnesota when I was growing up, including Bicentennial (1976), when I was 15. I remember a parade, fireworks, sparklers in the garden after dark, and making hand-cranked homemade ice cream on the porch (with all the cousins taking a turn at the crank). It was fun, but I was always very aware that this was not my country!
Anyway, dh & I celebrated Canada Day this year in the BEST way possible — by getting our second vaccines!! 🙂
Our typical family plans (an extended family picnic and pool time) are still canceled but my small town (and most of the state) are proceeding as though the pandemic is over. Parades and packed fireworks and parties. We let our kids stay up late Friday to watch local fireworks from the hill behind our house and camped out in the backyard. It was far more fun than I expected and I hope we make it a tradition. But today we went to my parents’ and had a typical (pandemic, adults vaccinated) Sunday. We played games and had lunch and then came home. We did make s’mores here but otherwise, just a regular summer day.
Since my oldest was a toddler (and I was pregnant with her sister), we attended our town’s 4th of July parade. Afterwards there’s always a concert on the lawn. Until last year. It wasn’t held this year either, and we wouldn’t have gone if it was. The last time it was held -2019-there was a Tr*mp 2020 contingent with a huge flag 🤢🤮(pretty much any organization can apply to march in the parade). That kind of soured me on the whole thing, so who knows if we will attend again.
This year we didn’t do anything specifically to celebrate the 4th, but we did go on a nice family bike ride (my kids finally have bikes with more than one speed). Fireworks are banned where we live and it’s like the 2nd driest year on record but I’m sure later tonight I’ll hear fireworks anyway.
Our fourth of July plans where gloriously understated… We had smoked jalapeno and cheddar bratwurst, sure outside, and then enjoyed margaritas on the deck. We could hear fireworks, but not see them. The little hollow behind our house filled up with smoke, but we just saw a zillion fireflies. And no people. Perfect!
(I used to go to town fireworks, but then didn’t like the crowds, then our old neighborhood had a small but elaborate display across the street, and here we just chill and watch fireflies, possibly because we’re old, ha)
We took our boat out on Grand Lake, CO and watched the fireworks. They launch them from a barge in the middle of the lake. The kids loved it and we weren’t in a big crowd. Just our little family of 5 with a great view!