The 4th of July is almost here! Do you have big plans already? Last year, my husband and I spent the holiday with my Aunt in South FL watching fireworks from the rooftop of a building near a beach. This year, my boss invited us to join his family and some other co-workers at a country club celebration. Rumor is there will be great food and spectacular fireworks. The weather looks hot, but promising. Of course, in Florida, you never know what the weather will be like at any given time. Heck, it could be raining on one side of the street, but not the other!
So, that’s our fun evening plans, but we have a 3-day weekend to fill up! Hopefully you do, too! Here are some fun ideas for you and your family to think about, as well as some precautionary items:
First, the obvious: Look in your local newspapers and visit your city’s website to see what parades, fireworks and other fun events they will have in your area. Most of these will be free of charge!
There are so many great activities to do at home with your kids, including some of 
the smaller fireworks and sparklers that don’t require any permitting. A lot of them are pretty inexpensive and will be fun for the kids, if used safely. Check your area’s rules on these before buying them and make sure the fireworks are out of your child’s reach unless you are with them.
BBQ, of course! Grill some yummy hamburgers and hotdogs, throw in some chips 
and baked beans! Invite your family and friends over, or have a block potluck party! Throw a frisbee or football around, watch the kids play and enjoy an icy cold rootbeer! Sounds like the perfect holiday celebration to me! Don’t forget to use Ibotta, Checkout 51, Snap and Receipt Hog to get the best deals.
Crafts! Dig out the red and blue markers, paint, beads or string, create fun artwork with finger painting, making bracelets and necklaces, or make a coloring book for the kids to color in. You can also make star garlands and wreaths to decorate the house. Do a quick Bing “4th of July Crafts” search and you will find a 
lot of ideas. Plus, these will keep the kids occupied for some time!
Go to the beach, springs, lake or river! None nearby? Pull out the sprinkler (if not on a water restriction) and make a water slide! Remember, drink plenty of water, use sunscreen and keep a hat with you.
Bake some holiday-themed goodies! Take to a local nursing home to share and help
make the day special for others.
Funny 4th of July story: When I was about 4 years old, I was at my grandparents for the summer. To celebrate the 4th of July, they had bought some small fireworks to do in the backyard, as well as some sparklers. My grandfather, Papa, is a fairly patient man, and a very smart one, too. My grandmother, Momer, is a very safety-conscious woman. They prepared everything to be a safe environment for the fireworks. We waited until dusk and brought out everything, including the sparklers. Papa tried to light one with a lighter to no avail. Stubborn firework! After several failed attempts, he tried to light it with one of those big lighters used for starting grills. For sure, this will work! Nope. 
My patient Papa has become not so very patient at this point… He disappears into the house for some time while Momer and I tried on our own to get the sparkler lit (we even tried different sparklers, in case the one was a dud). The next thing we know, here comes Papa with a propane torch!! That did the trick!! Talk about overkill though, these little sparklers needing to be lighted with a big propane torch! Good memories.
By the way, if you BBQ on a grill, be careful what kind of brush you use to clean it. Rumor has it that some brushes can leave small pieces of the bristles on the grill, get into your food and cause injury to those consuming the tainted food.
Do you have any Independence Day traditions? Do you visit family every year? An annual block party? Share your stories and pictures!
