On the 4th of July, whether you travel solo, with a partner or family, take time to celebrate Independence Day!
Here are 5 festive American 4th of July traditions you won’t want to miss:
1) Watch a parade.
Look for neighborhood parades for an up-close and personal view of the event. Wear your red, white and blue. Wave a flag. Have fun with the clowns. Swing along to marching band tunes. Cheer your local servicemen and women. Heck, you might even want to join the parade before it’s over.
2) Have a picnic or BBQ.
Of course, you’ll need to have plenty of favorite American dishes on hand: potato salad to go with grilled hamburgers and hotdogs; baked beans; corn-on-the-cob; ice-cold lemonade and/or beer; and don’t forget the strawberry shortcake for dessert.
3) Attend a band concert.
If ever there’s a day to listen to the music of John Philip Sousa, this is it. In Seattle, head to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard to see the Seattle Civic Band perform at 2PM. As an added bonus, you can watch the boats cruise through the locks.
4) Stage a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Let’s remember what we’re celebrating on the 4th of July. On this day in 1776 representatives of 12 of the 13 American colonies approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. When in the Course of human events . . . We hold these truths to be self-evident . . .
5) See the fireworks.
Photo courtesy of flickr – Camera Slayer
Cap off your festive day with a fireworks display. Safety comes first, so be sure to enjoy the viewing from a protected area. Better to keep your pets safe at home in a quiet place.
What are your favorite 4th of July traditions, Wanderboomers?
