TOP 5 THINGS TO DO ON JULY 4TH

I love celebrating the Fourth of July not only because it’s America’s Independence Day, but for me, it’s a celebration of life, summer and warm weather! I enjoy getting dressed for the holiday and spending time with family outdoors. I feel like everybody celebrates it differently but I’m sure we also all participate in similiar activities. If you are unsure or don’t have July 4th plans, I’ve narrowed down the options for you to guarantee an awesome time. I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing holiday and carry out some of the typical Fourth of July traditions such as the ones below:

1. Have a barbecue: Barbecues are incredibly fun because it’s a great way to get everybody together and enjoy the warm weather while also eating some delicious food! It’s definitely the most common activity in my opinion because it’s a time-honored tradition to break out the grill and have some burgers or hot dogs while the kids play outside. My family has one every single year and I look forward having my friends and family over for a good time. Crack open a beer or soda and just kick back and relax! We don’t have pools here in the city but if you are lucky enough to own one, this would be a great addition to the barbecue.
    
2. Attend a parade: I love how every community for the most part has their own local parade. It is so much fun to go see the various floats and performances as the parade makes its way through the town. I’ve actually seen my friends be part of the parade and it is so fun to cheer them on from the sidelines. It’s definitely fun for people of all ages and I can’t wait to see the one in Manhattan this year. I know it can be a bit chaotic and crowded but I feel like that’s the fun of it. You just have to be a part of it and just embrace all the madness!

    

3. Make a bonfire: If you’re not a fan of crowds, this is an awesome way to get just a few loved ones together and roast marshmallows in a bonfire. This is something much more low-key to do but just as fun because it’s more intimate and relaxed. I’ve actually never had a bonfire, but this is something I would love to do in the summer. You can also spend the evening under stars and it doesn’t get more romantic or intimate as that. It’s such a beautiful sight and a great way to spend time with the people close to you.

    

4. Go to the beach: The beach is a great way to get away from the summer heat and a lot of beaches put on their own fireworks show on the water, which is amazing. I definitely hate dealing with the sweltering heat of New York. There’s nothing like getting some sun and breathing in some ocean air to get you relaxed. Every beach has their own individual celebration for the occasion so you should definitely check out what is going on at your local shore!
5. Watch fireworks: This may be a given, but it’s tradition and such a beautiful way to end the night. People from all over your community gather to watch fireworks on fourth of July and it’s such an awesome way  to get your family together every year. Depending on where you go, some displays are spectacular and worth the trip once you see it in person. I live in the New York City area and my favorite place to watch the fireworks is East River Park because it’s so much more peaceful than crowded rooftops.

I know sometimes there’s so much going on during holidays that it’s hard to narrow down what you want to do, so I hope you enjoyed my list of Fourth of July activities. Let me know your plans for next week and if you’re doing anything special!