Fourth of July: The most patriotic day out of our entire year! All around the country Americans near and far are gathering their favorite snacks, beverages and activities to prepare for this weekend’s upcoming festivities.
But with the current pandemic forcing establishments to remain closed, parades and fireworks to be cancelled and social distancing keeping our gatherings small, many are left feeling a bit disappointed.
Not to worry, though! Just because Fourth of July 2020 may be a bit different than years prior, doesn’t mean it can’t be filled with loads of fun!
For ideas ranging from festive foods to nighttime activities, we’ve compiled our top 7 ways to throw an amazing Fourth of July celebration right from your own home!
- Throw a Red, White and Blue Barbecue
You can’t do Fourth of July properly without a good old fashioned cookout! But who says you have to stick to traditional fare?
Try some of these fun recipes that are not only delicious but eye candy for your tables, as well!
Appetizers & Main Dishes
– Blue and White Potato Gnocchi with Fresh Red Tomato Sauce, from Lori at Fake Food Free
– Red White and Blue Deviled Eggs, from Created by Diane
– Red and White Double Dippers with Blue Corn Chips, by Food Network
– Red, White and Blue Potato Salad, by Food Network
– Red, White and Blue Mashed Potatoes, by Baked by Rachel
Desserts
– , by Dessert Now Dinner Later
– Patriotic Cake Pops Flag, by Party City
– SKIPPY Peanut Butter Yogurt Pretzel Bites Flag Fruit Platter
– Flag S’mores Dip, by The Decorated Cookie
– Red, White and Blue Cheesecake Cupcakes, by Entertaining Diva - Make Your Own Water-Park
It wouldn’t be the Fourth of July without some fun splashing in the water on a hot summer day! If you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your own backyard consider filling it with fun colorful floats or buying an assortment of pool toys. Floating basketball hoops, sinking sticks, ring tosses and even an inflatable pong table for the adults will add loads of fun to your day in the pool!
Don’t have a pool? No worries, there’s plenty of other great ways to have fun getting wet!
– Fill up a large bucket of water balloons for an epic tournament between family members
– Hook up a variety of sprinklers to make your own splash pad
– Set up an inflatable water slide
– Have a water gun fight
– Install a sprinkler system on your trampoline
- Watch a Parade Online
Gathering with family, friends and your community on the sidewalk to watch the yearly Fourth of July parade is a staple for many around the country. Between the excited kids waving and gathering candy thrown from high up on firetrucks and colorful floats to local musical groups playing patriotic music and dancing in the streets, parades are a wonderful experience for people of all ages.
While parades around the country have been cancelled this year there are hundreds of parades from years prior available to view online!
We know; it’s not nearly as exciting as experiencing it in person, but still a wonderful opportunity to awaken the patriotic spirit.
- Child Friendly History Lessons
If you’re looking for a great opportunity to sneak a little bit of education into your child’s Fourth of July, consider starting out the day with a little history lesson!
Thanks to YouTube and other streaming platforms parents have access to a huge catalog of family-friendly videos that explain the War of Independence in a form that is both interesting and age-appropriate for younger viewers.
If you’re trying to limit screen-time opt for a children’s book on the topic instead.
Some great example are:
– The Story of America’s Birthday, by Patricia A. Pingry
– The Fourth of July Story, by Alice Dalgliesh
– What is America?, by Michelle Medlock Williams
– The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence, by Judith St. George
– Founding Mothers: Remembering the Ladies, by Cokie Roberts
– John, Paul, George and Ben, by Lane Smith
- Camp Out in the Backyard
If you’re the outdoorsy type who loves loading up your trail-pack and venturing into the wilderness, the current pandemic might be putting a damper on your camping plans.
Instead of forgoing plans of tenting and sleeping under the stars altogether, consider setting them up in your backyard!
It may not be your favorite spot in the forest but it’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and appreciate the natural beauty Mother Nature has to offer.
Go one step further and break out the lanterns, mini-gas grills and cast-iron pans to make the experience even more authentic. Build a campfire come nighttime, roast some marshmallows and end the night with some fun ghost stories!
- Fireworks
Nothing says Fourth of July quite like fireworks filling the night sky. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that your local municipality has decided to forgo their colorful displays this year to encourage social distancing. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fireworks!
From big-name stores like Walmart and Target to those big tents set up in nearly every mini-mall parking lot, there’s plenty of options when it comes to getting your hands on your own pack of fireworks. While we can’t LEGALLY purchase aerial fireworks like our neighbors within a three-hour drive of us – New Hampshire and Pennsylvania – we still have plenty of options to provide a gorgeous fireworks display in our own backyards!
Don’t forget the sparklers, snaps and snakes for the kids!
- Create Your Own Drive-In
After you’re full from the barbecue and the fireworks have all been set off, end the night with your favorite family film…outside! Grab a complete kit including projector, screen and holder and your family can enjoy outdoor movie night whenever you’d like.
Make some popcorn, pull out your favorite lawn chair, bring our blankets/pillows and enjoy! For those with pools in your backyard consider throwing your favorite pool float in and watching from the water!
To make things even better most newer projectors are equipped to support ChromeCast, Amazon Fire Sticks and other streaming peripherals, allowing you to cast whatever you’d like – even old family videos!