Feature Friday: Fourth of July Edition

Independence Day for the United States falls on the Fourth of July. People from all over the country come together in unity to celebrate this day! The smell of grilled hotdogs and hamburgers drifting through the air. The crisp sweetness of fresh watermelon. The cool refreshing taste of a chilled beer, while hanging poolside. The fireworks bursting against the night sky, filling the dark background with vibrant colors. These are the thoughts that come to mind when I think of the Fourth of July! Of course, each family or individual honors this holiday in their own unique way. Keep reading to find out how a few people celebrate their Fourth!

Courtney from Hawaii: “In Hawaii, we celebrate almost everything by heading to the beach! Fourth of July was no different. There’s events here called “Floatilla”. It’s where you go out in the ocean in a floating device (think blow up swans, pizza slices etc) and bob in the water drinking alongside hundreds of others doing the same thing. It’s so much fun! There’s always one in Waikiki and then one on the North Shore. I’ve been to both and decided to go to Waikiki one this year. Here’s a photo so you can see what I’m talking about!”

Maegan from Florida: “My home base is currently Pensacola, FL but I venture to Mobile, AL for fireworks and festivities. Mobile is my hometown and the fourth is a time to spend with my family. Our tradition is to arrive at the Battleship Memorial Park to grab front row seats near the stage. We listen to patriotic music as the sun sets behind the USS Alabama, military uniforms scattered among the grounds. My family always bring homemade ice cream, made without eggs since I am allergic, and watermelon! We indulge in our picnic and play a few rounds of Bocce ball before celebrating America’s independence with a sparkling firework show!”

Kris from Michigan: “We generally spend our Fourth of July holidays camping somewhere by a lake. My family owns a camper, so we pack up the dogs and head to one of our favorite state parks. We like to spend the day enjoying nature and going for a refreshing swim. My dad usually grills something great – homemade burgers or steaks – and we’ll have a nice meal for dinner. Evenings are the best, because we relax around the campfire roasting s’mores and lighting sparklers.”

Larissa from Georgia: “This year, I didn’t do anything too exciting, so I decided to share a picture from last year. Last Fourth of July, a group of us headed to Athens, Georgia and went kayaking. It was my first time kayaking, and I got stuck on basically every rock I passed, whether it was visible or not. It was a lot of fun though! The years before that, I usually spent the day and evening in the Marietta Square. There I was able to indulge myself in various fried concoctions, sample fresh lemonades, and {window}shop to my heart’s content. When night started to fall, the Square would slow down as everyone’s eyes turned upwards to gaze upon the colorful and exciting fireworks show!”

Thank you to Courtney, Maegan, and Kris for sharing your Fourth of July festivities! They all sound like a blast! What about you? If you’re located in the United States, how did you celebrate the Fourth of July? Let us know in the comments!