Celebrating the 4th of July
As cities cancel 4th of July celebrations, many Americans have found themselves looking for ways to have fun while also social distancing. With help from modern technology and a bit of
compromise, you can get your family’s 4th of July experience this year.
Virtual Vacation – Does your family normally travel for this holiday? If so, take a virtual tour to American
museums and historical sites from the comfort of your living room. View pictures, watch videos and get
the full educational experience from these sites without travel, cost, or heat exhaustion.
- NASA
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- George Washington’s Mount Vernon
- Statue of Liberty
- Yellowstone National Park
- Yosemite National Park
Movie Night – Make your celebration a movie marathon with flicks that have a patriotic theme. Binge
from home or pick your favorite and add it to your weekend plans. If you have a projector, you can host
a neighborhood “drive-in” theatre party and let everyone enjoy the film as well (while keeping 6 feet
apart, of course). Here are a few movies to keep in mind that are always crowd-pleasers. If America’s
pastime, baseball is more to your liking we have included some classics from that genre too.
- Independence Day
- Hamilton
- Forest Gump
- Jaws
- National Treasure
- Captain America
- The Sandlot
- A League of their Own
- Field of Dreams
Backyard Bash – You don’t have to go far to enjoy your favorite Independence Day activities. Your
backyard is a great place to have family fun without having to go out someplace crowded. Set up games,
kid’s pools, water sprinklers, and have a small cookout with the kids. This outdoor family picnic is a great
time to get some sun and enjoy spending time with each other.
Zoom – Aside from social distancing, some family members live too far or can’t travel for the weekend.
Set up a Zoom meeting with everyone, so no one feels left out. Host a hotdog eating contest, share
grilling tips, or discuss new recipes so that everyone can participate from a distance.
Fireworks – For many people, their favorite part of this holiday is the firework shows. Unfortunately,
many places have had to cancel their firework shows this year. One safe alternative to setting off your
own fireworks is to watch a live stream! NBC, PBS, the town of Addison are all hosting huge firework
shows on their channels for views to enjoy. The best part of watching from home is that you are
guaranteed a great seat.
- Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks on NBC
- D.C. Fireworks on PBS
- Addison Kaboom Town on CW33 and Youtube
Remember, no matter what you do to celebrate, be sure to practice social distancing. Stay safe this
holiday weekend, and most importantly, have fun!
