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Across the country, the 4th of July is a time for fun. Most of us are already enjoying warm summer weather. Backyard barbeques and family getaways are the rule, rather than the exception, especially when the holiday falls on a Monday as it does this year, giving many of us a three-day weekend. This is a time to spend with friends and family, appreciating our good fortune to be part of this great country. No matter what your political views, surely we’d all agree that as Americans we’re blessed with freedoms, advantages and opportunities many people around the world can only dream of.
No matter what city or town you live in, find a 4th of July celebration to enjoy. Take a moment to reflect on what makes America great, despite any controversy of the day.
If you’re heading to one of these wonderful American cities, here are my top picks for 4th of July fun, based on their extreme entertainment potential! If you’ve discovered a wonderfully entertaining celebration to take part in, in these cities or any other, leave a comment and let us know about it!
Boston will be, as usual, a most entertaining place to be this 4th. The 2011 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is a 2-day concert event featuring the Boston Pops, Lionel Richie, and several other world-class performers. Cost: Free.
First, on July 3 don’t miss indie singer-songwriter Neko Case at the Stern Grove Festival. If you’ve never heard her, you’re about to find out why they call her a powerhouse. Cost: Free.
On July 4th at 2pm, check out the San Francisco Mime Troupe’s “2012 – The Musical.” This Tony Award winning troupe brilliantly satires life’s situations. Cost: Free.
After the show, head out to any one of dozens of fireworks celebrations in the surrounding area. Here’s a great listing of events.
Let’s head over to Philly now, where the 4th is a big deal every year! Four time Grammy winners The Roots are the featured performers at this year’s Wawa Welcome America celebration.
In fact, the celebration already started! They’ve been rocking the 4th since June 24th. Get there fast! The ten- day celebration really does hold something for everyone. You’ll catch special museum exhibits, block parties, all-you-can-eat ice cream festivals, parades, concerts, and fun learning activities for the kids. Cost: Free for everything but the ice cream festivals, which cost $7 per person. All proceeds from the ice cream festivals will benefit a fund dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric leukemia.
Check out the Wawa Welcome America website for full details about the schedule and events.
IMHO, the most entertaining way to view fireworks in a beach town is to get into a wetsuit and paddle out on a longboard. Relax in the water as the colors light up the sky, sending shooting stars all around you like rain. From Chula Vista to Coronado to Ocean Beach to La Jolla to Oceanside – San Diego offers multiple dazzling fireworks shows over the water this year. And they could soon become a thing of the past. Environmentalists claim that fireworks deposit toxic pollutants in the water, lowering water quality and causing harm to ocean plant and animal life. The fate of the fireworks displays will be decided in court. Here’s one of many lists of fireworks shows around town.
We lived outside of DC when I was a kid, and I have wonderful memories of attending the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife festival. It starts June 30, and the focus this year is on Columbia, the Peace Corps, and Rhythm and Blues music. Catch performances, presentations, conversations, workshops and more.
DC is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, and they’ll provide a free concert on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol on July 4th. Few orchestras in the world surpass the NSO in quality and polish. If you’re anywhere near Washington, attend this performance. You won’t be disappointed.
No matter where you are, enjoy the shows, concerts, parades, beaches, museums, arts and crafts fairs, fireworks displays and all of the many other 4th of July festivities. If you can, make a day out of it to avoid the worst of the traffic and parking. Head out early in the morning, and bring a grill, cooler full of food and drinks, and some shade if you think you’ll be in the sun all day. Don’t forget sunblock and hats. Be prepared for parking and traffic difficulties, and stay mellow and patient. Give your kids an opportunity for some downtime at some point during the day – and use it to relax yourself, too.
Have a wonderful, safe holiday!
Photo 1: Beverly and Pack, Creative Commons 2.0
Photo 2: Kevin Cole, Creative Commons 2.0
Photo 2: Wendy Harman, Creative Commons 2.0