10 Things to Do on 4th of July
6. Check out Macy’s fireworks
Macy’s 4th of July fireworks are extremely popular and light up the whole of Manhattan’s West Side. These fireworks are usually complemented beautifully by a patriotic score playing in the background. There are quite a few spots in the city like 12th Avenue below 59th Street or New Jersey across the Hudson that will give you a fascinating view of the star spangled sky.
7. Visit the Empire State Building Observatory
If you want to do something on Independence Day and if you are in New York, a visit to the Observatory is really worth it. It will give you an awesome view of fireworks across the city, most famous being those from Macy’s. The sublime view is not something you will be able to cast off from your memory for a very long time.
8. Attend a parade
There will be parades all across the country. After handing the flag, you can join a parade along with your family. Quite a few of them are organized in every city with different places adding their own touch to it. It is one of the oldest traditions of the country as well to participate in these parades. In fact, there are parades where Yankee farmers show off their big cows too, as an age old tradition.
9. Organize a picnic in the park
Almost every big park in every city will have patriotic scores playing in the background. This adds to the ambiance. There will be mini-concerts organized at these parties too and the atmosphere will be like that of a summer carnival. Make ice cream, bake a cake, pack the boxes and head with your family to the park, to relax and wish each other a happy Independence Day. A movie screening isn’t totally ruled out and is almost always a fixture at the parks that have the right facilities. You can even check out news updates from local papers to see if any of your favorite bands are performing nearby.
10. Get together for a BBQ party
This is another of the old American traditions still followed on the Independence Day. Neighbors get together in one of the front yards, get the grills from their houses and start a BBQ party. Coolers of meat and beer and moms busy making salads and desserts is a common sight. Neighbors enjoy delicious baked beans, burgers and potato salads, with a happy atmosphere and some relaxed partying. There are some fireworks in the front-yards of houses too, in order to keep the kids happy.
