4th of July traditions

southernbelle0915 · July 2015

What do y'all do (if anything)?

We usually head up to our lakehouse, grill out, watch the fireworks, and spend some time on the water. My parents/aunts/uncles used to have a big family reunion every 4th. It was the highlight of my summer as a kid, but the family just got way too big and people started making their own plans.

Anyway...this year, DH's folks are in town so we're staying local, heading to a friend's BBQ, and probably going to some fireworks.

ashtsb · July 2015

For us it's a 50/50 on going to the city fireworks. This year they were postponed until Labor day weekend due to all the rain we've had all month. When we don't do that we just go to a friend's for hotdogs and swimming.

AddieCake · July 2015

Nothing in particular. Sometimes we grill out with friends. My husband hasn't been home for the 4th the last 2 years, but he is this year, and we are just getting together to BBQ with friends and maybe see the fireworks.

kvruns · July 2015

H is a pyro and likes to set off a lot of fireworks. We and the neighbors do a joint party (keg, cookouts, pool) and then H sets off fireworks for everyone in the evening. This year he bought remotes and is hoping to have it somewhat timed to music. I hope it works out as he planned but I have a feeling it won't go quite right with the music and all the beer he will have consumed.

We also go to a friend's house (tonight) for a cookout and to watch their neighborhood fireworks. Friend's neighbor does a big show tied to music and controlled by a computer. This show rivals some small town/city shows for sure. He spends over $10,000 each year just for this one show it is nuts.

Maggie0829 · July 2015

This will be the third year where a group of us go to a local bar to watch the O's play and see how many orange crushes we can all drink. The first year we (6 of us) drank a total of 23 orange crushes. Last year we drank 18. So this year we need to get our shit together and do some damage.

Then once the game is over with and we have had our fill of yummy fried bar food, we will head back to my house where we will hang out, play some games and grill some food.

novella1186 · July 2015

Ever since I was a baby it has been our tradition to go to my grandma's lake house. My mom's side is scattered all over the country (and some now live in other countries) so it's the only time we all get to see each other. It's always the highlight of my summer too!

The "kids" (I'm the youngest, so everyone's in their 30s and 40s now, some with kids of their own, but we're still the kids) all stay in this old converted ice house and everybody grills a bunch of food, there's always lots of beer (of course) and I always make some kind of pitcher of cocktails (like margaritas or whatever). It's just a very casual, easy-going, fun time. Bonfires, volleyball, kayaking, sitting around, whatever. I'm so excited!

Bubblegum5586 · July 2015

This is my 9th year with H and every year we go to his Aunt's house for a huge cookout and pool party. Every year the family get's bigger as more cousins get married and have babies. I look forward to it every year!

Then a few years ago it was decided that the boys were getting too serious with their wiffle ball tournament during the cookout so they had to move it to another day. So now on Sunday of 4th of July weekend there is a big wiffle ball tournament that is basically like part 2 of the 4th of July cookout.

lyndausvi · July 2015

It's carnival time in St John, USVI, so when I lived there it was a week long party. At 5am at 4th of July is Jouvet, so basically I would start partying on the night of the 3rd throughout the night (sometimes bartending). Then I would take a nap. Then come back out for the 5 hour parade that started 11am. I would take another nap at some point then show up for the fireworks. Ah, my younger days :P

My family goes to my parent's place at the beach so a few times I would meet them there.

Now we are in CO it's working at the club. 900+ people come for dinner, skydivers, fireworks, etc. Biggest event of the year for us. I'm bartending at one of the satellite bars. The good news is most of the people leave after the fireworks. It's a mass exodus. My bar is the first to shut down. I'm out of there about 30 minutes after they end. So it's not a super long night. Although they have me back the next morning at 7am for the golf tournaments

MyNameIsNot · July 2015

When I was a kid, we did a big family reunion every year on my great aunt's land. The host has since passed and a lot of people have moved away, so it doesn't happen anymore.

My immediate family tried to start some of our own traditions, but it's never really taken off. July 4 is literally the only time my sister's ILs do anything together, so now getting the family together is impossible.

So instead, I usually day drink at the pool with my girlfriends and then go eat Mexican food.

beachyone15 · July 2015

Growing up, our family always went to the beach for the weekend. My parents just bought a condo there and I was so excited to go down for the weekend and see it for the first time. Unfortunately DH got really sick with a high fever this week. So we may not be going after all.

ETF: words

emmaaa · July 2015

DH's mom's family has a fish fry every year on the fourth. After the fish fry we go to a friend's farm where the shoot off fireworks. And they are good. They have to get permits to show them.

PandaNikki · July 2015

Growing up, we would go to my mom's cousin's house with the big pool and have a cookout there and go swimming. They recently moved far away so that ended not too long ago.

Last year DH and I didn't do anything on the day because of thunderstorms, but the next day we went to a (minor league) baseball game that had fireworks after.

This year we haven't yet decided what we want to do. We were going to drive down to my parents (2 hour drive) and go to their cookout, but it's been moved to my sister's place (same city). Not a huge deal, but my sister doesn't have a lot of outside room and DH is extremely allergic to cats and dogs and she has both, which means we will have to be outside the entire time. We are still leaning toward going down there but still aren't 100% on it. Alternatively, a friend of ours near where we live is also having a cookout. Not sure what we are going to do but we should probably decide soon!

AlexisA01 · July 2015

Usually our families will do a pool party, cook awesome food, drinks, and have fun. I'm throwing the pool party and doing a the bbq pit.

redheadbride15 · July 2015

My parents live near a lake in NH and they have a 4th of July "parade" on the lake every year. This basically consists of all the people who live on the lake (that's like 20 people) decorating whatever kind of boat or float contraption they can find with patriotic colors and riding around the lake waving flags. Here we are in my dad's canoe!

4th of July traditions

Re: 4th of July traditions

Choose Another Board

Search Boards