If you are like most families, spending time together is special. Thankfully, we have many things to celebrate in this great nation. Holiday time usually means a day off of work to spend with your family. One of our favorite holidays is the 4th of July. Here are some family activities that you may enjoy!
Have a Craft Day– Everyone love to show their patriotic spirit on the 4th of July. One way to involve the kids in this holiday is to have them make some crafts that you can display in and about your home. Some things you could make are window decorations, some chair covers, or even a 4th of July party hat. One cute idea that is fun, simple and edible are Fire Cracker Marshmallow Pops! The directions for these can be found on the website, Masshole Mommy, and your kids will love them!
Plan a Family Vacation– Plan a family holiday around the holiday. You could visit colonial Williamsburg or make a trip to the White House. You could also plan a staycation and take this opportunity to explore your local community or county. Most states have interesting historical markers. Historical Markers tell the stories about events, individuals, buildings, or sites of local, state, or national significance that contribute to that state’s rich historical heritage. A quick google search and you can find a list of the Historical Landmarks in your state or county. Here is the one for the state of Wisconsin. You can also find inexpensive guides to historical markers on Amazon to just about every state.
A marker in the state of Utah.
Spend the Day Outdoors– Spend the day outdoors at the beach, lake or river that is close to home. Many families plan an outdoor picnic for this holiday. You could also prepare the food at home, rather than worrying about lugging uncooked food to the park. Many of your local parks provide sheltered areas for your picnic and provide the grills. Make sure you bring plenty of things for the kids to do such as Frisbee, horseshoes or a football to toss around. The adults can get a good game of cards going while the kids are enjoying themselves.
Beautiful Riverside Park in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Watch the Fireworks– Kids love fireworks. Plan on finding a place that has a firework display for July the 4th. Many community centers or other organizations put on a fireworks display every year. Take along sweaters or light jackets to protect yourself from the cool night air.
Macy’s 4th Of July Fireworks Spectacular, 2003 The East River, NYC
Family/Friend Get-Together- You could also plan a family and or friend get-together for this holiday. Make it easy on yourself and throw hot dogs on the grill and make it festive with some creative use of the condiments and a few inexpensive flags. Have you guests bring the sides dishes and you provide the drinks and you are all set!
These are just a few family activity ideas for the upcoming July 4th holiday. Get the family involved by asking them what they would like to do. Make sure to plan ahead so you will not be under too much stress.
What are your plans for July 4th?
Pam Buttikofer is a co-founder of Imperfect Women. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband of 37 years and enjoys spending time with her husband, sons and her lovable pups.
Cute ideas… love the added touch to the hot dog! We plan on gathering w our friends at our house and shooting some fireworks.
It is so hard to believe that July 4th is just a few days away. I have no idea what we are going to be doing… but I am hoping not to be out and about.
That park in Wisconsin looks beautiful. I need to start traveling.
Thanks for sharing my marshmallow pops 🙂
We always do the same thing on July 4th. We go to the parade in our town in the morning, then a big cookout at Nana and Papa’s house, then off to some fireworks!
Great post with quite a list of things to do. I am so going to try Robin’s Marshmallow Pops as well. The kids would definitely enjoy it. We usually do a bbq then watch the fireworks. I think its going to be the same again this year as well.
I traditionally get and stay home after dark on July 4th–too many illegal fireworks for me! Some years I will go shopping with my Mom in the afternoon–but this year she is off visiting friends so I will stay home and read! Happily I might add.
Great ideas! We’re probably doing a cookout this 4th.
We typically have a bbq with friends and family.. this year its a little scaled back..
I think a lot of people have big cookouts on the 4th – I am looking forward to the one we are going to.
Those are all great ideas! We spend a lot of it doing fireworks.
We stay home on holidays, particularly summer holidays. There are too many tourists in our area at this time of the year, it’s safer and easier to stay home. We’ll have a cookout.
I pinned Robin’s Marshmallows. That was a good one. I like the writing w/the mustard on the hot dog. That’s cute/festive/fun. 🙂
We had no plans but you sure gave us lots of inspiration to make it a grand celebration
Thanks and go team USA in the World Cup!
That USA mustard on the hot dog is cute! I can’t wait for the Nathan’s hot dog eating competition. Hubs and I never miss it!
We will be spending time outside, as long as the weather allows it. We may try for fireworks that night (my son is still really young) and then we have plans with a lot of friends on Saturday!
These are really good ideas.I hope you have a great 4th of July.
Yep, we will be celebrating with a great cookout and some sweets! I love the 4th!
I can’t wait for the 4th of July this year! We are having a big get together with a ton of fire works. Can’t leave out the sweets and treats too!
I love the 4th of July! I can’t wait for all of the bbqs and fireworks.
Looks like some great activities. My husband works until 6 on the 4th so we will probably hang out at home and watch the fireworks from our front yard like last year. We live near a venue that does fireworks and we can see them from home. I am planning to make some fun treats too.
Great ideas. Our subdivision always does a parade and this year we are going to celebrate with our family at home. I am so excited to take the kids to watch the fireworks.
I love your USA hot dog. I’m so looking forward to fireworks this year.
Those marshmallow pops are SO cute! We are going to a huge block party….can’t wait!
I love the idea of a craft day. Not only do you bond, you are also left with great memories!
Love your tasty ideas. We will grill out and watch the fireworks!!
I just want to nap and grill a lot of meat. We live near a theme park, so we might go there for professional fireworks.
All I can say what I am definitely going to do this 4th is Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks!! Definitely!!
Love the firecracker pops. We are going to stay by our pool and have friends over. Then we’ll watch the fireworks from our bedroom window.
Those marshmallow pops look like a fun activity. They’d love it… especially eating them!
Our plans are to go to Stone Mountain to see fireworks. I am in love with Masshole Mommy’s Firecracker Marshmallows- I included them in my gluten-free July 4th roundup!
I like the decorated hot dog. cute. 🙂 I love the fourth it is one of my favorite holidays.. It’s also the day after my baby girl’s birthday.
Just love the ghotdog. Freat ideas for everyone!
These are some great ideas! We will be having a BBQ at home.
We definitely will be planning on grilling and fireworks watching! We love this holiday!
Thanks for sharing! I love spending the holidays outdoors with my family. Have a fun July 4th!
I love the fourth and I can’t wait to spend every second with my family! Thanks for all the great ideas!
We don’t usually do fireworks around our house. Instead we blast some music and just hangout with our animals 🙂
Great ideas! We are keeping it low key this year. Maybe a small bbq with family, then a baseball game and fireworks afterwards.
I am not prepared for fourth yet. It comes so fast.
Ha! Love your mustard art. 🙂 The fourth of july marshmallow pops are awesome too.
I’m going to visit my daughter, and I’m honestly not sure what we’re going to do. It doesn’t matter though. When I’m with her, I have fun!
We are taking our girls camping for the first time ever! My husband has some vacation time so we are celebrating my birthday this weekend as well!
If it doesn’t rain, we’re going to go watch fireworks after having a cookout. Easy, but fun.
I love the USA Hot Dogs. I’m not super crafty, but I bet I could handle those!
The marshmallow pops are cute!
Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th.
Very good idea – cute thing with the hot dog 🙂 Wish I had family ro spend the 4th with. I miss BBQ and fun.
I love to get the whole family involved in cooking for the 4th of July. Plus then you get to eat the results!
Loving this the activities look great will give them a try