Celebrate 4th of July With A Bang

Ahh, July, the most patriotic month of the year. A month that begins with the celebration of freedom and ends with daunting back-to-school shopping, much to the kiddo’s chagrin. But we won’t focus on the upcoming school year, instead we’ll live in the now and enjoy the celebration. 

Everyone looks forward to the Fourth of July. A sacred holiday which has turned into the longest running party in our nation’s history. And why wouldn’t it be a party? On this day, we celebrate the birth of our great nation. So, grab your family and friends, turn up the music, light the grill and cannon ball into a pool yelling, “God Bless America!” I double dog dare you. 

Use this time to get creative with your outdoor party recipes. Of course, burgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese and baked beans are a must, but what about something new? Something themed? Add a splash of fresh fruit with a star-spangled fruit platter! What you’ll need: a plastic platter, a small bowl to fit in the upper left corner of the platter, blueberries, watermelon and white chocolate covered pretzels. The perfect combination of sweet and salty, with just a hint of healthy! And what about an easy to make sweet treat? What you’ll need: white chocolate, Rice Krispie Treats, festive Fourth of July sprinkles. Simply melt the white chocolate, dunk the Rice Krispie Treats and sprinkle the sprinkles. Taa-daa! You have a patriotic plate of sweet treats.

Photo courtesy of Tasty

Photo courtesy of Country Living

But the Fourth isn’t just about deck parties and people donning their flag fashion, it’s about the fireworks! Last year, Fourth of July festivities were confined to backyards as citywide fireworks were cancelled. This year, the fireworks show must go on! Celebration at Fairbanks Park will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the Fourth. There, onlookers are encouraged to set up chairs, order yummy snacks from local food trucks and buy glow stick products sold from the Terre Haute Parks Department. Music will entertain from 8:00 p.m. until the fireworks begin at 10:00 p.m. Now, I’m not trying to jinx the celebration, trust me, but if it happens to rain, the rain date is set for July 5th. In addition to fireworks at Fairbanks, Terre Haute’s own drive-in movie theater will be hosting a party! Moon Lite Drive-In will launch fireworks at 10:00 p.m. followed by a double feature of F9 the Fast Saga and Top Gun. Because nothing says Happy Fourth of July quite like Tom Cruise’s iconic volleyball scene. Yeah, you know the one.

If your Fourth of July spirit is just bursting out, and you can’t wait any longer for the city fireworks display, several other venues plan to light up the sky a few days early! On July 2nd, New Life Fellowship Church will host a Freedom Celebration on their campus at 7:00 p.m. complete with food trucks, fun and fireworks. On July 3rd at 6:00 p.m., The Bridge Church will begin their freedom festivities with free hot dogs, lemonade, sno cones and even a pie-eating contest! Now that, sounds patriotic.  

When July 5th inevitably rolls around, you better keep those star-spangled shades on, because we aren’t done celebrating yet. REX Baseball has three patriot packed nights lined up for spectators of America’s game. The REX will shoot off fireworks during their games on July 6th, 7th and 8th for Military night in honor of our country and all who defend it. 

If you would rather host your own fireworks display, be sure to do so legally. Fireworks are not allowed within Terre Haute city limits. Outside of city limits, keep safety a priority. Be sure to buy quality fireworks from reputable retailers. Keep your onlookers at a safe distance from your makeshift launch pad, and count your fingers before and after every lighting. While you may focus more on the bigger fireworks, don’t forget the charming little sparklers. Sparklers are perfect for creating unique photos and making memories.

However you so choose to celebrate the Fourth of July, do so safely, with lots of good food and good company. Enjoy the fireworks, enjoy the parties and enjoy our day of freedom.