When Covid-19 virtually shut down our country back in March, practically no one was thinking ahead to July 4. WAY back then, most of us hoped that the restrictions would only last a few weeks and the virus would quickly retreat and life would return to normal by summer. While the State of Indiana has opened up considerably since the end of May, many of the regular July 4 activities and celebrations we look forward to every year have been suspended, and the ways we normally celebrate are drastically altered. We have already had to dig deep into our creative juices this spring and summer to find new ways to commemorate other important milestones: Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, birthdays, etc., etc., etc. Despite the stresses of the past 4 months, July 4 is an important day to celebrate the resilience of the American Spirit, this year more than ever.
While we aren’t free of the pandemic yet, we can still celebrate the 244 year old history of this remarkable and experimental nation. Some people might be lucky enough to get away for the 4th, but many of us are spending the long holiday weekend at home and are still trying to practice smart physical distancing measures to keep the virus from exploding again. In case you need some inspiration for making the day festive and special with your friends and family, here are a few ideas and links to websites for more information.
#1. Try a new local activity: Just don’t forget your facemask!
- Playgrounds are open. Have you checked out Mickey’s Kingdom?
- The new LST dock?
- Family golf on a local course?
- Lyles Station is open on Fridays.
- Rockport is hosting some festive fun.
- And there is always Holiday World.
#2. Hiking sites: Nothing like a walk in the woods, breathing the fresh air, to make us grateful for our freedom
#3. Backyard BBQ/picnic
Whether you host your local family, or invite a few friends, if you keep things outside as much as possible and limit your numbers, the possibilities are endless. Need some fresh ideas? You might start here.
#4. Family friendly backyard games
Including but not limited to: corn hole, bocce ball, water balloons, hula hoops, relay races, scavenger hunts, or try one of these novelties.
#5. Family crafts for all ages
Paint rocks, tie-dye t-shirts, or level-up your craft game by checking out these these unique ideas.
#6. Patriotic movies
Maybe you have seen these years ago, or never before. If you need to jog your memory, check out these lists of flicks:
#7. Fireworks at home
There are a plethora of outlets that sell fireworks these days, so take your pick of local merchants. So, this might be overkill on the safety instructions but FAR too many people end up at emergency rooms on July 4 in a regular year. This year in particular, it would be awesome if we could keep the ER’s free of firework injuries for the good of everyone. But what is July 4 without at least a few sparklers? Just please always include A LOT of easily accessible water and plenty of sober adult supervision.
#8. Virtual tours (or digital exhibits) of historic sites or museums
#9. Read the Declaration of Independence
Try this outloud to each other, in your best dramatic voices: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
#10. Have a virtual face to face
This is a great option for far-flung family and friends who you normally don’t ever get to see on July 4. Set up a virtual get together and have special July 4 toast. If you haven’t figured out Zoom yet, July 4 is the perfect time to get started, especially if some of your technologically challenged peeps need extra support to get started. Check out this article for more info!
And remember, it is always a good idea to keep those furry friends extra safe. Make sure your animal friends are well-watered and be careful of their feet on hot cement. If your pet has any anxiety about the loud noises associated with fireworks, here are some ways to keep them calm, especially if you are setting them off in your front yard.
This list is just a beginning and hopefully a jumping off point for your own imagination to take over and dream up some wild new ways to celebrate. Let us know how YOU celebrated July 4 this year.
