Boys, the big day is coming up. It’s the Superbowl of Summer, the High Hamburger Holiday—the Fourth of July is near. That means stocking up on beer of all kinds, plus sunscreen and ground beef and maybe some Advil and Gatorade. To help you live your best Fourth of July-celebrating life, here’s a list of a few of the best activities in creating an Independence Day to remember!
Hang the American Flag.
First thing in the morning, go hang up the American flag. You don’t need to do any elaborate ceremony. Just put it up, think about your freedoms for a bit, and get started with the day.
Run the Firecracker 5K Race for Research.
Sportspectrum’s 39th annual Firecracker 5K returns to the Mall St. Vincent in Shreveport. The course runs through the historic South Highland Subdivision that provides a scenic and challenging race for runners and walkers. Even if you’re not competing, it’s worth setting up camp somewhere along the route to cheer on all participants.
Make Some Ice Cream.
A great 4th of July tradition is making homemade ice cream. Simply bring out the ice cream maker, and let the kids help put in the ingredients for a tasty treat. Here’s a simple recipe.
2 cups heavy cream (1 pint)
2 cups light cream (1 pint)
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
Pour cream directly into cream can. Add sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon or plastic spatula until the sugar is dissolved. Churn until creamy.
Hit the Fireworks Stands.
Who doesn’t love the wonderful aroma of black powder permeating from plywood shacks?
Have a Block Party.
Gather all the neighbors on your street and get together for a block party. Have all the dads bring their grills, along with coolers of meat and beer; the moms can bring salads and desserts; and the kids would have water balloon fights and light some fireworks. Stuff your faces with all the hot dogs and potato salad we could eat.
Light Up the Grill.
Barbecues and grilling have been a part of our observance of America’s freedom since the early days. And whether it be hotdogs or burgers, you know what they say about good food: they bring people and families together.
Blow Stuff Up.
Remember all those fireworks you bought earlier in the day? After the sun set, the parents would take the kids out to the fields behind our houses to light fireworks.
Watch Some Epic Fireworks.
An Independence Day celebration is never complete without an iconic display of fireworks lighting up the night sky. Go sprawl out on some grass with your hands behind your head and watch the loud bursts of color explode in the sky. Some of the area’s
best and brightest fireworks celebrations include Freedom Fest (Shreveport-Bossier City)
It’s the perfect way to end a day full of food, family, fun, and patriotism.
