JFF How Do You Celebrate 4Th of July?

I'm going to get REALLY sweaty with Rick Springfield...IF the show doesn't get cancelled due to rain.

We usually go to the fireworks at our local university campus (Florida Atlantic University).

my mom always has a huge bash, which is great as she is out in the country. we do potluck so she doesn't have too much work to do. last year the fireworks got rained out so this year will be even bigger, and there is talk of everyone camping for the weekend out at her place too...can't wait!!

We go to the Plano parade the morning of the 4th. We have been in it when people want to use my convertible.

Then we chill out the rest of the day and about 6pm go to our country club where they have a HUGE fireworks show that is one of the best we've ever seen.

That's been our routine since before our daughter (16) was born!!

We usually go to go to a pot luck at my sil's. It is on a beach on a local pond. She invites all the fam, friends, neighbors. It is a day of fun, games, swimming , catching up. There are often 120 + who are there. It is a day for us to have a great relaxing day, and lots of fun.

When my boys were little we lived in a really great neighborhood and everyone got involved all up and down the street. We had our lawnchairs perched at the curb and the dads pretty much did all the lighting of the "over priced" fireworks. It doesnt usually get dark enough till about 9 so BBQ'ing was already finished by the time it was fireworks hour. The next morning all the kids would be in the street cleaning up what was left of the mess.
It was a ritual for about 12 years.
We did go watch them in Pismo and Avila Beach once or twice as well, and a time or two at the colllege stadium in our town just for the excitement of the BIG fireworks. Other than that the kids were always happy with the otc fireworks and were thrilled when they were old enough to light them on their own and RUN!

it's tradition now for us to have a HUGE bbq here, with a ton of family and friends. we do our own fireworks in the evening and if we're lucky we can just see the bigass antietam battlefield fireworks (complete with the maryland symphony orchestra playing the 1812 overture with real cannons) over the tops of the trees.
:) khairete
S.

BBQ in the backyard, swim in the backyard and we have a tradition where all the boys (I have 6) make a 'Firecracker Board' where they string all these things together and then we set it off.

Last years' board was awesome! They are going to be hard pressed to 'top' that one :)