Tired of the backyard barbeques and fireworks display in the middle of your street? There are many options for you to consider as you head out across America to celebrate her birthday and the freedom you enjoy. Just about any place you decide to go will be having some sort of celebration. All you have to do is pick which celebration you want to be a part of this year. Here are a few suggestions that might help you decide:
What is more American than baseball? Head to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York for the Fourth of July. The tour lasts about three hours and is a touching tribute to America's favorite pastime. Cooperstown will be having it's annual fireworks display. Although not as big as New York City's or Boston's, it is still a wonderful sight to see. This year a historian and baseball fan will be speaking about "presidents and baseball." For all the details, you can visit www.baseballhalloffame.org/. There are wonderful hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area for you to stay in - just make your reservations early.
Disney World in Kissimmee, Florida is a great place to celebrate the Fourth of July. There is always a great fireworks display. Watching the fireworks light up Cinderella's Castle is beautiful; no matter your age, you will enjoy it. Who knows? You might even get to see Tinkerbell descend from the top of the castle to the crowd below as she does on New Year's Eve every year. Get there early and enjoy all the rides and attractions. All of the information you need can be found at http://www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index.
Buena Park, CA offers another option for celebrating America's birthday. Knott's Berry Farm is great place to visit, especially on such a special holiday. Not only will you be able to enjoy all the rides and attractions they normally have, they have parades and fireworks every Fourth of July. It isn't as big or as busy as Disney Land, which is not too far away, so fighting the crazy crowds is not much of a concern. The food is wonderful and, believe it or not, reasonably priced for an amusement park. Be sure to stock up on all the jams and jellies they offer while you are there; they are some of the best in the world. Their website is http://www.knotts.com/. Everything you need to know about the theme park can be found there.
My favorite place to celebrate Independence Day is in my hometown of Creeks Bend. This year we are expecting about three hundred people. It will be much bigger than in years past. The Keene family was convinced to hold their reunion that same week so they will be there to help us celebrate. Almost everything will be taking place on the school grounds, so you won't miss anything. We don't have a website, but I can tell you all about the festivities.
The parade will start at eleven in the morning. I will be riding Silas, my blind horse. We almost were able to participate last year, but he wasn't quite ready. There should be about eight horses this year. All of the high school marching band will be there. You will get to see the Pride of the Pioneers firsthand. It is the largest band in the school's history - twenty-nine all together. Past band members will join in, but they won't be in their band uniforms. Most of them have eaten too many of cousin's pies to still fit into them. The children and anyone else that wants to will follow behind the horses and band, waving American Flags. We just ask that you not fire off any fireworks during the parade. I'm not sure how my horse will handle it. We'll end the parade at Granny Keene's house. Veterans will give a few speeches and the grade schoolers will recite poems about Independence Day. Kerry is still being talked into singing again this year. I don't know what she fusses about; she sings every year despite her fear of singing solos. Not that it will be a solo; everyone will be singing along like we always do.
After the parade, we will have the pot luck picnic. We all bring dishes and sit them on long tables along the sidelines at the football stadium. All you have to do is bring a blanket. The food is all homemade and free. If we run out something, we just dash home to grab some more. There will be chips and dips, coleslaw, baked beans, pinto beans, salads, pies, cakes, fried chicken, baked chicken, casseroles, sandwiches, spaghetti, lasagna, homemade bread and rolls, soups, vegetable trays, fruit trays. Trust me, if it is in cookbook in a Creeks Bend kitchen, chances are it will be on one of those tables. I tend to over do it on the mustard and onions in my potato salad, so consider yourself warned. There will be several grills and smokers set up on the football field. There is always plenty of hot dogs, burgers, slabs of ribs, pork chops, chickenyou name it and we probably have it. Or, we can get it for you. We will have gallons and gallons of home-brewed iced tea and lemonade plus coolers full of soda. We will take turns making homemade ice cream all day so we won't run out.
What else can you do at such a small party? The list of things to do is only limited by our imaginations. We are always adding new games, contests, and events. Each year it is a little different, but it is always fun. If there is something you want to do, just suggest it and we can probably find more folks will want to participate.
If you pay the fifty cent entry fee (double from years past), you can participate in the pie eating contests. Contestants are divided up into different age/size categories and they eat like Starvin Marvins. My cousin is making the all the cream pies this year, so I promise they will be the best you ever tasted - even the crusts will be homemade and not boxed puddings, either. That fifty cents is the only charge of any of the activities. If the truth was known, I don't think anyone ever asks if you paid the entry fee. If you don't have it, there will not be problem. We do have little containers sitting around where you can make donations. The money collected is put into a fund to help the families around town if they should ever need it.
All sorts of other contests and games for everyone will be available. There will be a watermelon seed spitting contest for everyone to enjoy. Of course, free watermelon for everyone. We all grow our own so there will be plenty. There will also be two auctions, one for pies and the other for handmade quilts. The money earned will go into a fund for a needy family in our little town. The children can catch a greased pig and do a little goat roping. Games of horseshoes will be available for everyone, with the stakes closer together for the kids. There will be three-legged races and potato sack races for everyone. The prizes will be a heart-felt "Congratulations" and a firm handshake or hug, depending on how well we know the winners. Some of us moms are trying to make ribbons for all the winners, but I don't know if we will have time to make enough to one for everyone. If not, only the youngest of competitors will get them.
If you want something a bit quieter, I'm sure you can talk my cousin, Ben, into a game of gin rummy. He always had a deck of cards in his pocket and there are always people eager to play. He'll be the one wearing the 10-gallon hat so you can't miss him. Some of the ladies will be quilting in the Home Ec room at the high school. If you like quilting or would just like to see how it is done, pop in. They love having visitors.
The smaller children can ride Half Pint, our resident Shetland pony, around the school yard. The bigger ones can ride Winkers; he is a Morgan gelding and as gentle as can be. My husband is leading them around this year, so you know the kids will be safe. I may even lend Silas to this event, if he does well as at the parade and Half Pint and Winkers get tired.
We will be having fireworks after sunset. We all bring our own and put them together. The adults take turns shooting them from the football field as everyone sits in the stands and watch. My grandfather always called it "big fun" to watch our little pyrotechnic display. I have to agree with him. It may not be as big as other firework shows, but it comes from the heart of a small town where we are all proud of being Americans and the freedom that title gives us.
After the fireworks, we all go to the school's auditorium. There will be more singing, poetry and Mr. Wilson, the high school principal, will read the Bill of Rights. We are putting together a skit. The children are working hard to memorize all of their lines. My daughter is going to be Betsy Ross this year. I was Betsy Ross when I was her age. She practices everyday, pretending to sew the American Flag.
Consider yourself personally invited to the Creeks Bend Independence Day Celebration. You will have a wonderful time. Everybody always does; that is why we keep doing it year after year.
No matter where, or even if you travel, remember the Fourth of July is the time for families to get together, enjoy each other and celebrate the birthday of our country that gives us the freedom that makes all those things possible. If you attend a huge celebration or one in your backyard, be sure to take a moment and give thanks for America and the freedom it offers all of us.