4th of July Traditions Contest!

3 Lucky winners will win a beautiful Grass Inhabit Stretched Wall Art from 2Modern.

Make a comment to this post with your favorite 4th of July tradition to enter the sweepstakes. It can be simple - Be creative! Remember to use either your blogger login or first name and last name so that we can identify you if you win. We will post the winner's name with instructions for collecting your prize, please check back June 30th 2008 to see if you have won!

Giveaway ends June 30th 2008 at midnight PST (and sorry, prizes can only be sent to locations in the US). Good Luck!

The Create My Event Blog Team

Comments

[Addy]

A group of friends and I always have a simple BBQ at one married couple's house. One friend always brings a cake with an American flag on top (made of raspberries, blueberries and vanilla frosting). One year we ran out of hamburger buns, so we made "hamdogs" instead - hamburgers that would fit in the hotdog buns.

They live by this great hill that you can hike up and hang out on for fireworks - so every year for the last four years we've cleared out a space for all of us early in the day, and spent a very relaxing evening watching the fireworks after gorging ourselves with the BBQ.

[eleanore frank]

Every 4th of July, I spend by myself. I celebrate Independence day, and have always had wonderful memories.

[Meredith Johnson]

My grandfather's birthday is July 5, so we always celebrate with the whole family on the Fourth of July - homemade ice cream, hamburgers & hot dogs, beer & fruity drinks. This year, he is turning 90, so we are having a big bash - all of his nephews and grandchildren are flying in from all over. We'll have lots of toasts and even a little jazz band for him. The Fourth of July is HOT in Mississippi, so we cool off at my uncle's pool every year - with plenty of margaritas - and a view of the fireworks at the Yacht Club across the Reservoir.

[Jane Foley]

We always grill "dirty bananas" in addition to the usual 4th of July food. "Dirty bananas" are bananas in the peel that you slice open, insert bars of chocolate into, and grill. We only have them on the Fourth at our annual BBQ in the park. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

[roxy]

4th of July...FIRE WORKS! It was all about the fireworks.That day marks my memories with warmth and happiness. It Makes me feel like a child again. Just like the sound of an ice cream truck, the sprinklers at a park on a hot summer day or riding my bike around the block.

When I was a child, the 4th of july was never overlooked. I eagerly waited for the date. My family tradition was Dad trying to get us caught in traffic over the bridge so we had the best view of the fireworks. It was also the only day of the year I was allowed to pop out the sunroof, wich back then was a thrill.

Today where ever I am, whatever I do, on the 4th of July there is one thing that will never change; I make sure to have the best view I can of the fireworks, and relive that little piece of being a kid.

[Evonne Fontanilla]

Most recently, we've been going to a friends house for Fourth of July for a bbq and a game of croquet. They serve the best crab dip and always have fresh fruits that are in season. Plus, July 3 is the anniversary of our first date, so there's always an opportunity to reminisce.

[Amber]

Patriotic caroling! Oh say can you see? It's amazing how much fun a rowdy bunch can have singing door to door. Don't forget the sparklers!

[acaligurl]

hot dogs, hamburgers, & potato salad & smores! spent with family & friends. then at nite fill up a thermos of coffee and head to the beach to grab a spot for the fireworks!!

[Bree]

We celebrate America's birthday with a birthday cake!!!! Instead of candles, we use sparklers and sing, "Happy Birthday." We all get a kick out of seeing the sparklers lit up on the cake.

[Elaine Stafford]

We continue to have an Iowa Farm celebration. We serve traditional roast chicken, potato salad, and apple pie. But the most important part is the Home-made icecream. We still use our White Mountain ice cream maker and churn the ice cream by hand. The grand boys continue adding ice and the grown ups take turns turning the crank. The grand boys also get to lick the ice cream from the paddles as they first come out. I can still see my father doing the same exact thing as a child on the farm. We then finish off with traditional sparklers as it grows dark. Some things one can never improve upon.

[Maureen]

my youngest sister's birthday is July 5th. But because she was born at 12:01am we have always celebrated her birthday on the 4th and the 5th.
The tradition has been to get as many people in the family together and to have a barbeque. We then would walk from my parent's house (it has since been razed and this sister and her husband are building on the lot)and we go down the street to the fireworks.
In the morning the town where I grew up had races and parades for the kids. It is just a great way to get out and enjoy family and friends.

[Brandy Wombwell]

We have a new kind of cook-out and call it "season your own". We were given this great new product called Grill Charms. They are kind of like the grill master's version of the wine charm. We each get to pick our Grill Charm, put it our food, then choose our rub. When it's all over and dinner is served, we all look for our grill charm. It's tons of fun!! You can get them at www.grillcharms.com
It's a great way for everyone to get what they want.

Brandy

[Tara]

My hubby and I always spend it doing something fun as a couple. It is the anniversary of our first date. We actually had our first kiss under the fireworks!!! This year we will be celebrating 8 years together!!!

[Teresa Fitzpatrick]

We every year a month or so prior to the 4th of July make a flier on our computer inviting out entire street and few other homes and friends we know to come to our block party in front of our home which we have a corner home with plenty of partying room. We put sign in front on the street signs reminding everyone. We ask even number address to bring one typoe of item to eat then the odd address to being another. We set our BBQ out and light it about 530pm then turn music on and see who shoes every year more and more appear. We make it a safe, fun and easy way to party and a way to bond with our neighbors. We share any concerns before and make new friends yearly. Our yard and home is always decked out with RED, WHITE, BLUE ribbons, signs and many cute 4th of July things. We love it and hope we make other smile! Wwe celebrate all the 7 major holidays and alwasy invite the neighborhood. My husband need kidneys and thinks he will die soon, so I try to make each of these days special to us as if our last but to make our neighbors our family as well. Even April Fools Day we dress as fools and BBQ every year because it is my husband actual Birthday April 1. Our guest all dress silly too! I usually get my bingo ball/machine out and play a few games with prizes I collect over time! My little irl now 9 years old is so much like me and plans all of this with me!
Life is too short to not share it with those around you! We hope someday we can afford to just completely give to all here and make even more smiles!

[onemoresoutherner]

In our 14 years of marriage, we have moved 5 times. Every year, no matter where we are, we have a big "God Bless America" cookout. We play crouquet, horseshoes, whiffle ball, or whatever the kids want to play. Of course fireworks are a must, even if it's just a few sparklers from an apartment balcony. We are proud to have hosted guests from all over the USA and many parts of the world, too!