July 4th is approaching, and fast. The day we take to honor our nation's independence is a day of remembrance and pride in our country. But it is also a day I look forward to to spend with friends and family. With everybody getting ready for their cookouts, parties, and family gatherings and looking for fun things to do, I thought I might give you a list of some of the fun things I like to do during the 4th of July.Go to a Parade - Going to a parade is the easiest things to do, and its free. I always love going to a parade, hearing the marching bands, seeing all the floats and people. I just love getting that sense of pride from seeing all the patriotism that's right here in our local community. No matter where you live, there will undoubtedly be a parade in your town or one near by.
Middletown holds an annual parade on July 4th. The parade starts between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., beginning at Woodside Cemetery and ending at Smith Park. Other parades include the City of Hamilton 4th of July Parade, which begins at 10:00 a.m. The parade will begin at the Butler County Fairgrounds, proceed to Route 4, and end at High Street. Following the parade is a patriotic ceremony which will take place at the historic Butler County Court House. Go to the City of Hamilton Website for more information.
Have a Cookout - The good 'ol backyard cookout is one of the simplest and most enjoyable things to do on the 4th of July. Dust of the grill and break out the apron because its time to start cooking. Invite your friends and family for a good time of fun and fellowship. Nothing is more 4th of July than throwing some burgers and hot dogs on the grill (or steak and chicken if your fancy) and relaxing while enjoying some good food.
If you don't want to have it at your house, or can't, then go to a local park. Take the family out to a park, grab a picnic table and have fun. The playground equipment and wide open spaces in local parks is also a great place for the kids to play. Give them a soccer ball, a football, a baseball, anything and they can go out and have a blast! And if it's hot, then a park is a good place to pull out the super soakers. Most of the parks in Middletown have playgrounds, numerous picnic areas, and now they even have splash pads for the kids.
Have a Block Party - You all remember block parties right? It's where you gather all your neighbors on your block, they all bring food, you block off the street, and you all gather to eat, socialize and meet your new neighbors. Block parties used to big a big thing some years ago, but now everybody seems to busy. But this 4th of July, try something new, have a block party, especially if you, like myself, have a few new neighbors you haven't met. Get together with a close neighbor and plan out something that will be fun for everyone.
Take a Family Trip - Nothing extravagant is necessary, just a small weekend trip. Go camping, go to a lake, somewhere close but relaxing. Just getting away from the house and the busy day-to-day of life and going off somewhere and enjoying your time away from work and school is one of the best ways to spend your time. It is also a great way to become closer as a family. Spending that quality time with your family is one of the best experiences you can have.
Some great places to go and relax are places like Hueston Woods, Caesar's Creek, or Put-In-Bay. Hueston woods has a marina, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, paintball fields, and tons of other things to do. At Caesar's Creek you can enjoy camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, and other nature activities. Put-In-Bay offers some of the most fun and interesting things to do. You can sail in the marina, go fishing or even serve on the US Brig Niagara, a restored 1812 Naval War ship designed for the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.
Watch/Do Your Own Fireworks - The most time honored tradition of any 4th of July celebration, fireworks are one of the best ways to celebrate your holiday weekend. Most cities have a fireworks celebration the night of July 4th. Sitting outside watching the colors explode before your eyes is a very beautiful sight to see.
The city of Hamilton will be holding a fireworks celebration after it's 4th of July celebration, visit the Hamilton City Website for more details on those. Monroe also has their own celebration, "Light Up The Sky". I went to this last year and it really was quite good. Monroe promises this year to be abundantly better than last years. Also at "Light Up The Sky" are a number of different food stands, a ton of games and rides for the kids, and live bands. Go to Light Up The Sky Monroe.com for all the details. But maybe one of the most amazing fireworks displays is at Cedar Park's Kings Island amusement Park. Kings Island puts on their fireworks display every year and it is always a spectacle to watch. Kings Island really takes pride in their fireworks and aims to please every year. If you have never been to one then I suggest you go this year because it is definitely worth it. Fireworks start at 10:00 p.m. and the park is open until midnight. Visit the Kings Island Website for all the details.
Between picnics, camping, block parties, parades and fireworks I hope you agree there is something fun for everybody. Hopefully this ideas will come in handy for your holiday and I hope no matter what you do this 4th of July weekend, that your weekend is safe and fun!
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