July 4th Fireworks Cancelled? Five Budget Friendly Independence Day Celebrations

If your community has canceled its annual fireworks display due to budgetary issues, you might be wondering how you can make the 4th of July holiday festive for your family. If your family has budget concerns of its own, you need to find a way to make the holiday special without spending a lot of money. Fortunately, there are plenty of great ways to spend the holiday without breaking the bank. The 4th of July does not have to be about fireworks. Get to the core of the holiday by celebrating country and family.  

Fireworks No Matter Where You Are

Sometimes children are very disappointed when they hear that they will be no fireworks display. If fireworks are legal in your area, you could have your own mini fireworks display. You do not need to purchase expensive or dangerous fireworks. Sparklers can make any 4th of July gathering fun and festive. If your children are not old enough to use sparklers safely or if fireworks are illegal in your area, you have another option. If you own, or can cheaply rent a projector, just hang a white sheet onto your house and display the national fireworks presentation as it is being broadcast.

Good Old Fashioned American Fun

The 4th can also be a great time to enjoy some classic American activities, such as bowling, miniature golf, and drive-in movies. All of these activities are inexpensive, and they can be fun for people of all ages. Bowling is a great activity to do if the day is rainy. If the weather is great, take the kids for a round of miniature golf and stop for ice cream after the game. A visit to a drive-in can be a unique ending to a memorable 4th of July, especially if your kids have never been to a drive-in theater before.

Celebrate with Neighbors

A neighborhood BBQ is one of the most traditional ways to celebrate the 4th of July. Using the canceled fireworks display as an excuse, perhaps you could plan a neighborhood get-together. You do not need to spend a lot of money to entertain your neighbors. You could host a pot-luck. This way, everyone could share the cost of food. The kids will have fun running around and playing, and the adults can relax and enjoy the evening while the kids entertain themselves.

America the Beautiful 

Camping is another great Independence Day activity. Our beautiful national parks are one of the things that make our country so special. When you take your children camping, you are showing them how beautiful America can be. Best of all, camping is affordable. If you do not have the camping equipment needed for a weekend away, you might be able to rent the basics from a camping supply store. Camping is a fairly popular 4th of July activity. If you are thinking about going camping with your family, you might want to call ahead to reserve a campsite.

Touch the Heart of a Veteran

Independence Day is an ideal time to teach your children about the importance of our nation's veterans. Even young children can be taught to understand that veterans worked hard and risked everything to keep us all safe. Call around to local nursing homes and find out if they would welcome a visit to their veterans. The kids could make patriotic crafts to give the veterans as well. There are many lonely veterans who would be thrilled to receive a visit, especially with children. We often forget the blessing we enjoy just being around their little smiling faces. 

You could also honor veterans with a small donation. You don't even need money to give. You can donate $1 to the USO with just a click of your mouse. Simply go to Bacardi’s 60 Second Cocktails Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/60SecondCocktails and select the "Donate" tab. For each person who clicks, Bacardi will donate $1 in your name, up to $100,000 in total. They only have about $25,000 left to raise so get in on this early if you want to be a part of it. This is an easy way to help support the troops, and it will only take seconds away from your family's celebrations.