Five Ways to Celebrate Your Independence Amidst a Pandemic
Independence day is upon us; a day traditionally reserved to honor our history and celebrate our freedom as Americans. While every other year, this holiday would be met with festivals, parties, concerts, and firework displays, this year things are a little different.
The coronavirus is still on the rise and as long as that is the case, we must be vigilant. The CDC encourages everyone to stay at home as much as possible. Unfortunately, that means many much-anticipated events have been called off.
In a time when public events are canceled left and right, social gatherings are risky, and everyone has been forced to uproot their routine, freedom seems like a luxury that is in short supply.
This year, Independence Day is especially symbolic; we can all appreciate like never before the value of freedom. So to mark the occasion, we have compiled a list of ways to celebrate without compromising your safety.
1. ARRANGE YOUR OWN AT-HOME FAMILY FESTIVAL
Do your kids miss the parades and grand festivals? One way you can help fill the void is by turning your home into a patriotic party venue. To take it a step further, purchase some extra decorations and let the kids go to town on their bikes, then have your own mini parade on your street or driveway. Afterwards, a contest can be held to determine the best decorations.
And what kind of festival would it be without food? Whip up some red white and blue cupcakes and fire up the grill for a cookout!
For a special treat, how about some homemade ice cream? If you’ve got an ice cream machine, so much the better, but you can also make it without! And to add to the fun, throw in some blueberries and strawberries, or a few drops of food dye for a delicious 4th of July Sundae! See the bottom of the page for a quick and tasty recipe!
And for an easy and affordable interactive light show, buy some sparklers and glow sticks to top off the night.
2. BRING THE FIREWORKS HOME
We might not be able to attend the huge annual firework display in town, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have our own pyrotechnics.
If you have a fire pit at home, light it up, and have a campfire. And to keep with the theme of the holiday, get some color-changing logs, or campfire color changing packets. Add them and watch your fire dance from color to color as you roast marshmallows.
Inevitably, there will be those who want a bigger boom. If that’s the case for you, then first you’ll need to check your local regulations! Depending on what they dictate, visit your local Fire Marshall approved fireworks store, load up on some firepower, and take a front-row seat to your own display. Remember though, many injuries occur during this time of year as a result of self-done firework displays so be sure you have a wide space to work with and take every caution necessary to keep everyone safe. For more information about how to safely set off your own fireworks, follow this link to view Greenville’s guidelines:https://www.
3. HOST A SMALL PARTY
Social gatherings need to be orchestrated with caution, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have them! Plan a party for a small gathering of friends/family. Just be sure to take some precautionary measures to ensure everyone’s safety!
Here are some key points to take into account when planning your party (via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel):
- Predetermine how many guests will be attending (keeping in mind the space needed for social distancing)
- Let your guests know that you will be taking certain precautionary measures
- Stock up on some hand sanitizer and wipes
- Decide on a time limit for the party so that you will have time to clean up and sanitize afterward
- Request that everyone wear a face mask
- Avoid sharing food and utensils and opt for pre-packaged portions of food, carry out, or BYO
For the full article detailing how to safely throw a party, follow this link:https://www.jsonline.com/
If you have the space for it, you can turn your party into a tailgate! This will help reinforce social distancing and members can bring their own food, drinks, and utensils easily. Alternatively, you can rent a party boat! Check with your concierge to see about boat rentals.
4. ENJOY VIRTUAL FESTIVITIES
Are local fireworks display canceled, and you can’t set off your own fireworks? Livestream a firework display with your family! Several different firework displays from around the country are scheduled to be live-streamed and available on multiple different platforms. Options include the Macy’s fireworks, which will stream on NBC, as well as Youtube, the Washington DC fireworks, which will be available for viewing on PBS, and Disney’s 4th of July Fireworks Special, which will be streamed on Youtube. And several concerts are set to be streamed as well! For a list of streaming options, follow this link: https://stylecaster.com/4th-
Alternatively, you can watch a patriotic movie with your family. The popular musical Hamilton, by Lin Manuel-Miranda, will become available to stream on Disney+ on July 3rd. To amplify the event, project the movie onto the side of a house or garage door and invite your neighbors over for a viewing party! (Keeping a 6ft distance, of course.)
5. ATTEND A LOCAL EVENT
Greenville has several different events still planned for the holiday, including scavenger hunting on Paris Mountain, a Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, and the 4th of July Celebration at Whitewater Center. For a more detailed list including dates, times, and fees, follow this link: https://
Afraid you won’t have the time to prepare everything? Enlist your concierge to help! They can assist with purchasing groceries/decorations/
Call us today for all your concierge needs.
(864) 283-6770 or contact us via email
We are here for you!
See below for the ice cream recipe!
ICE CREAM RECIPE (via https://