July 4th Festivities (Part 4)

Past meets present with these patriotic events. From old-fashioned fun to high-tech fireworks extravaganzas – and of course food, food, food! These Gozaic partners make Independence Day a holiday worth celebrating! Looking for more festivities, read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Hamilton County, Indiana
Glorious Fourth, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park
July 2-4, 2010
Travel back in time to 19th-century Indiana, and experience how this great American holiday was celebrated in the 1800s. Conner Prairie Interactive History Park is hosting their annual red, white and blue weekend filled with patriotic feasts, games, balloon rides, music and fireworks.

Wilmington, Delaware
Independence Day Celebration, Tubman-Garrett Park
July 4, 2010
Celebrate Independence Day with an old fashioned picnic and fireworks in Tubman-Garrett Park in Wilmington’s revitalized riverfront. Indulge with hard shell crabs, hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecue. Sit back and enjoy a free performance by the Delaware Symphony Orchestra followed by an exciting fireworks display. Festivities from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. courtesy of the City of Wilmington.

Schoharie, New York
Independence Day, Old Stone Fort Museum Complex
July 4, 2010
In rural upstate New York, a very traditional and historic Independence Day observance takes place. At the Old Stone Fort Museum, a Revolutionary War battle site in the village of Schoharie (pronounced “sko harry”) costumed interpreters read the Declaration of Independence, in its entirety along with other historical documents from the 1770s. The museum’s volunteer militia re-creates a demonstration at a liberty pole and trains audience members in the marching maneuvers of a militia company. Activities run from noon to 4 p.m. with readings and ceremonies at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Alexandria, Virginia
USA & Alexandria Birthday Celebration, Oronoco Bay Park
July 10, 2010
Alexandria presents an evening of free music, activities and fireworks, with children's activities and refreshment sales starting at 4 p.m., performance by the Alexandria Singers at 6 p.m., presentation of civic awards by the mayor at 7:30 p.m. with birthday cake, and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra's pops concert with soprano Millicent Scarlett at 8:30 p.m. The night's celebration concludes with fireworks and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," complete with cannon fire provided by the U.S. Marine Corps at 9:30 p.m.

Photos top to bottom: Conner Prairie’s Glorious Fourth, photo courtesy of Hamilton County CVB. Wilmington, Delaware celebrates July 4th, photo courtesy of Leslie Kipp. Alexandria Birthday Celebration, photo courtesy of the City of Alexandria. Liberty Pole at Old Stone Fort Museum Complex, photo courtesy of Schoharie County Historical Society.