July 4th. No question about it. My love for the holiday has very little to do with it’s origin. I simply enjoy every aspect of the celebration:
Cooking food on the outdoor grill.
The perfect weather with comfortable days and cool nights.
The sound of kids and adults kids setting off fireworks in the distance all day.
Closed businesses and offices so my phone isn’t ringing.
Bonfire in the fire pit.
The real fireworks are icing on the cakes. The thump of the lift charge, the flash and burst followed by the trailing concussion. If you are in the right spot you can smell and taste the products of combustion. Every sense is stimulated.
I host a party at my place every year and usually have about 70–80 attendees – sometimes it is much more. It is wonderful.
People bring a dish to pass which can be anything. Food drink, toys, fireworks, RC planes, potato cannons, science experiments that might damage grass, etc. Bring it!
The next day friends come over and help clean up – including putting down top soil and new grass seed in places.