A Fabulous Family Fourth

Wondering what to do with the family in good ole’ RVA this 4th? Check out our Fabulous Fourth Family guide to all the independence fun.

June 21, 2009; 2:39 PM • by Patience Salgado

Wondering what to do with the family in good ole’ RVA this 4th? Check out our Fabulous Fourth Family guide to all the independence fun.

Bike It Brigade

What kid doesn’t love a parade? Streamers, cheers, candy – what’s not to love? Check to see if your neighborhood has a bike, wagon or stroller parade to celebrate all the Americana fun.

If not, why not use this as an opportunity to meet all the kids on your street and the next one over? Make flyers with your kids, post them all over, and start a new family tradition. End with popsicles or hot fudge sundaes.

Old Fashioned Fourth of July

Meadow Farm Park in the far west end throws a fantastic bash every year, perfect for families. Petting zoo, a blacksmith, arts and crafts,
a watermelon feast, live music, a musket salute, its all there. That’s right, a period musket salute! Meadow Farm/Crump Park on Saturday, July 4th 1-4pm.

Garden Goodness

The lovely people at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens are waiving the entrance fee on July 4th in honor of their 25th anniversary and the celebration of our independence. Free, how awesome is that? Check out the new Butterflies Live exhibit or let the kids splash in the water play at the Children’s garden. Check out all the info here.

Go Simple and Green

Since the 4th falls on a Saturday this year, hit up your local farmer’s market and make it a picnic. Find your local farmer’s market here.

Want even more of the fresh produce experience? Head out to the farm to pick some blueberries. The blueberry is a superfood – you know, like nature’s candy. Red, white and blue people!

Fireworks: Little Ones Style

If the booms and high pitched whistles of the big shows are just too much for your crowd, go patriotic on a small scale. Bust out glow sticks for kids and the party poppers or sparklers for adults and have your own light show in the backyard.