July 4th Parties. What do you guys do?

[Jaybird]

My wife and I have been throwing a BBQ, pool party at our house for the last 9 years. I brew up a bunch of beer, we put margaritas on tap (making a 5 gallon keg of margaritas is a BLAST! I have gotten creative and put a California twist on them to cut some costs and make them REAL GOOD) and I grill meat of some sorts and the rest of the food is pot luck. This year is pork ribs and tri tip. We live within walking distance fro the fireworks show, which is why we have the party. Its a BLAST and everyone seems to enjoy themselves. We have had anywhere from 20 to 80 people.

What do you guys do for the 4th? Any big plans or parties out there?

I LOVE the 4th! Out of all the holidays its my favorite for sure!

Cheers
Jay

 

[autobaun70]

We have the extended (anti drinking) family down to my folks lake house. We entertain ourselves by launching water balloons at the jet skis that get too close to the dock.

Memorial Day and the 4th are basically amateur hour on the water, so we generally stay on dry land or seek out a very isolated area for a raft up.

 

[JonM]

It's also the FIL's birthday, so we head over to the in-laws' place to grill out, drink cold beer, and play with the kids and the dogs all day. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

 

[JohnK93]

Same thing I do most days I'm not working: Cup of coffee, go for a run (8 miles today), breakfast, then try to keep busy (yardwork, chores, errands, projects, or time with the wife) until it's socially acceptable to start drinking.

Haven't been able to decide what to brew next, otherwise I'd probably be brewing today...maybe tomorrow.

 

[uwmgdman]

Homebrew and smoking 2 racks of pork spare ribs! Yum!

 

[RoundKid]

How about sharing that recipe for your margarita keg,

 

[aiptasia]

We work. The Wife owns a Dairy Queen that's precariously close to the local river cum fireworks extraviganza. It's usually one of their busiest days of the year at the store as people mob it for chili dogs, ice cream and a low traffic alternative to watching the evening's fireworks from our parking lot.

That being said, we usually load up the crew with everything they need (staff, stock, change, etc.) and head over to the in-laws for a burger and brats style BBQ with BYO potluck from all the guests around 4:00 pm. Usually, we'll meander over to the riverfront with lawn chairs and bottled water around 7:00 pm and wait for Molly Hatchet or .38 special or whichever Van Zant band playing that year decides to end their set. Then, the town lights off a half hour fireworks show over the St. John's river.

At some point during the fireworks show, we usually get a call from the Dairy Queen saying they need change or more bottled water or whatever, which means we leave early before the festivities are over and trek back to the store to get them whatever they need. Then, we head home and put the kids to bed and the Wife and I play the "Gunshot or Firecracker" game while the rest of our little slice of `murica celebrates it's panties off.

July 5th is like the day after the ten kegger college party, we grab trash bags and clean up.

 

[DanH]

How about sharing that recipe for your margarita keg,

Please

 

[Cider123]

We putter around the house during the day then a 4 o'clock parade in town and maybe fireworks tonight if the kids are up for it.

We will hit the neighbor's pool while they are away (they ask us to keep an eye on it), eat all kinds of food like clams, a few lobsters, and something new to us called "Armadillo eggs". Stuffed hot peppers with cheese and proscutto, surround them each with a big blob of ground sausage, then on the smoker for an hour or two.

And of course, some homebrewed Siason and American Wheat.

Happy Fourth!!!

 

[Sheldon]

Since I my wife went to Spain yesterday to be with our daughter and grand-daughter, I am alone with my honey-do's and will hit the home brews and probably cook a burger on the grill later. Not too much fun this year

 

[Gixxer]

How did I party? This year I put on my uniform, holstered my weapon, and walked across the flightline to work... Next year there will be food, family, and beer. Can't wait!!

 

[Evan_L]

Pulled pork, frying a turkey, plenty of salads, margaritas by the pitcher, and plenty of beer. My future MIL is a Bud lite only kinda person (although the Sofie I cracked last night got her to raise an eyebrow) and got the beer, was scared till I saw the cooler full of 90 min, 2X ipa, & GI variety! Damn good job for someone who doesn't drink beer *tongue in cheek* though she did fall for the marketing ploys of Third Shift. Oh yeah, and all the family! Can't have a party without that most important part.

 

[DanH]

How did I party? This year I put on my uniform, holstered my weapon, and walked across the flightline to work... Next year there will be food, family, and beer. Can't wait!!

Making it all possible for the rest of us!

 

[tonyc318]

Last year we grilled and had a bunch of people over to enjoy the view of the fireworks from our house. This year Im working at Fort George Brewery here in Astoria, OR. I just started PT down there a few weeks ago and they have a celebration they call "Liberate the Ales." There's live music from 6pm on til 11 or so. It's going to be a busy night, but should be fun.

 

[grathan]

Today is the 4th? how did that sneak up on us?

 

[FermentusMaximus]

http://m.facebook.com/ProvidenceLib...8066&refsrc=http://www.google.com/search&_rdr

Free beer, music, and food complete with a pig roast. A party for the community by the community in Providence.

 

[Jacob_Marley]

How did I party? This year I put on my uniform, holstered my weapon, and walked across the flightline to work... Next year there will be food, family, and beer. Can't wait!!

< raising glass and toasting Gixxer >

It was written 199 years ago in recounting the fight for Fort McHenry; "the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air" ... there are people providing for our celebration ... and I will think of all you in Afghanistan while I'm celebrating today.
"Present arms" gentlemen.
Til you're home ... and to your health ...

 

[brewsnthelou]

Nothing special this year, but next year I'm planning to crash your party! That sounds fun! lol

 

[Cider123]

< raising glass and toasting Gixxer >

As was written 199 years ago, recounting the fight for Fort McHenry, with "the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air" ... there are people providing for our celebration ... and I will think of all you in Afghanistan.
"Present arms." gentlemen ...
Til you're home ... and to your health ...

Thanks Glixxer to you and your buds

 

[Jaybird]

How about sharing that recipe for your margarita keg,

You bet

4 bottles of Jose Margi mix
2 2L bottles of Squirt
3/4 bottle of triple sec
1.75L margaritaville tequila Add a little more to taste. I try and keep them a little on the light side.
juice from 2 limes

I put a blender next to the keggorator so if you want you can BLEND...

I like to make this 12 -18 hours before the party and gas it up to about 45 PSI this will carb it up a little

Sounds like you all are having a GREAT time!!

Cheers
Jay

 

[Yellowirenut]

GF is with her family down in Alabama. I have just been putting around the house. Some cleaning some yard work and some prepping for tomorrows brew.

The fourth (the way it is celebrated) is the least favorite holiday for me.
Crowds and fireworks both are not my thing.

Will throw some delmonico steaks on the weber and cook up some garden fresh peas along with a chocolate rye homebrew for supper. Watch some TV specials about the real meaning of the fourth and then to bed to ponder tomorrows brew.

 

[BadDeacon]

Pot luck pulled pork with friends from church. We live in the county and all those city dwellers can't shoot fireworks. So, they come out to our house.

Btw, on New Year's Eve we burn Christmas trees. Last year we burned about 40.

Good times!

 

[gratus fermentatio]

How did I party? This year I put on my uniform, holstered my weapon, and walked across the flightline to work... Next year there will be food, family, and beer. Can't wait!!

Thank you for your service. Because of you, the rest of us are free to singe our knuckle hair, gnaw on BBQ spareribs & drink our weight in beer; but we haven't forgotten you & your compatriots. We all hoisted a pint to you today (the kids had soda) and made it a point to remind all present at our little hodown of just why we had the day off work & were able to stuff ourselves.
I hope next year you'll all be home safe & sound, grillin & chillin on the 4th.
Stay safe. Regards, GF.

 

[Airplanedoc]

How did I party? This year I put on my uniform, holstered my weapon, and walked across the flightline to work... Next year there will be food, family, and beer. Can't wait!!

Hopefully no "fireworks" for you this year, but rest assured many of us are thinking of you.

 

[Jaybird]

Sounds like everyone did exactly what we should have been doing on the 4th of July.... anything we wanted. Our party was another hit. We had 46 show up and it was perfect. I did 4 large tri tips done 2 different ways and 3 different pork ribs. All the food was off the chain. The fireworks display was killer. The margaritas were killer and we also did a Mai Tai bar, Ohhhh How I LOVE a good Mai Tai.
Cant wait till next year!
Cheers
Jay