Independence Day is next week, and no, I’m not talking about the movie with Will Smith and the locust-like aliens. I’m talking about the national holiday that celebrates the day that our founding fathers declared their independence from Great Britain with one of the most profound documents in modern history on July 4, 1776. The importance of this document, which we all know as the U.S. Declaration of Independence, cannot be overestimated as the Declaration not only helped to establish one of the most powerful nations in the world but also established that all men (and women) are created equal and that everyone has certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As a result, it should be no surprise that the celebrations that typically accompany this historic event often spill into the days both before and after the holiday, and if you’re one of the people trying to figure out what you’re going to do during the week of the 4th of July this year, here are some suggestions.
First, in order to make it through all of the events this week, you’re going to need to build up your strength. Fortunately, the Boston area has you covered, as there are a couple of events this weekend devoted to stuffing your face. In fact, if you’re into Caribbean cuisine, you may want to check out the Boston JerkFest. This festival, which is scheduled to take place at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology on Saturday, June 29, 2013 from 11:00 to 8:00 pm, will feature live entertainment and more spicy food than you have ever seen before. For more information, please visit the Boston JerkFest website.
If spicy food really isn’t your thing and you would really prefer to have a good meatball, the Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville is hosting the Meatball Takedown on Sunday, June 30, 2013 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The Meatball Takedown is an all you can eat food festival that, as you might guess, will allow you to sample a wide assortment of meatballs. However, the Takedown not only features a whole bunch of different meatballs for the average attendee to eat but also features a meatball-eating contest in which a large group of people will try to cram as many meatballs into their stomachs as humanly possible. If this all sounds like something you just can’t miss, you may want to check out the Meatball Takedown website for more details and/or to purchase tickets.
Secondly, once you’re all fueled up and ready to go, you may want to think about taking the Official USS Constitution Turnaround cruise. The USS Constitution, which is the world’s oldest commissioned warship, makes a short trip to Castle Island every year on the 4th of July to fire off a 21 gun salute in honor of all the men and women who have fought and/or given their lives for our country. Now, while these cruises won’t actually allow you to sail on the Constitution itself, they will allow you to sail right beside it while you eat, enjoy music from the Middlesex Fife and Drum Corps, and listen to an expert discuss the USS Constitution. For more information and/or to order tickets, please visit the Boston Harbor Cruises Turnaround Spectacular website.
Finally, if you’re looking for something to do after the cruise is over and you’re not planning to head home for the local fireworks that most towns and cities have, you may want to head over to the Esplanade for the Boston Pops Firework Spectacular. The Boston Pops Firework Spectacular is one of the largest fireworks displays in the United States, and it is accompanied by a flyover, music , and guest appearances by a number of well-known actresses, actors, musicians, and bands. For more details on the event, which is absolutely free, please visit the Boston Pops Firework Spectacular website.