Best Things To Do On The 4th Of July In Amarillo

As a kid, 4th of July meant only one thing. We were going to blow up some stuff! As an adult with a family of my own, it means something different. We're still going to blow up some stuff, but we are also going to enjoy the day.

Here is a list of the best things to do in Amarillo on the 4th of July. Let us know if we missed something in the comments section below.

#1. Grill a massive amount of food.

I love this time of year. That means it's time to fill the propane tank (unless you are a strict charcoal griller), buy a ton of different meat, and fire up the grill. Nothing says American Independence more than cooking an insane amount of brisket and marinated steaks. Our favorite things in our household are ribeyes with McCormick dry rub. I highly recommend it on any meat your throwing on the grill.

2. Reflect on what Independence means to our country.

In my opinion, much of the youth today has no idea what it took for us to be able to celebrate the freedoms that we have in our great country. The freedom that we have today was gifted to us by previous generations that were brave enough to fight for it. Families made sacrifices in many different ways and it's important that our children understand that.

3. Spend time with family and friends.

The 4th of July is a great day to have a family get together and reunite with old friends. In my family, we almost always spent the holiday with the entire family gathered in a back yard. Now that I have my own family, we spend it with the parents, grandparents, kids, cousins, and anyone else we can squeeze in.

4. Light fireworks

We haven't gotten the official word whether or not we can set off fireworks in the area this year. But, that is one of my fondest memories as a child. I'll be honest. It's one of my favorite things to do even to this day. To watch the look on my daughter's face as we light a 'sparkling fountain' or 'the egg laying hen' is completely priceless. I love to watch her holding a 'sparkler' and see how much fun she is having.

5. Go to the fireworks display.

If you're going to John Stiff park to watch the fireworks, you might want to get there early. It seems like the entire city packs into that place to watch the fireworks display. In the past there have been food vendors and snowcone stands. I remember having the best turkey leg ever while watching the fireworks from the Lowe's parking lot. One thing to keep in mind is to allow for time to get home. The traffic is insane.