Chicago is an incredible place to spend Fourth of July. Fireworks start Thursday during that holiday weekend and continue nonstop through the Fourth. People love setting off their own fireworks, and the madness intensifies as the day goes on. By the end of the night on the holiday, you can sit next to the lake and watch an unofficial show. Of course, you can watch the Navy Pier fireworks and many other planned shows around town, but I loved seeing the random bursts of light as people light their own displays (although it does get loud and scary).
Fourth of July afternoon was spent at the Chicago Cubs game, because what’s more American than baseball? We arrived before gates opened to get in line for the giveaway: a camo apron. Truth be told I am not a camouflage person, but I won’t pass up a giveaway!
After the game, Graham and I walked over the the pier in our Rogers Park neighborhood to see what the commotion was. We could hear so many fireworks reverberating through our block that it sounded like a war zone. Our dogs seemed OK for the most part, though they did get excited at some of the louder booms. I think I was more startled than they were.
We watched the bursts for some time until it was time to check on the dogs again. This Fourth wasn’t as intense as last year, when a person ran up and down our street lighting fireworks until 2 or 3 in the morning. Thank goodness for that!
The next day was my vacation day I took to channel Ferris Bueller at the Cubs game. Again, I arrived 30 minutes before the gates opened because the giveaway was something I was interested in: an Anthony Rizzo off-the-tarp catch bobblehead. I had so much anxiety built up as I waited in the longest game line I’ve ever had to be in, but I was successful in getting one!
How did you spend your Fourth? Do you ever like to take days off to do random stuff? Let me know in the comments! Also, check out my video below and subscribe to my Youtube channel.
