I booked a flight to Vancouver, which has a lay over in Seattle. I realised my departure date back to the UK is the 4th of July, leaving at 7pm.
I’ve never been to the US, and I will be doing the solo trip alone. Is it worth extending my layover by one day to see the 4th of July celebrations? Are these usually public events (say someone alone can head into the city and watch fireworks etc) or do these celebrations tend to be family/friends orientated which means that it be difficult to find something to tag along too?
Cheers!
44 comments
I’d check with a Seattle sub for specific events but everywhere I’ve lived has had public firework events that were open access
I mean if you want to see the sky blow up and possibly the most patriotic day of the year definitely but otherwise probably not
Our fireworks don’t start until dark around 9pm, but we do spend the day cooking out in the backyard and enjoying our freedom with a refreshing beverage of our choice
IT’s fun at first, but then you wish your neighbors would stop blowing stuff up so you can try to sleep.
There are a lot of fireworks that anyone can watch, although prime viewing spots for the big shows will be very crowded and possibly hard to get to and from (e.g. there is a big event at Gasworks Park but as a crowd and traffic hater I have never been in all the years I’ve lived in Seattle). There may be some other things that anyone can go to, but in general it’s a holiday that people spend at private cookouts and parties with their families and friends. Also it’s not at all uncommon for the 4th to be cool and rainy in Seattle.
Honestly if you’re flying at night while the fireworks go off that’s pretty awesome. Otherwise, 4th of July is pretty blaise.
There will likely be a 4th of July public fireworks show near the coast, but I doubt it would be anything worth delaying your flight over. I once had a flight on the 4th of July and it was fun watching the fireworks from the plane.
I think that you’re right that 4th of July celebrations tend to be family/friends oriented. And maybe I’m old-fashioned, but personally I feel like many Americans would be happy to invite you to join them for the 4th of July. I mean, what greater novelty than to have someone from the UK, the very place we fought to have independence from, be present for our celebration of independence from them.
But it is dependent on finding the right people. So yeah, you could take the chance of hanging out at a bar and meeting someone who invites you to join them for 4th of July celebrations, ideally in a rural area where they can shoot off a bunch of fireworks without having the fire department called, but it may not be worth delaying a flight on the off chance of finding the right people to celebrate with.
Hopefully someone from Seattle sees this and invites you to their celebrations, though.
It’s going to be a lot more fun if you have a group to hang with or a party to go to. If your plans are only going to be to go to the local fireworks show, it’s probably not worth the hassle of extending your trip.
Yeah, definitely stay and watch the fireworks. Apparently we celebrate differently (more enthusiastically?) than Brits do and I’ve heard many Brits say how they’d never seen anything quite like our fourth of July
You can absolutely go see the fireworks by yourself, you won’t stick out or anything, everyone’s going to be looking up anyways.
Idk about Seattle specifically but generally cities and towns have an official fireworks show set off by professionals at parks and the like, and then many many other people set off fireworks all around the city/town.
>do these celebrations tend to be family/friends orientated which means that it be difficult to find something to tag along too?
They are family/friend oriented BUT since it’s not a religious holiday it won’t be hard to finagle your way into getting yourself invited to see fireworks
If I were you, I’d lean into my British accent (Americans love British accents, generally speaking) and try to strike up a conversation with a random American at the grocery store. It won’t be hard, we chat each other up in grocery store lines, someone will eventually talk to you and that’s when you simply say something. They’ll hear your accent, their eyes will light up and they’ll ask you a couple of questions “where are you from?” Stuff like that. Then just mention you’re interested in seeing the fireworks celebration, never seen it before, but don’t know where to go. They’ll probably invite you to meet them at a park or waterfront (don’t drive with them anywhere or anything, because stranger danger, but meeting in public is safe)
>Is it worth extending my layover by one day to see the 4th of July celebrations?
Imo no unless you get to celebrate with a friend or family group. Much of the festivities on July 4th is more personal than public. The public available activities aren’t unique from any other big public event activity.
Unless you have been invited to a party or have somehow never seen fireworks before…not really
It’s worth noting that the 4th of July is on a Tuesday this year, and *most* places are likely to hold their celebrations on Saturday, July 1st.
Unless you have party/BBQ to go to it’s just going to be a big fireworks show. Might be fun to fly over the US on the 4th as people will be setting of fireworks all night long.
I enjoy the 4th of July. Yes, there are fireworks and sometimes outdoor concerts and such. However, lots of people do at-home cookouts and stuff with friends, too.
While I like the holiday, I’m not sure i would rearrange my trip (especially if there is cost involved) to stay for it.
So there’s no wrong answer, really. I wouldn’t call it a “must see,” but it would be a good time.
It could depend regionally by a lot. I moved 2 counties over (both in NY) and I was shocked by how many fireworks were being set off “illegally” in the street. I stood on a corner and had fireworks in every direction, so no need to go to a show.
The fireworks shows are nice.
I’d say it’s worth it to stay an extra day so long as it wouldn’t cost much to change your ticket.
Go check out Seattle’s chamber of commerce pages for what they do on the 4th. It varies from city to city, town to town. Sometimes there will be a small festival first with live music, vendors etc, sometimes not.
Yes. A lot of people are saying “it’s better” with a group and stuff but I don’t think it’s necessary. It’s your experience as someone who has never celebrated it. With that said, I do agree with the comments suggesting you ask around in the Seattle subreddit. Fireworks go off everywhere in the US. Some legally, some illegally 😆but cops are usually cool about it. At least, in my experience.
I think you’ll get different answers depending on peoples’ experiences and preferences.
I myself think it’s definitely worth while hanging around–it’s quintessentially American, and you’re visiting America.
In my area, the townships hold fireworks at the local high school football stadiums. It’s a lot of fun even if you’re by yourself. They sell hot dogs etc and bands play music beforehand, and then they do the fireworks.
BBQs are also fun. I’m pretty sure you can find a backyard party to get yourself invited to if you’re a social person. If you’re more reserved, you can go online—there are many types of groups that would advertise a celebration (like 20s, 30s singles, that kind of thing, church parties, etc).
I would definitely stay. I love Fourth of July and you would experience “Americana.”
I’m American and I hate it. If fireworks are legal in the area, everyone buys 100s of dollars worth and sets them off all night. And I’m talking about the huge cherry bombs as well. It’s like a war zone.
Or stay on the flight and make sure you have a window seat. You’ll see lots of fireworks on the way back.
In Seattle?! Yes. My years living there taught me that they really know how to celebrate. Fireworks going off just about everywhere all the way through midnight. That being said, it’s more enjoyable with friends.
Fire works are cool, but unless you find an all day event going on it can kind of suck as a tourist since most things are closed.
Can always go for a hike or something though.
Unless you have a barbecue to go to, or you really enjoy fireworks shows,, probably not. Public fireworks shows are cool, but they aren’t epic events as far as partying etc. Independence Day isn’t really a huge “night out on the town” holiday either.
If you’re going to be by yourself, I don’t think it’s worth extending your layover. You can watch some fireworks but the real fun is going to a BBQ and hanging out with your family and friends shooting off fireworks.
Honestly, if you could book an evening/night departure the fireworks from a plane is always pretty awesome.
Yeah it’s fun.
That means you’ll likely be in Vancouver on Canada Day? I’d walk around Stanley Park and enjoy it. Great time of year to visit the left coast.
It depends on the area. In my small town rural area there are public fireworks shows and a parade for sure. Lots of people have big parties or set off their own fireworks here. A lot of outdoor places will probably be crowded. If you are not participating in anything I am not sure there will be a lot to just observe.
My household typically grills some food at home and drives over to find a spot to watch the fireworks. We usually sit in our car in a parking lot so we can listen to music or have the ac on as you have to wait awhile for things to start.
I way. The airport will be relatively empty and it will be smooth sailing for the trip. You might find a barbecue or something in the afternoon.
Yes it’s a very fun holiday.
On the contrary. A flight on a red eye will put the plane over the fireworks. I once flew from MCO to JFK at night on the 4th. The fireworks were amazing.
Seattle usually has some really awesome fireworks (downtown, Bellevue, and on the islands). Worth staying for if you want to make rezzies or pack a picnic.
Seeing all the fireworks from the air can be pretty cool. I flew from New York to Boston on 4th of July and could see dozens of small fireworks shows all along Long Island and Connecticut.
Oof, are you even allowed back into the UK if you celebrate/experience traitors day?
If your layover was in Lander Wyoming I’d say yes. That town is nuts on July 4th. Kegs in wheelbarrows on the streets. Fireworks legal in town for the day. Wild West.
Sure. But tbh you don’t need the actual day. A lot of the parades and fireworks happen in the week or weekend before and after.
Best holiday of the year
I love fireworks, so much so that I’ve watched them on my own before and enjoyed them! So I’m the type of person that even though I see them yearly, I would delay my flight to go watch fireworks and attend the celebrations.
I don’t know how Seattle handles the 4th, but in San Francisco it’s just…not good. The fog covers most of the visuals almost every year and you get kinda pretty clouds? Definitely not the same as I used to experience in the city I used to live in. They had the symphony play along live in a big band shell while the fireworks went off from barges on the river and it was amazing and synchronized. Get a corn dog, drink a huggie on a blanket nearby, be wowed by the music and booms. I want a gold “weeping willow” firework to explode, filling the sky above me. Some of my favorite memories.
Without a doubt it is worth it. If you want to really feel “America,” there’s not a day that isn’t a tragedy where you can witness and experience American unity and pride better than Independence Day.
Seattle usually has fireworks at Gasworks Park, it’s extremely crowded. As others have said, if you don’t have people to spend it with/don’t have a BBQ to go to, it’s just fireworks, which is cool, but probably not much different than fireworks you’ve seen before.
It sounds like you’ll be in Canada July 1st, so it will basically be a repeat of that.
In Seattle? Fuck yes. They launch the fireworks off the Space Needle. Also go check out r/Seattle because I’m betting they will give you other ideas and you may even score an invite to a party.
I’m going to say it’d probably be worth staying. Seattle does a fireworks show over Lake Union. People hang out at Gas Works Park for a good part of the day to get a good viewing spot. If you’re sociable and bring a 6-pack, I bet you’d be very popular and easily find people to hang with given your British accent. That said, bring a lot of extra sunscreen or an umbrella because there isn’t much shade in that park, and I’ve heard Brits fry up in the sun.