To me, the 4th of July just isn’t the same unless the night ends with fireworks. Over the years, the way I spend the holiday has changed, but that feeling has always stayed the same.

As a kid, the 4th meant a full day at the beach with my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins — sunburns, sand everywhere, nonstop playing, and staying until the fireworks lit up the sky. The only downside was the wall of traffic waiting for us afterward, but even that felt like part of the tradition.

Later, it shifted to celebrating at my parents’ house. We’d swim all day, and then a few of my cousins and I would drive out to find a spot to watch fireworks. One year, we spent it at my aunt and uncle’s house. I couldn’t drive yet, and no one wanted to go out for fireworks — and it was the first time the holiday felt incomplete. Without fireworks, it just didn’t feel like the 4th.

Now, we host every year. Family and friends come over, we swim all day, there’s food and drinks everywhere, and the best part is that we can watch the fireworks right from our backyard. No traffic, no rushing, no scrambling to find a spot — just being present, enjoying the day, and reflecting on what it truly means. It’s a moment to honor the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we have today.