John,

Here on the Holcomb Crew, we love Independence Day – and we’re so excited to celebrate our nation’s 244th birthday this weekend!

We realize we may be a little biased, but we think that Indiana may be the best place in the country to celebrate the 4th of July. While a few things may be a little different this year as we continue to make it through this pandemic, there’s no state that displays the American spirit better than Indiana!

For this week’s One Indiana list, we wanted to share with you a few of our plans for this Independence Day weekend:

• Watch Fireworks – Fireworks are perfect for social distancing! Many communities across the state are continuing their fireworks displays, which can be seen from miles around.
• Read the Declaration of Independence – Approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies officially declared themselves free and independent states. Take a few moments to read the Declaration of Independence to reflect on the reason for the creation of the United States and the values our country was built on.
• Fly Your Flag! – Wave your flag proudly this weekend – red, white and blue! Here’s a FAQ from the American Legion on the proper ways to display Old Glory.
• Have a Backyard BBQ – Get a small group of family or friends together, and enjoy some time together outside. And remember – continue to play it safe. Avoid shared dishes and stay home if you’re feeling sick.
• Visit a Military Memorial – Did you know that the state’s capital city, Indianapolis, has more acreage dedicated to honoring our fallen heroes than any other U.S. city – and the city’s number of war memorials is only second to Washington, D.C.? Plan a socially distanced visit to the outside of one of these memorials. 
• Attend a Local Celebration – Pekin, Indiana is home to the oldest consecutive 4th of July celebration in the nation (this is the 190th year!), and they’re keeping it going this year while accommodating for social distancing. And the Valpo Fourth of July Celebration is also being held with accommodations this year. If you’re in the area, check one of these events out, or check to see if there’s a celebration near you.
• Visit Holiday World – Holiday World is now open with just a few changes (but all the fun). Plan ahead, and make sure to purchase a ticket for the day you plan to attend. Check out how they’re keeping it safe for guests.
• Rock the Patriotic Tunes – Maybe you’re a fan of Indiana’s own John Mellencamp as he R.O.C.K.s in the USA, or perhaps you love to belt out Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA. Now’s the time to build your patriotic playlist on your favorite streaming platform.
• Watch a Patriotic Movie or Documentary –  What’s your favorite movie or documentary about America? We love history, so we definitely recommend Ken Burns’ documentaries – The War, The Vietnam War, and The Civil War. If you like musicals, you can’t beat 1776 and Hamilton (starts streaming on July 3).
• Make a Pie – They say nothing’s more American than apple pie, but here in Indiana we enjoy the state’s unofficial state pie, the Sugar Cream Pie! Here’s a recipe.
• Watch a Celebration on TV – The Boston Pops always put on a great show (including a tribute this year to our frontline workers!), and you can plan to watch A Capitol Fourth from Washington, D.C. on PBS.
• Watch the Brickyard – Auto racing is back! The first-ever NASCAR road course will be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 4, followed by the Brickyard 400 on July 5. Make sure you tune in!

We hope you have a fun and safe July 4th weekend! Tell us – what’s your favorite thing to do to celebrate Independence Day in Indiana?

-Your Holcomb Crew