I lived for a time in Williamsburg, VA. A quiet little town dominated by "Colonial Williamsburg" - a "living history" outdoor museum made up of many of the structures of Williamsburg circa 1775 when it was the capital of the Virginia Colony. The museum attracts visitors from around the world; actors - many from adjacent William & Mary College - play roles of various characters of the pre-Revolution era. Although the museum has entrance fees, the streets are city-owned and not a legal entity of the museum. This means one may wander around Colonial Williamsburg for free with only entrance to some of the buildings and exhibits restricted. The taverns and shops are open to all.

Mrs DT and I would spend 4th of July at the site - special presentations went on all day. There were parades, exhibits, and historical speeches throughout the day, a reading of the Declaration of Independence from the Courthouse steps, a concert on the green at sunset, and of course, a fireworks show at dusk.

On the other hand, in a small town in Idaho - a farming town - one of the best fireworks shows I've attended takes place. For all the effort, expense, and professionalism of the big shows, the small towns seem to generate a more realistic celebration of the meaning of the day

Worth the 18 minutes:
Utube dot com/watch?v=m82nYY8Ywqo

Here's to y'all having a glorious 4th..

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