As I write this, I am heading to a Fourth of July celebration where they will likely set off a ridiculous number of fireworks (especially for a house party), and I will most assuredly oooo and ahhh over the chest-thumping explosions and sparkling weeping willows falling from the sky.  So, forgive me a certain degree of hypocrisy while I suggest a few alternatives to celebrating the Fourth of July that don’t involve polluting the sky with gunpowder.  As Andy pointed out, environmentally friendly fireworks are in the “works”, but until then…

1.  Outdoor Movies Rule

Something tells me that somewhere in your town there will be an outdoor movie screening for the Fourth of July.  Find that place, pack a picnic basket (full of farmer’s market veggies, local cheese and bread, and sustainably-produced fermented beverages), and go there.  If there isn’t a film showing under the stars, organize one yourself.  Getting your hands on a projector may not be the easiest task, so how about playing your favorite movie scenes on a laptop with the subtitles turned on, the sound turned down, and invite everyone play a bit of movie-karaoke.  I repeat: Outdoor movies rule.

2. Take A Hike

Invite your friends for a mellow hike (or a hardcore one, depending on your friends), bring along some sustainable snacks (as suggested above) and watch nature’s very own fireworks display: the sunset!  If you’re fortunate enough to climb beyond the smog and fireworks of the city, you may even see some shooting stars!  Take that, gunpowder!

3. Dance To The Beat Of A Different Drummer

Sure, all of the outdoor music events on the Fourth of July will likely involve a fireworks-ridden finale, but if you do some research I’m sure you could find ones that don’t.  And if all else fails, put some speakers in your window, invite the neighbors and have an impromptu block party.  Woot.

4.  Host An Environmentally Friendly Cookout

Oh wait, I talked about that already. Go check it out and party on!

Got any more suggestions?  Leave them in the comments below!