4th of july - lewiston style

This year, Jason and I will be celebrating the birth of our independence in the town where it all started - Philadelphia. But I am a little sad to be missing out on all the festivities in Lewiston. Growing up the 4th of July was like Christmas to me, I remember sweeping the gutters, planting flowers, pulling weeds, and cleaning the store, all in preparation for the big day. Each little town in Cache Valley hosts a celebration and the 4th of July (the best celebration of them all) is Lewiston’s. For one day - Lewiston is the place to be.

It all starts with the firing of the canons at 6 am that use to always blow me out of bed. I would jump up and get ready as fast as I could so that I would be one of the first in line at the fireman's pancake breakfast. My dad was a fireman so it was always so fun to walk over to the rodeo grounds with my mom and brothers and see my dad back in the kitchen running the show. After filling our belly's we would run back home and set out our chairs for the parade (before someone else parked their car in my parent’s driveway - it really happens). My parents live in the center of town (the prime location for watching the parade) and the streets are lined with cars and flat bed trailers several days before the big day to save their spots.

After the parade the celebration continues across the street at the park with several food booths, entertainment, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, dunking machine and - my favorite, the firetruck hose. The fire truck would pull up on the lawn and turn on the big hose, spraying water in the air for all the kids to run through (Lewiston’s version of a water park).

When the park got boring we would usually go back to my parent’s house and play on the sports court or walk over and watch the rodeo. Later that afternoon we would watch the softball tournament while waiting for the sun to set for the big firework show. I had a perfect shot of the fireworks from my parent’s front porch but for some reason it was always more fun to go over and lay out our blankets on the baseball diamond and watch the fireworks fall onto the horse tracks. The night would end with a dance in the church parking lot for the youth and our own little firework show in my parents driveway. It was a perfect day and I was always so sad to see it end. Although I won't be able to make it to Lewiston this year, I can't wait to carry on the excitement of the tradition with my own kids someday. I hope you all have a happy 4th of July, wherever you are.

The church across the street from my parents house where all the booths are at.


Downtown Lewiston: The library, town hall, and the theater


The bank, the gas station, and my parent's store