Fireworks and Celebrations Cross Borders for the 4th of July.

If you are Living in Costa Rica, don’t let the lack of parades, barbecue sales and red, white, and blue streamers deter you from a good, old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration. For many, these yearly picnics and parties are favorite childhood memories, punctuated by spectacular fireworks and bedtimes much later than the usual. This year, don’t let the Fourth roll by without the proper pomp and circumstance, and celebrate the day right, with casual picnics, barbecued hotdogs, and plenty of streamers.

If you live in the Central Valley, your best chance at celebrating is the Annual 4th of July Picnic, organized by the American Colony Committee. Before the late 1950s, the U.S. Embassy sponsored a small picnic at the ambassador’s house, though as U.S. expatriate numbers grew, the embassy could no longer handle the large event. The American Colony Committee was then formed, and the event has since been sponsored by donations from local American expats and local branches of U.S. companies.

This year’s event will take place on Friday, July 4th, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The entrance fee is $4, or ¢2000, to be paid at the door in cash, and it will be hosted at the Cervecería Costa Rica, on the Airport Autopista. The day’s events will include popular family activities like sack races and water balloon fights and typical picnic food that will remind you of childhood. Please note that proof of U.S. citizenship is required.

If you can’t make it to Friday morning’s event, consider getting together with your friends — American, tico, and other — and organizing a big Independence Day bash. Search for your favorite recipes, and don’t forget to include eternal favorites, like potato salad, cheeseburgers, sandwich sausages, and fresh salad. Bake a red, white, and blue cake, and test your artistic skills by decorating it to your party’s liking. Or go local, and decorate your cake with moras (blackberries) and fresas (strawberries), creating the perfect flag cake. Remember to be creative, and remember to stay casual - too much food stress is a sure way to ruin your 4th of July weekend.

To add a bit of classic fun to your celebrations this year, plan for several typical games. Think back to your childhood, and go from there: play capture the flag, race with raw eggs on spoons, set up for horseshoes, throw water balloons to see whose breaks first, or pair up for a rough game of tug-of-war. Your imagination is the only limit, and the idea is to have as much fun as possible. Celebrate your country’s independence, and don’t forget to require adult participation!

The Fourth of July is a time-honored tradition, and you shouldn’t let your location determine your fiesta fun. Head over to the American Colony Committee’s organized event, get ready for one of your own, or try a combination of the two. Just make sure to celebrate with as much fanfare as you can muster, and enjoy the weekend!

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Filed under: Cultural Events on July 2nd, 2008