I love scrolling social media and seeing all the photos of friends and family on the Fouth of July, out enjoying the town or city where they reside. It is one of those times of year where a community comes together to take pride in not only our country, but where they live within this great Nation. We should celebrate our country and individual communities. No better time to celebrate those things than Independence Day!

I have lived a variety of places including Chippewa Falls, WI, Lynchburg, VA, Merrill, WI, Naples, FL, Fort Myers, FL, and Southlake, TX. Each place has a unique and special way of celebrating the Fourth of July. Wherever you may live, don’t miss out on those festivities as they go on throughout the year. They are a precious part of making memories and connecting with your community. Take joy in your community and where you reside.

Southlake’s Independence Day celebration was a wonderful time for our family this year. They had everything from free hair styling for girls, temporary tattoo booths, balloon artists, candy making, trampolines, and bounce houses. All free and open to the public! There were plenty of food vendors and local businesses giving away goodies. Of course it all ends with a huge fireworks display. We enjoyed seeing lots of friends at the event. We watched the fireworks on the lawn outside the Hilton with our friends Elizabeth and Phillip and their children. It was a great evening! Thank you to our city for putting on such a great event!

Photo by Elizabeth Perez

Here are some of the photos I took from our Southlake Independence Day Celebration: