This 4th of July, America will be celebrating its 250th birthday. Our nation’s history has been tumultuous, but ultimately one that has inspired many other nations and individuals. Ancient Greek and Roman ideals deeply inspired our Founding Fathers, who sought to create a constitution based on those societies. While infighting over specifics was profound, they ultimately created a system that incentivized the individual not with a simple blanket freedom but by entrusting them with the freedom to do the right thing. Over these 250 years, America has influenced the adoption of Enlightenment values and the development of a political system that gives more power to the common man.
American food, entertainment, music, athletics, art, and so much more are admired throughout the world. Our top-tier universities attract the brightest minds and spark transformative innovations, and our healthcare system delivers pioneering treatments and medical breakthroughs.
The 4th of July is a perfect holiday to remember our nation’s history and the foundational values on which it was built. With this year being its 250th birthday, it feels monumental. Not that 250 years is such a long time, but rather the opposite. Americans have achieved so much in only 250 years. That is something every one of us should celebrate and be proud of.
A great way to celebrate the 4th of July this year is in Lake Oswego for their Spangled Parade & Celebration. The event is this Saturday, July 4th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and is free to attend. Parade staging will take place off Lake Garden Court, then travel to Chandler and 10th Street, onto A Avenue. The route then proceeds onto Second Street, where it will conclude at Millennium Plaza Park.
The parade will include Lake Oswego’s Fire engine, classic American cars, an authentic fife and drum band, and much more.
The celebrations will continue at Millennium Park, where our National Anthem will be sung, and there will be a presentation of colors from the USMC. Additionally, there will be live music, a pie-eating contest, a dunk tank, food vendors, and various family activities.
Something that I love about this is that the entire celebration is only from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. This gives families enough time to get ready in the morning and plenty of time to get back home for any other celebrations they may have scheduled.
Parking for this parade and festivities at Millennium Park is limited, so make sure to get there early. Road closures for the parade are expected to begin around 8:00 am, so even if you are familiar with the layout of Lake Oswego, make sure to account for this. Public parking will be available at City Hall (380 A Avenue), the public lot on State Street (between A & B Avenues), and the State Street/Foothills Road public lot. Note that access to the First Street parking garages at Lake View Village and the Windward will be temporarily closed between 9:30 am and 11:00 am.
Getting to the parade early and/or carpooling or using a ride share will help make this a seamless experience.
As much as I love the 4th of July, I am not the biggest fan of fireworks. This probably has more to do with me getting older, but I think of the firework accidents that happen every year, and it just doesn’t seem worth it to me. It is also probably a little payback from my own delinquency with fireworks when I was a kid.
Fortunately for me, Lake Oswego’s Spangled Parade & Celebration is not lighting any off. I mean, this makes sense as the celebration is occurring during the peak of broad daylight. But still, I’m counting it as a win.
America is a vast nation with a rich and varied culture. The subcultures within it are endlessly fascinating too, from Louisiana’s distinct Creole and Cajun traditions to the proud communities of Appalachia, to the outdoors-loving forest dwellers right here in Oregon. Even within our own state, downtown Portland, suburban Beaverton, and rural Vernonia feel like different worlds, yet they sit just a short drive from one another. Our entire nation is built on these beautiful differences. For 250 years we have woven them into one country, and that is something worth celebrating.
So, while the news and some social media voices may roll their eyes at America’s 250th birthday, my family and I will be firing up the grill with hot dogs, parades, and slathering on sunscreen.
Happy birthday, America.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His books, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ and ‘Holy Ghost: Decoding Leonardo da Vinci’s Final Painting’ are available wherever books are sold.