Fourth of July With New England Flair

Bold stripes, bright stars, brave hearts…

~Diana Manning~

The Fourth of July is one of New England’s most iconic holidays. Our celebrations have a unique feel, whether we gather on a beach for a clambake and watch fireworks with our toes in the sand, or visit one of the many historic sites that played a role in forming our nation. Wherever you live, add a touch of New England flair to your Fourth of July entertaining.

Flags, Flags, Everywhere!

Visitors to New England notice American flags everywhere they look, whether on historic houses, boats in a harbor, or the side of a barn. It’s true, we fly Old Glory a lot, both inside and out.

From Memorial Day through July, use flags to set a colorful and patriotic tone inside your house. The display above uses a glass hurricane with “sand” to anchor a bouquet of small flags. Since I had no actual sand on hand, I used organic sugar instead. It looks just like the real thing!

The display of tiny flags in the Asian foot bath above can be moved from room to room to lend a patriotic feel to Fourth of July entertaining. If you subscribe to our newsletter, you can read about how to get the look.

Bring New England flair to your outdoor celebrations too. The flag bouquet makes a perfect centerpiece on the beverage tray. Use pillows and throws in patriotic colors to extend the theme. I even found red, white, and blue straws for the occasion in the Target dollar section.

Historic houses often feature flags, like this one depicting the original 13 Colonies.

Beach Party and Barbecue Food

Clambakes and seafood boils are popular New England fare during Fourth of July celebrations. Wherever you live, you can use locally sourced fish or shellfish to create your own seafood packets. A quick search will show dozens of recipes online.

Many summertime celebrations feature lobster in the rough. You can steam yours at home or dine at a local lobster pier.

It’s a New England Thing

Around New England, if it’s not moving, we put a flag on it.

The Boston Pops annual Fourth of July concert features top musical artists, patriotic and pop music, and ends with the 1812 Overture’s booming cannon, while fireworks light the sky. It’s televised, so if you can’t attend in person, you can add a New England touch to your celebration by tuning in.

Happy Fourth!