4th of July Parade Scavenger Hunt

As our kids were growing up, we had a tradition of going to their grandma’s to celebrate the 4th of July. (There were lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles, too.)

She lived 1/2 block from the parade route. We’d go early to save a spot in the shade.

After the parade, we went to grandma’s house for a picnic in her backyard. We had loads of fun.

Well, maybe except for while we were waiting for the parade. Grandma would bring a bag of candy for the kids to eat.

Still. The kids sometimes got restless waiting for the parade to start. And because they had been sitting for so long, they got restless during the parade. Does that sound familiar to you?

I’m the grandma now. So it’s my turn to help create fond memories of our times together on the 4th of July.

So, in preparation for the 4th of July parade, I have created a free printable parade scavenger hunt for the grandkids to fill out.

They will put a checkmark by each of the items that they see during the parade. Hopefully, this will help them so they won’t get restless because they feel that the parade was too long.

In addition to the scavenger hunt, you could make some sparkler pencils to use. (You could have your grandkids make them while they are waiting for the parade to start. You’d just need to pre-cut the tissue paper for them. And, make sure the pencils are sharpened!)

Last year, we were visiting a different state during the 4th of July. I was really interested to see what their parade was like. We were in that state’s capitol city so I thought that the parade would be A. Big. Deal. Silly me. It was a very pathetic parade (in comparison to what Provo, Utah, does)!

With that in mind, I realize that what you might have in your parade could be vastly different from what I have on my free printable. You might have to make up your own list.

Think about what you typically see and include those items. Are there go-carts, someone on a horse, boy scouts, antique cars, tractors, someone dressed as Betsy Ross, characters from a movie, flowers, someone riding a bike with crepe paper wound between their spokes?

Do local businesses, churches, or banks have a float? Put them on your list. Is there something that is peculiar to your area that is represented in your parade? There is a Hari Krishna temple nearby and some of their people walk the parade route with their llamas.

(Our little city of Salem, Utah, holds a small parade at the first of August for their city days. One year, there was a ‘brigade’ of riding lawnmowers. They drove in fun formations similar to what our state highway patrol troopers who ride motorcycles do. It was a hoot!)

I hope you have a great 4th of July. Be sure to stay well-hydrated and don’t get too sunburned!