Celebrate the Fourth of July at a Fourth of the Cost

By Heather Canter

Time for the annual Independence Day celebrations, cook-outs and blow-outs. There are several ways to save money and still host the best party or barbecue in town.

If you're making burgers, buy your ground beef in the bulk packages. You can make your own patties and save money. You can even spice up the patties with a little Greek seasoning and some Worcestershire sauce and just a touch of soy sauce. You'll have made some inexpensive, but very tasty burgers. Be sure you get your hamburgers well done for your good health as well as your guests'.

What's a cook-out without some chips? You don't always have to buy the name brand chips to get a good tasting product. Many of the store brand and off-brand products taste just as good, maybe better, than the brand name. By buying the store or off brand, you can buy more product for your money.

When you plan your drink menu, you don't necessarily need a bunch of soda, which can be one of your most expensive purchases. Buy flavored drink mixes and lemonade. You can also buy big 24 packs of water, which is a more and more popular drink these days, not to mention better than soda or other things you could be drinking. You could also encourage each guest to bring their favorite drink while you cover other foods and supplies.

Try making Shortcut Lemon Tea from www.momsmenu.com, with 10 tea bags, a gallon of fresh water, three-fourths to one cup of sugar and one sliced lemon. Pour half of the gallon of water into a large saucepan with the 10 tea bags. Bring the tea to a boil over high heat. Once the tea boils, remove from heat and let it cool. When cooled, remove tea bags. Add remaining water and sugar to the tea. Mix well and pour into pitcher. Add sliced lemons and chill in refrigerator.

For your entertainment, you can always head to Ashe County Park for the big fireworks display and festivities. There is no charge; however, donations are appreciated to help defray costs of the event.

You can't forget the kids because they're ready for some fun, too. You can find all sorts of free family projects, crafts and more on-line for your children's July 4 entertainment. At www.familycorner.com, they have printable coloring pages for picnics, great recipe ideas, kids and adults crafts as well as safety tips concerning fireworks.

Kids love to get messy, so why not plan an outdoor activity for the children. Buy large pieces of paper or check with your local newspaper office to see if they have any extra end rolls they can sell you. Buy some different colored paints. Let the children drop small amounts of paint on their paper and swirl them out. They can keep swirling them out, ending up with what looks to be a colorful fireworks display. Not only will the kids enjoy it, but they'll have artwork they can give dad, mom or a grandparent.

Another fireworks craft involves various colors of food coloring and water mixtures, a straw for each child and white paper. Children can dip their straw into the food coloring and blow onto paper. It will make a great fireworks effect, according to www.childfun.com.

Get together with family, friends and other guests who plan to come to your event and let each person bring a dish and a drink. Everyone will save money and you will have a variety of food and drinks.

Check the Ashe Mountain Times for any free and exciting events going on around town. The Christmas in July Festival will be held in West Jefferson, beginning with the kick off on Friday night and continuing on Saturday with handmade and homemade crafts and a vast array of foods. Also on display will be Civil War re-enactors, set up at Bowie-Seagraves Park in West Jefferson. At Cook Park in Todd, the Todd Summer Music Series will continue. On July 4, Todd will welcome the Buck Haggard Band, which consists of five local musicians who decided to focus on country music and named their band for two of its greats- Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. According to www.toddnc.org, the band takes you back to the 1940s and 1950s when country music still sounded like its country roots.

Don't forget to search the internet and check with area visitor's centers, especially our own Ashe County Chamber of Commerce. Visitors and locals alike can find out more about area activities and attractions.