Local 4th of July Event Guide

Here are Lake Country Family Fun’s summer parade survival tips!

• Bring water, lots and lots, of water. Bonus if they have electrolytes (without the added sugar). The kids will be getting all the sugar from the parade candy 😉 
• Get there early, if you can’t buddy up with another family that you love and whomever gets there first saves enough space for the whole group.
• Strategically seat your family near a rest room if at all possible.
• Strategically seat your family near a place they can run and kill time prior to the parade starting, many parades go by parks (that is usually where you will find us) {Pro tip from Lake Country Family Fun founder, Melissa Peterson}.
• Bring freeze pops or frozen yogurt tubes.  The last thing you want is your 3 year old over heating and ending up in a walk-in freezer at a convenience store.  {Pro tip from Lake Country Family Fun founder, Melissa Peterson}
• Bring a small pair of scissors for said freeze pops.  It will save time, frustration and your teeth.  OR check this pro-tip from Erin and her youngest. 
• Bring wet wash cloths in a ziplock bag to cool down your little people or to clean off your sweaty face and sticky hands. Throw them in the freezer or fridge  and grab them just before you leave.  
• Bring some band-aids, inevitably someone will fall and skin their knee.
• Bring a blanket to place on the sidewalk or curb, once the parade begins your little people will be chasing candy and not relaxing in their chairs.  It helps give them parameters of what their ‘area’ is and how far they can go for candy.  
• Snacks, snacks, snacks.  Protein filled, non-sugary snacks are best. Frozen grapes in a cooler, cuties, cut up apple slices, beef sticks, etc… (bring a few more than you think you may need).
• Please teach your children manners. {Don’t be the parent with your kid knocking over somebody else’s kid to get that piece of Laffy Taffy.}  Let them know their boundaries and expect them to abide by it. Please and thank you and you’re welcome all day long 🙂
• See these parade etiquette tips for respecting the American flag.
• Bring a few extra bags for the kids to round up their candy, bring at least one extra for use as a trash bag. Do not leave any trash on the street. Leave your area better than you found it 🙂 
• Bring mineral sunscreen, if you can apply prior before the parade.
• Bring some extra baby wipes, they have so many purposes and can help in multiple ways. (Sticky candy anyone? kids playing in the dirty street?)
• Bring a few extra hair rubber bands, things get lost easily and when they get hot the ladies will always want their hair pulled up.  
• Possibly an extra change of clothes if you have a kid that likes to pour water on themselves,  or are a sweaty little mess, or maybe you have somewhere to go afterwards.  
• Got an extra tip for families? Let us know!