4th OF JULY SUMMERTIME FUN IN OKLAHOMA

A WINDOW INTO Fourth of July Summertime Fun in Oklahoma

RESIDENTS MAKE TIME TO STOP AND SHARE THEIR STORIES

Summertime in Oklahoma. Blistering temperatures, sunny and overcast skies, raging humidity, blackberries, snakes, and lightning bugs. It is difficult to think of summertime activities without conjuring up memories of summers gone by and the patriotic displays of affection for this beautiful country we all share. Many have their own unique ways of showing appreciation for their country, not to mention family traditions and pastimes.

As a child, I spent many summers on my grandparents’ dairy farm in Indiana where the temperature and thick air is comparable to Oklahoma. We would pick vegetables from my grandmother’s garden and prepare them for big extended family meals, ride grandpa’s old horse, and explore creeks and the underside of country bridges. Fourth of July celebrations consisted of all my uncles trying to outdo one another with the biggest, loudest, and brightest fireworks.

I vividly recall the Fourth of July in 1976 when two of my aunts and I went out along the dark remote country road to bang some pots and pans. My uncle Lon came out and convinced us kids there was something magical about that particular year and holiday that we would never experience again. Although I was too young to appreciate it at the time, he was right. Some never got to celebrate a century mark of our country’s independence from Britain.

To honor our country’s birthday, I decided to take a few drives and strolls along The Corridor and ask people how they celebrate the Fourth of July. I hope you enjoy hearing the traditions and memories of our fellow Oklahomans as much as I enjoyed seeking them out and hearing them firsthand.

I began venturing down The Corridor at the town of Bristow, which celebrates the holiday annually during the Sam Varner Fireworks Celebration. The event, which was formerly named “Patriotism in the Park,” was renamed to honor the memory of Mr. Varner. Bristow’s annual event boasts fireworks displays, vendors, and food trucks. Many towns along The Corridor are known to celebrate the holiday in a grand fashion.

Left to right, Specialist Nathan Greenhagen and Corporal Dillon McDaniel enjoy fireworks displays and spending time family during the Fourth of July holiday.

As I strolled down Route 66, I spotted a couple of young men in National Guard uniforms on their way to the Lincoln County Health Department. Corporal Dillon McDaniel and Specialist Nathan Greenhagen chatted with me about their service with the National Guard and their extended one-year orders during the Covid pandemic. The two buddies were performing administrative duties on the day I happened to spot them. Dillon said he spends most of his time off with family and enjoys celebrating with fireworks, cooking out, and watching documentaries. When not working full time in the National Guard, Dillon is a teacher in the Oklahoma City area. This year Dillon and his wife plan to travel to a state park with their son. Nathan, who is normally in college when not on special assignment, said he enjoys watching fireworks with his family at Ponca Lake; his favorite part of the holiday is the annual tradition of enjoying a good meal with his extended family.

Farther west along Highway 66 at a local park, Shannon and Doug Kirkpatrick were grilling hamburgers and stopped to chat. The couple, from Roff, relocated to Oklahoma two years ago from New Jersey. Shannon shared a particularly memorable Fourth of July when her mother set off a firework that landed sideways and began pointing and shooting embers at family members that ultimately landed in her sister’s purse and set it on fire. Shannon said her mother is no longer allowed to oversee lighting the fireworks.

Mr. James Keene, a twenty year US Marines Veteran, enjoys watching fireworks with his wife Gayle, at small towns in Oklahoma in celebration of our country’s birthday.

Within the town of Chandler, Mr. James Keene was sitting on the porch of his Victorian style home on Highway 66, enjoying the warm sunny morning. James has lived in this residence for 28 years with his wife, Gayle. The Keene home proudly displayed flags along the yard. James served in the US Marines for 20 years. The family enjoys watching fireworks displays at various small towns in the area. As I drove off and waved, I left feeling as though I had made a new friend for life.

On down the road westward bound, Lesa HankinsLehr stopped to share her annual tradition of parade riding with her grandson Konnor. Lesa said her favorite part of the holiday is spending time with family and parade participation in patriotic attire.

On a side note, off the beaten path of The Corridor, the Town of McLoud boasts one of the longest running annual Fourth of July events in the state of Oklahoma, their Blackberry Festival. We plan to attend this event for the first time this year. I am a sucker for those juicy Oklahoma blackberries and happily fight the thorns, snakes, and chiggers each year to stock the freezer for months to come. However you choose to spend your time, I hope you enjoy the holiday and fun in the sun.n