My oldest granddaughter is a Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the 4th of July!
So every year we celebrate at my place, except all the kids were longing for fireworks like me.
Because of the tall, tall trees, it’s difficult to see any from afar…and I love those tall, tall trees, which we didn’t have in San Antonio, Texas.
This year my hubby and I learned Mount Vernon switched up their summer fireworks schedule, which usually show for a few weekends in June.
Although my hubby and I have often gone to them, and completely enjoy the amazingness of them, they weren’t on the 4th.
But this year, Mount Vernon moved them to the 3rd and 4th of July.
Asking my kids if we wanted to do them for Miss M’s birthday, her daddy chose July 3rd, since that was his day off.
So that is what we did…on an excruciatingly Texas hot day in Virginia!
After a quick hamburger dinner with my son and his wife and Miss E (age 2), my daughter and her husband and Miss M (age 6 on the 4th), we drove out to Mount Vernon.
INDEPENDENCE FIREWORKS AT MOUNT VERNON
The temps were over 100 degrees which meant the heat index was around 110 degrees.
MISTING TENTS
This year Mount Vernon had misting tents everywhere, which I think were my granddaughter’s (ages 5 and 364/365 years and 2 years old) favorite of thing!
But the sun was setting which meant that the tall, tall trees were casting lots of shade in lots of places while we pretty much had opportunity to see what we wanted on the grounds.
MEETING THE WASHINGTONS
Another great way to escape the heat was to enjoy the air conditioned interpretative center where General Washington and his wife, Martha, answered questions from the audience.
AIR BALLOON
While my daughter took Miss M to the children’s 18th century games tent, I watched this air balloon demonstration from 1783.
They were filling it with air when I arrived, then the let it go to float in the air and come back down again. (see my youtube video here)
THE FRENCH ARRIVED!
Then I rested in the shade while listening to the French Foreign Legion perform some great tunes. Lots of French military were there taking pictures along with the crowd.
GARDENS
As the sun began hide behind the trees, I visited the gardens…
PBS CAPITOL FOURTH SECRET
When I returned to the mansion to meet my family for fireworks, I took a clear viewed picture of the mansion, apart from one of the staff blocking people from going towards it.
And then I found a better shot…
Unbeknownst to me at the time, there was a soloist in a sparkly silver gown on the left side of the photo, and the reason why the area was blocked.
The next day I put two and two together.
Earlier that day, my daughter told us that PBS would film the fireworks from Mount Vernon to the Capitol Fourth.
Mount Vernon never mentioned that ahead of time, in our programs, or while we were there in any way.
But the next day I watched a replay of the Capitol Fourth and was flabbergasted that the soloist was taping in front of the mansion throughout the evening.
Those of us at Mount Vernon didn’t hear her, and the Capitol Fourth crowd didn’t hear the Mount Vernon music for the fireworks, which was completely different from that of a Capitol Fourth.
In fact, I wondered the entire time where the PBS film crews were. I never saw them…but my daughter ran into them and told me all about it. ha!
FIREWORKS
Love how all the boats come just to see the fireworks. What a fun vantage point!
Before the fireworks, General Washington gave a speech to the crowd, quite a bit larger than what he is used to but unruffled he assured us there was plenty of room.
Then the fireworks shooting over the Potomac from a boat. Too cool!
