7 New Ideas for Celebrating the 4th of July at Your Apartment Community

Jessica Fiur, Managing Editor

It’s almost the 4th of July, or as I call it, the. Best. Holiday. Ever. (There are barbecues! There are pool parties! There are fireworks!) And after the past year or so, I think we all deserve some good times. So what are some good ways to celebrate with your residents?

Have a barbecue. Have a pool party. Have fireworks.

Duh.

Happy to help. Goodnight, everyone! Tip your waitress!

Still there? Awesome. (Thanks, Mom!)

Here are some new, not yet played out, suggestions for property managers to celebrate the 4th of July at their apartment communities. (And for some great ideas about how to celebrate at manufactured communities, check out these three tips.)

Outdoor movies. Years ago I used to live in New York City. And one of my favorite things to do every summer was go to the weekly movie at Bryant Park, where people would bring blankets and and sit with friends and picnic and drink wine. Sometimes people would even stay for the movie! You can rent movie equipment like a big screen and projector if you don’t have it at your community. If you have the outdoor space, encourage residents to come and picnic and watch a movie. You can even make popcorn for everyone. Bonus: This activity also allows for social distancing.

Food trucks. This isn’t a brand new idea, but it’s also not totally over. Plus food trucks are awesome, and could be a chance to partner with local businesses.

Cornhole tournament. This is a super fun game that’s easy to play, and relatively cheap to get. There’s even apparently a professional organization for it where they have official rules for cornhole tournaments? Sure. OK. Anyway, it’s a fun outside activity for residents.

Tie dying. Along with sourdough starters and puzzles, tie dying became insanely popular during quarantine. And it’s still a lot of fun. You can use red and blue dyes if you want to really be on theme for the 4th. And if you really want to be “extra” (do people still say that?) you can get white t-shirts with the property management company’s name on it for people to tie dye.

Pet safe space. According to The Humane Society of the United States, pets can get really scared by loud noises such as fireworks. If you have a pet-friendly community, you can dedicate a space indoors for pets and their owners so they can all stay inside and be safe. (Maybe the indoor grooming room, if you have one.) Turn it into a party and offer dog and human treats. Just don’t get them confused.

Mixology class. Hire a local bartender and have them teach how to make special themed drinks. Have non-alcoholic versions as well, so that all of your residents can be included.

Indoor options. Make sure anything you plan has an indoor contingency plan. The enemies of 4th of July parties are rain or extreme heat, and knowing this year, I’m sure we’ll get both. Instead of canceling all the festivities, set aside some of the common areas, just in case.

How else are you celebrating? I’d love to hear some of your ideas or see pictures of what you did at your community. Post your comments on our Facebook page or send a tweet to @MHNOnline or @jfiur. Happy 4th, everyone!