July is a time for celebrations and outdoor family fun.   Read on to find out more about this month of special days and fun activities for families to do together.  There are links to crafts and recipes you can create with your children during July to bring out the inner chef, adventurer, and artist in your child.

7/1 Appearing during medieval times in Germany, gingersnap cookies are flavored with ginger, cloves & allspice. July 1st is National Gingersnap Day. Do you have a favorite gingersnap recipe you like to make? Do you enjoy them with tea, coffee, milk or ice cream?

7/2: Somerset Patriots Game Highlight: “Official” New Jersey Night.  Celebrate all “Official” things about the state of New Jersey.

7/3: Somerset Patriots Fourth of July Fireworks – Enjoy postgame fireworks show in celebration of Independence Day at the ballpark! Plus Baseball BingoFans will be able to win prizes playing baseball bingo throughout the game

7/3 Wear Red, White and Blue at Kangaroo Kids in Honor of Independence Day.

7/3 Crispy and sweet, these wafers are a favorite American treat! Around the world, chocolate wafers are used as a key ingredient in cookies and ice cream sandwiches. No matter where or how you enjoy your chocolate wafer cookies, celebrate on July 3rd, National Chocolate Wafer Day!  Here is an easy cool treat to enjoy on National Wafer Day! Enjoy this Icebox Cake that your children can make for the family or their classrooms by themselves!!

7/4 Independence Day: Kangaroo Kids will be CLOSED!  July 4th is America’s birthday! Independence Day marks the anniversary of the day Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence! On Independence Day, July 4th before you are watching the fireworks at night, why not create some fireworks on paper in anticipation of the night’s activities!

7/4 The Annual July 4th Fireworks Display will be held on Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 9:30 P.M. at North Branch Park on Milltown Road in Bridgewater. Admission is free to the July 4th celebration. North Branch Park gates will open at 6:00 P.M. to allow vehicles to enter the park and families to picnic on park grounds. The fireworks display will begin at 9:30 P.M. Visitors should plan to arrive early. Milltown Road will be closed at approximately 9:00 P.M. Heavy car and foot traffic is expected.

7/7  While there is no record as to why National Macaroni Day was created, this “holiday” is built around making, eating, and creating all things macaroni.

7/7  Is the last day for the State Fair at the Meadowlands. Play some games, enjoy some rides and eat some yummy carnival food. http://njfair.com/  The State Fair Meadowlands is a carnival held every summer at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The fair is held in the parking lot that surrounds the MetLife Stadium and runs for two weeks in late June and early July.

7/8 National Ice Cream Sundae-Did you know that sundae is one of the most served ice cream desserts in America? The most popular flavors of sundae in the country are chocolate caramel, butterscotch, and strawberry. These delicious, sweet, cold, creamy ice cream desserts with one or more scoops of ice cream with syrups and other toppings such as fruits, maraschino cherries, nuts, whipped cream, and sprinkles are loved by kids and adults alike! Take the day and make your own ice cream in a bag recipe.

7/9 The sugar cookie began its start as a “jumble”, otherwise known as an unleavened dried biscuit! Pennsylvania adopted the Nazarene Sugar Cookie as the state’s official cookie as a House Bill in 1892! Enjoy today, National Sugar Cookie Day and don’t forget to enjoy it with your class by bringing your favorite sugar cookies to share!!!

7/11 Take a break from your usual boring breakfast routine and reach for a blueberry muffin on today, National Blueberry Muffin Day! It is blueberry season! Did you know that the blueberry muffin is the official state muffin of Minnesota? In America, the term “muffin” refers to a quick bread product that is similar to a cupcake in cooking methods and size. Muffins can be sweet (such as banana or blueberry muffins) or savory (such as corn or cheese muffins). Show off your baking skills and make your best blueberry muffin. A local farm in Princeton, Terhune Orchards, holds an annual blueberry bash. Enjoy picking blueberries, making blueberry crafts, sample blueberry muffins and jams, wagon rides or enter your best blueberry recipe in their annual Blueberry Bash Bakeoff July 13-14th, 2024: 10am-5pm.

7/13 There is quite a debate on where the French Fry was created, but there is no debate that they are a favorite of children everywhere! Do you have a favorite French Fry that you will be eating today, National French Fry Day?  Steak fries, String or Curly? Do you dip them in ketchup, mayo, ranch or a chocolate shake?

7/20 While no one knows for sure when the lollipop was invented, we do know how it got its name! In the early 1900’s the owner of a small candy store named the modern day “lollipop” after his favorite race horse, Lolly Pop! So today, July 20th is National Lollipop Day! How many licks does it take to get to the center of the Tootsie Roll Pop? Well as easy as 1, 2, 3, you can make your own lollipop plate decoration or paint with lollipops to use our 5 sensesWhether you buy lollipops for National Lollipop Day, make them or just eat them, check out Candyland Crafts in Raritan, NJ for all your candy needs. Call Candyland crafts to find out if they are holding a lollipop making class. https://www.candylandcrafts.com/index.shtml

7/20 World Jump Day: World Jump Day is celebrated worldwide, and 600 million people in the Western Hemisphere jump at the same time each year. Torsten Lauschmann, a German artist from the United Kingdom, created World Jump Day. The first event was held on July 20th, 2006. His hope was that by having enough people jump at the same time, it would change the orbit of Earth. Simply, jump for fun. Jumping jacks tops the list of activities on World Jump Day as it has many health benefits. Around 30 jumping jacks a day is a good exercise for enhancing body metabolism. So jump around with your friends.

7/21 National Ice Cream Day has been observed since 1974 thanks to President Ronald Reagan. On the 3rd Sunday in July, Americans enjoy ice cream as a snack food or dessert to celebrate the day. Which ice cream flavor is your favorite? Here is a great homemade-ice-cream-recipe you can make at home with your family.

7/23 In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a law establishing the 4th Sunday in July as National Parents Day! This day helps promote responsible parenting and recognizing positive parental relationships!

7/23 National Vanilla Ice Cream Day:  National Vanilla Ice Cream Day seeks to promote the indulgence of vanilla ice cream. Vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice cream. The third president of the United States may have discovered a love for the vanilla flavor while visiting France. While he wouldn’t have been the first to savor the delicious taste of vanilla ice cream, Jefferson enjoyed jotting down recipes. How to make the best ice-cream-in-a-bag recipe.

7/25 Thank you to whoever created HOT FUDGE SUNDAE DAY! This variation of a sundae where the sauce is heated & poured over ice cream is a delicious dessert! What are your favorite toppings to include on your hot fudge sundae? I personally like whipped cream and sprinkles! The first hot fudge sundae took shape in Los Angeles, California back in 1906.

If you have not checked out https://hulafrog.com/bridgewater-nj this is another place to look for things happening in the local area!

For additional things to do within Somerset County, check out the Somerset County tourism page weekly! https://visitsomersetnj.org/