Fourth of July – Topical Fruit

America’s Favorite Fourth of July Plan? Absolutely Nothing

If your big Fourth of July plans include sitting around doing as little as humanly possible, congratulations… you’re in good company.

According to a new poll, the number one thing Americans are looking forward to this weekend is doing nothing.

43% of people say their Independence Day plans involve kicking back at home, which officially makes chilling out the most American activity of all.

But not everyone’s embracing couch life. Here’s what else is on the agenda this Fourth of July:

35% are planning some quality time with family or heading to a family gathering.
33% will be attending a barbecue or picnic. (Is it even the Fourth without a hot dog and questionable potato salad?)
16% will catch a fireworks display—whether from a local park or the neighbor who always buys the illegal stuff from out of state.
10% say they’ll be setting off their own fireworks, which actually seems low. (We see you, backyard pyros.)
10% are heading to a formal Fourth of July event like a parade.
11% will be watching sports, possibly from a lawn chair.
5% plan to hit the beach.
4% will go camping or hiking.
2% are going fishing.
And a surprisingly relatable 10% answered “none of the above,” a.k.a. “zero plans, leave me alone.”

So whether you’re lighting up the grill, setting off fireworks, or just setting your phone to “Do Not Disturb,” it looks like there’s no wrong way to celebrate. Just don’t feel bad if your most ambitious goal this weekend is not putting on pants. That, apparently, is the true American dream.

What’s Missing From Your Fourth of July? Probably One of These Foods

If you’ve ever screamed, “WE FORGOT THE BAKED BEANS!” like it was a national emergency, you’re not alone. Instacart just dropped data on what people were frantically ordering for the Fourth of July last year.

Here are the Top 10 Items That Surged in the lead-up to America’s birthday:

Canned Baked Beans – 4.2x more popular than average.
Hot Dog Buns
Watermelons – Great for eating, better for watching your delivery driver try to lug five of them up your front steps. (Don’t forget to tip.)
Hot Dogs
Hamburger Buns
Popsicles – Melting in 0.6 seconds, just like your will to host a backyard party.
Pickles – Because your aunt insists the potato salad needs “CRUNCH.”
Mayonnaise – For salads, slathering, and summoning flies from six ZIP codes away.
Potato Chips
Lemonade & Limeade

Honorable Mentions from the Patriotic Panic Cart:

Rainier Cherries – $37 per bag and worth every sweet, bougie bite.
Angel Food Cake – Light, fluffy, and usually topped with fruit like it’s pretending to be healthy.
Frozen Daiquiri & Piña Colada Mixes – For people who want to feel “beachy” while standing on concrete.
Ice

So if you find yourself panic-ordering watermelon, and 14 pounds of beans on July 3rd . . . don’t worry. You’re not alone. You’re just very American.

Popcorn and Patriotism: Top Movies for Your Independence Day Binge

Looking to celebrate the Fourth of July with something a little more chill than fireworks and cookouts? Fire up the popcorn and your favorite streaming service—because patriotic movie marathons are in season. Whether you’re in the mood for action, history, or a little old-fashioned Americana, ThePioneerWoman.com has you covered with a list of festive flicks perfect for the holiday.

Here are 30 standouts to help set the red, white, and blue mood:

“Jaws” (1975) – Nothing says “Fourth of July” quite like a beach town being terrorized by a great white shark. Classic.
“Top Gun” (1986) – Jet-fueled action, volleyball, and Tom Cruise in aviators. Instant USA vibes.
“The American President” (1995) – Presidential romance meets political idealism.
“Rocky” (1976) – An underdog story that’s all heart and Philadelphia grit.
“The Sandlot” (1993) – Summertime nostalgia and baseball—need we say more?
“An American Tail“ (1986) – A sweet animated tale of immigration and the American dream.
“Live Free or Die Hard“ (2007) – Cyber-terrorism vs. Bruce Willis. USA wins, obviously.
“National Treasure” (2004) – History class meets heist movie with Nicolas Cage doing peak Nicolas Cage things.
“Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011) – A literal superhero wrapped in a flag. Perfect.
“Apollo 13” (1995) – Real-life NASA drama that reminds you of American ingenuity.
“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939) – Jimmy Stewart delivers peak civic virtue.
“Air Force One” (1997) – “Get off my plane.” – Harrison Ford, American icon.
“Forrest Gump” (1994) – A Forrest-through-the-decades view of modern U.S. history.
“Hamilton” (2020) – If you haven’t watched it yet, now’s the perfect time.
“1776” (1972) – Founding Fathers sing their way through independence.
“The Six Triple Eight” (2022) – Tells the powerful true story of the only all-Black, all-female battalion in WWII.
“Captain America: Brave New World” (2025) – Sam Wilson takes up the shield in this latest Marvel chapter.
“Purple Hearts” (2022) – A military romance that dives into the complexities of love and service.
“Argo” (2012) – Tense and heroic, Ben Affleck’s film spotlights a daring hostage rescue.
“First Daughter” (2004) – Life in college gets tricky when you’re also the president’s kid.
“Johnny Tremain” (1957) – A Disney classic that revisits Paul Revere’s midnight ride.
“U-571” (2000) – A gripping WWII submarine thriller.
“Mr. 3000“ (2004) – Baseball and redemption mix in this sports comedy.
“Gettysburg“ (1993) – An epic Civil War retelling that leans heavily into historical drama.
“Lone Survivor” (2013) – A harrowing Navy SEAL mission based on real events.
“Night at the Museum” (2006) – History comes alive (literally) in the most fun way possible.
“The Post” (2017) – A newsroom drama steeped in First Amendment battles.
“The Right Stuff” (1983) – A high-flying story of NASA’s earliest pioneers.
“We Are Marshall” (2006) – A college town rebuilds after tragedy, grounded in grit and unity.
“The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters” (1982) – A nostalgic TV special about one family’s chaotic holiday.

But seriously, where is “Independence Day” on this list? Alien invasions, exploding monuments, Will Smith punching an extraterrestrial? We demand justice.

Whether you’re into historical dramas, family fun, or full-blown fireworks on screen, there’s something on this list to suit every kind of patriot. So if you’re staying in this weekend, grab some snacks, crank up the A/C, and let the stars and stripes fly on screen.

10 BBQ Personalities You See at Every Cookout

What’s your technique at a barbecue? Do you grab some food and then go back if you want more? Or do you just go once and pile as much as possible on your plate?

A poll by bread brand Baker Street found 28% of us are “pilers,” where your whole plate is covered and there’s a mound of food on it. Plate pilers were voted the most common type of person seen at barbecues.

It’s one of 10 BBQ Personalities Who Seem to Show Up at Every Cookout.

1. The person who piles up way too much food on their plate

2. The person who gets their food delivered to them without getting up

3. The drinker who keeps asking if anyone else needs another beer

4. The person who will definitely drop food on the ground at some point (Dogs love that person.)

5. The person (usually a guy) who offers unsolicited grilling advice

6. The person (usually a woman) who shows up but doesn’t eat anything

7. The meat-eater who’s about to try a vegan option and wants everyone to care

8. The person who won’t eat with their hands

9. The person who wants to take over the music and be DJ

10. The person who shows up with their own chair

The poll also came up with four steps you can take to be seen as the “perfect” guest at your Fourth of July barbecue:

Bring something.
Offer to help the host.
Before you eat, ask if you can get food for someone else.
Before you leave, offer to help clean up.

Fourth of July: Half of Americans Think They Should Get the Whole Week Off

If your productivity this week has dipped below “bare minimum,” you’re in excellent (and lazy) company. A recent poll found that 45% of American workers admit they’re not really getting anything done between now and the Fourth of July. And frankly, the other 55% might just be lying to look good.

That’s right: nearly half of us are mentally out of office, spiritually beachside, and physically still showing up to Zoom meetings with the camera off.

And we’re not just talking about a slow day or two. Half the country thinks the entire week of July 4th should be a national no-work zone.

49% say companies should just close up shop and let everyone live their best summer life. Millennials and Gen Z are especially here for it: 61% are in favor of making it official.

Meanwhile, only 32% of older workers agree. Which tracks. These are the same people who think taking a sick day for appendicitis is “pushing it.”

But here’s the twist: a mid-year summer break might actually help companies.

35% of workers believe they’d be more productive the rest of the year if they knew they had a week off in July. 28% said they’d work harder, and 22% would be more likely to recommend their company to others. So yes, Cheryl in HR… time off is a retention strategy.

If you are getting more than just Friday off, congratulations, you’re living the dream. Only 34% of workers will get two or more days off this week, and just 10% are getting the full five-day break. The rest of us are pretending to care while googling “patriotic jello shot recipes.”

So go ahead and phone it in this week. Just make sure your boss is phoning it in too.

The Most Dangerous Day of the Year for Your Phone Is July 4th

Sure, the Fourth of July is rough on your fingers (thanks, fireworks), but it turns out the real casualty might be your phone. And no, we’re not being dramatic… just statistically accurate.

A phone repair company looked at their data and found that July 4th is the single worst day of the year for phone accidents. That means more cracked screens, more soggy devices, and a whole lot of panicked “Find My iPhone” searches. In fact, phone mishaps spike 52% higher on the Fourth than an average day. (Memorial Day and Labor Day are next, but they don’t quite have that same chaotic energy.)

The bigger problem? Summer in general is like a war zone for smartphones.

Water damage cases jump more than 80%
Cracked screens rise 18%
Lost phones soar 66%

(So yes, your phone absolutely dreads summer break.)

If you’d prefer to end the weekend with both your dignity and your device intact, here are a few solid survival tips:

1. Don’t trust that “waterproof” hype. Yes, you heard about someone who fished their phone out of a lake after two months and it still worked. That’s the phone equivalent of a miracle. Yours is more likely to drown in a hot tub full of margarita mix. Bonus fun fact: saltwater and chlorine are even worse for electronics.

2. Put your info on your lock screen. Take a screenshot of your contact details and set it as your wallpaper. It triples your chances of getting your phone back if it goes missing.

3. Fix that cracked screen already. A busted screen makes your phone extra vulnerable to water damage. Even humidity can sneak in through the cracks and cause problems. (Yes, your phone is apparently as high-maintenance as your ex.)