We asked on Facebook: What’s your family’s favorite Fourth of July tradition?

Watching the fireworks on the roof of The Tremont House.

– Ruth Finkelstein

Photo by Kevin M. Cox

My husband, Bob, was in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for 15 years. For many of those years, he volunteered to patrol Clear Lake for the Fourth of July fireworks show, making sure no one got too close to the barge that shot them off. I got to go with him on his boat to a lot of the patrols. There is nothing that can compare to seeing the fireworks exploding right above your head! It was breathtaking and magical. I miss those days.

– Ruth Lacquement

A simple hot dog. Oh, and lots of red, white and blue!

– Jim Nonus

All the families on the street would make stuff and we would block off the street, set up tables and party all day long.

– Phil Newton

Golf cart parades!

– Esther Davis McKenna

Brisket, potato salad and shooting fireworks from the Moody Methodist Church parking lot.

– Pamela Ford

Gathering here at the bay home with family and friends and having the best barbecue and German potato salad (Grandma’s recipe), banana pudding with vanilla wafers, and watermelon after swimming and water sports. San Leon, Texas! Oh, and did I forget fireworks?

– Ginger Grutzius

It’s our favorite holiday. Childhood memories of lying on the hood of my parents’ car with friends by the Stewart Beach boardwalk watching fireworks. So now, lots of friends, hot dogs, potato salad and fireworks. Awww, can’t wait!

– Stephanie Caravageli Vasut

We have so many great choices of how to spend the holiday — ours always includes water somewhere — beach, bay, pool.

– Nelda Engstrom

Alas, my most memorable Fourth of July holidays were as a child. To the Bayou Club before breakfast; the sailboat was in the water and we were swimming and sailing long before breakfast was ready. Breakfast fixed by our dads; breakfast of bacon and different flavored pancakes — blueberry, banana, etc. Then we had to sit out for an hour. Back in the water for more swimming and sailing till close to dark. Showered and starving, dinner was served — barbecue chicken, hamburgers. Homemade ice cream came after dark. Watermelon also. Fireworks set off from the piers on the bayou.

After all was said and done, home and under the sheets only — no AC, only an attic fan running. Last thing I was aware of was lying in bed and rocking ever so gently like being rocked to sleep by the sailboat. Pure heaven!

– Joan Schlankey Killebrew

Grilling a tuna, bonfire on the beach and fireworks!

– Connie DeRome-Dryden