Things to do this Fourth of July

We celebrate Independence Day on July 4, when we declared independence from England on this day in 1776. Independence day is commonly known as the Fourth of July and is the biggest holiday of the summer. On this day and throughout the weekend, there will be many events going on in the city. Below you will find a few ideas of things to do around town.

  

P.C: Bkmag.com

Annual Fourth of July Beach Party in Coney Island.

This annual Independence Day celebration has free live music. Spend the day at the beach enjoying the sun and the surf, then stay until after sundown to watch the fireworks!

For more details visit: Coney Island Party

 

Macys Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration.

These are the best locations to watch this amazing 25-minute show:  

• Between Broad Street & Old Slip on Water St.
• Brooklyn Bridge entry from St. James Place (Pearl Street) & Wagner Place
• Montgomery & South Streets: From the north (viewing along the FDR) between Manhattan Bridge and Montgomery Street
• Brooklyn Bridge Park
• The Brooklyn Bridge Promenade

  

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

We have no classes on Monday because of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights leader in the 1960s. Civil rights are the rights of citizens and usually focus on equal treatment, opportunities, and freedom.

Dr. King was known for using nonviolent civil disobedience and protests to end segregation (the separation of citizens, in this case based on race), which was widespread at the time, especially in the Southern U.S. He helped organize the March in Washington in 1963, where he delivered his now famous "I Have A Dream" speech.

Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his strategy of nonviolence in fighting racial inequality. He was assassinated in 1968 during a tumultuous (chaotic; disorderly) period in U.S. history. The federal holiday on Monday commemorates his birthday, which is on January 15. Watch this short video from History.com about that historic March in Washington, D.C. and Dr. King's speech, and enjoy your day off!

-- posted by Joe Yu, ESL instructor