Since 1984 the residents of a few square blocks in northeast Bethlehem have gathered on July 4 to mark the national holiday with food, games, conversation – and no fireworks. After a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, the celebration came back to life thanks to Kim and Marty Plyler, assisted by neighbors who contributed equipment and their labor.

The day began at 8 a.m. when Marty Plyler and several others raised American flags at both ends of a block of Sycamore Street. Over the course of the morning people brought tables and chairs, and Marty fired up his grill and began smoking ribs, pulled pork, hamburgers and hot dogs. Quarter kegs of soda and beer also made an appearance. Early in the afternoon two large tables were filled with salads of all sorts, desserts, and snacks – much more food than the 42 individuals who registered to attend the picnic (and several additional guests) would be able to eat.

A public reading of the Declaration of Independence, such as happened across Pennsylvania after it was adopted in 1776, was a high point of the day. Volunteers who took turns declaiming sections of the document included Nick Englesson, David Roberts, Joseph Verlezza, Elizabeth Bennett, and Manuela Knauer.

A wonderful picnic dinner was followed by another very popular event, the water balloon toss. Pairs of competitors lined up facing one another in the middle of Sycamore Street. The judge, Kim Plyler, passed out balloons full of iced water. At Kym’s command, the couples began passing the balloons back and forth, taking a step backward after each exchange.

In no time balloons began to land on the street, where they exploded their ice water over anyone nearby. Parties who dropped or missed balloons were out of the competition. Especially as the team members got farther and farther apart, balloons burst in people’s hands, to the shock of the victims and the entertainment of observers. In a few minutes the number of competitors had been reduced to two couples, and then a final balloon broke and a new pair of champions was declared. Winning the water balloon toss gives them a year’s bragging rights in the neighborhood – and a free glass of beer or soda.

Beautiful weather, great food, and a chance to catch up on neighbors’ news after a harrowing year made for a wonderful day together. It was also a welcome opportunity to celebrate the freedom that Americans have enjoyed since 1776.