FUN DAYS IN JULY TO CELEBRATE WITH YOUR FAMILY

Thank you to EPEC Golf for sponsoring this article. Golf clubs like shoes, should be fit by size, not by age. For more information read: TOP 10 REASONS YOUR CHILD SHOULD PLAY GOLF A YOUTH SPORT WITH LIFETIME REWARDS

July is National Anti-Boredom Month!  From Fireworks & Free Food to Teddy Bears, Cows & Sharks, we have lots of ways to help you FIND YOUR FAMILY FUN this month! Here are our favorite events and holidays to celebrate in July:

 July 1-31: National Anti-Boredom Month:

During the entire month of July, we celebrate National Anti-Boredom Month. July was selected, according to the founder Alan Caruba, because after July 4th, there’s not much going on and it’s the hotter part of the summer break from school. 

July 1-31: National Watermelon Month:

Nothing says “SUMMER” like watermelon! Not only is it delicious, it’s an excellent source of Vitamin C (a powerful antioxidant) and a valuable source of lycopene, which may help reduce the risk of prostate, breast, lung, and colon cancers. And at less than 50 calories per cup, you can eat your fill without hesitation. 

July 4: Independence Day:

Getty Images Signature via Canva

Americans commemorate Congress' approval of the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. 

Add some sparkle to the day with quick, easy, & delicious FIRECRACKER ICE CREAM SANDWICHES!! 

July 7: Macaroni Day:

Getty Images via Canva

Don't make us throw elbows: Macaroni Day is a holiday that those of us at Macaroni KID feel has all sorts of pastabilities. 

July 10: Teddy Bear Picnic Day:

Getty Images via Canva

Did you know this holiday came about because of a children's song from 1907 called the "Teddy's Bear Picnic"? Round up the kids and their favorite stuffies to celebrate. Perhaps the menu calls for peanut butter and honey sandwiches, with gummy bears for dessert. 

July 14: Shark Awareness Day:

ภาพของJakgapong Pengjank via Canva

Shark facts to amaze your kids:

• There are more than 500 species of shark
• You're more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than by a shark attack
• 100 million sharks are killed each year by humans

How can your family help sharks? Learn about sharks and how important they are, and reuse and recycle. It's good for the sharks -- and the planet.

Celebrate by visit the new SHARKS! Predators of the Deep at the Georgia Aquarium. This is one of the largest and most impressive shark exhibits on the entire continent!

July 16: National Ice Cream Day:

                                                                                                           ^{Darren Baker via Canva}

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream! In 1984 President Ronald Reagan declared July "National Ice Cream Month" and the third Sunday of the month "National Ice Cream Day." Grab a bowl, a cone, a scoop or two of your favorite ice cream and enjoy! 

Share these fun facts with your favorite ice cream lover:

• 90% of American households eat ice cream - I'm guessing the remaining 10% just don't have freezers?
• Americans eat more than 23 pounds of ice cream and related frozen desserts every year — we're the top ice cream consuming and producing nation in the world.
• The majority of U.S. ice cream and frozen dessert businesses are family-owned and have been around more than 50 years.
• California is the nation's largest ice cream producer and also produces more milk than any other state.
• July is the busiest month for ice cream production and when almost 3/5 of all ice cream is produced followed by June and May. 
• It takes 12 pounds of whole milk to make one gallon of ice cream.
• After the stock market crash in 1929 Rocky Road ice cream was created in Oakland, CA to make people smile during "rocky" times, it remains one of the more popular flavors.
• The world's biggest ice cream sundae was made on July 24, 1988 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It took four hours to create and weighed 54,917 pounds 13 oz!
• The first ice cream parlor in America opened in 1776 in New York City.
• Immigrants at Ellis Island were served vanilla ice cream as part of their "Welcome to America!" meal.
• The first ice cream truck hit the streets in 1920.
• The most popular ice cream flavors among U.S. consumers are Chocolate, Cookies N' Cream, Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate Chip - according to the International Dairy Foods Assoc.
• Chocolate is the most popular topping.
• Waffle cones beat out sugar cones, but more people prefer a bowl.
• 84% prefer to purchase their ice cream at the grocery store and eat it at home.
• The major ingredient in ice cream is ... AIR! But why so many calories?!
• 85% of the vanilla beans used for ice cream are harvested in Madagascar.

No one has posted their Ice Cream Day deals for 2023 yet, but check the websites for these companies that had free or discounted ice cream last year: 

• Baskin-Robbins
• Carvel ice Cream
• Dairy Queen
• Whole Foods
• Buster's

July 19: National Hot Dog Day:

Joshua Resnick via Canva

Today's a great day to fire up the grill and put out all the fixings for a hot dog bar. How creative can your family be? 

🌞 From Hawaiian Dogs to Taco Dogs, we have lots of suggestions at HOT DIGGITY DOG! IT'S NATIONS HOT DOG DAY!

July 20: National Moon Day:

National Moon Day on July 20th commemorates the day man first walked on the moon in 1969. Upon stepping on the moon's surface, American Astronaut Neil Armstrong said, " “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

July 24: National Cousins Day

National Cousins Day on July 24th recognizes the lifelong relationships that grow among cousins. Our first friendships often form with cousins as young as infants and endure a lifetime. Whether cousins grow up together in close-knit families or only see each other occasionally, they share common memories through grandparents, aunts, and uncles. At family gatherings, cousins entertain each other and get into trouble together, too. So, Gather up your cousins and take a photo. Send a text to your cousins who are too far away. If you need to hear their voices, give them a call. Reminisce over the good times. Be sure to laugh about those things that didn’t seem so funny at the time. 

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💙 DNJC Macaroni KID  covers the towns of: Duluth, Norcross, Suwanee, Johns Creek and Peachtree Corners.  I will also occasionally include worthwhile information, events and activities, classes, fundraisers and other happening in the nearby communities.

💙 DNJC Macaroni KID  is your go-to resource to Find Your Family Fun!