The Fourth of July is upon us and it’s time to celebrate. It’s safe to say most of us will be participating in some Fourth shenanigans, so be smart and be prepared. Here are a couple of things I think would be smart to have on hand this weekend:

1. Bug spray

You’ll either severely want, want, want this or direly need, need, need this. The bugs have been killer so far this summer, so it’ll be a good idea to come prepared with a can of that smell-nasty stuff to keep the biters away.

2. Treats

It’s always a good idea to show up to a place with some snackage, whether you’re arriving at a family gathering or not. People have to eat, so make it happen, plus, everyone loves homemade, fun food, so that makes it even better.

3. Fireworks

Duh. This is pretty obvious for the weekend of the Fourth. From sparklers to Black Cats to Bottle Rockets and beyond, fireworks are the bee’s knees. Trouble is, Iowa doesn’t sell many fireworks, so good luck.

4. Extra lighters

You never know when you might have a dud lighter, and it would be pretty awful to miss out on your fireworks show because you can’t light them up. Pack an extra lighter in your bag, just in case.

5. Box o’ stuff

I always have a big plastic box in my trunk, filled with the things I would deem important to have on hand in a jam. Examples include: small, plastic glasses, rope, towels, matches, a hair brush, some plastic bags, an extra phone charger, soap, a spare mesh bag and even a couple extra blankets for times you need to sit on the ground.

6. Emergency money

Always have some extra cash on you, no matter where you are. I always keep at least a hundred dollars in my car because you never know what could happen. Maybe you don’t have the money in your account. Maybe the place you’re at doesn’t accept plastic cards. You never can anticipate the emergency situation in which some spare cash could save your skin.

7. A change of clothes

The weather could change, you could feel like you’re overdressed or you could have fallen into a lake. Who knows what could happen. Keeping some extra threads on you isn’t a bad idea because, like I’ve said, you never know what could happen. The same goes for extra pairs of shoes, or a pair of shoes that might be appropriate should the weather drastically change. 

8. A cooler

Spoiled food is a no-go, and warm drinks are unattractive too. Stay on top of the game by having a cooler on hand, no matter if it’s a collapsible cooler or a hard-walled one. Ice is easy to pick up, but finding a cooler can be a more difficult task. Avoid the hassle and be ready.