Greetings from Your Backyard: Summer Traditions to Bring Home

It’s that time of the year where temperatures begin to rise, the days get longer and new memories with loved ones are on the horizon. This summer may still look a little different, so this summer’s hottest destination? Your own backyard! 

Need some ideas to get started? Here’s a list of some favorite traditions from different regions:

Every year the Great Lake State, Michigan, hosts the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. This festival has over 150 events and fun, unique traditions including pit-spitting, pie-eating contests, turtle races and more. This year, they’ll be encouraging local homes to “join” the festival and present a porch parade.

Recreate the Cherry Festival in your own backyard: get the family together and make your own porch parade. Find some crafts to do with your family and colorful cherry-themed decorations to make your porch pop and celebrate from your porch or backyard just like the locals in Traverse City. 

Go the extra mile by hosting a cherry pie eating contest and inviting your circle to compete. Cherries are in season from May to August, making summer the perfect time to learn how to bake this treat on your own. Be sure to pick up fresh cherries, find your favorite recipe and enjoy this delicious classic!

Visiting the orchard is an annual affair for many in warmer climates.They see sweet fruits ripen, pick them at their peak and become instantly refreshed on a hot summer day. Whether that’s peaches in Georgia or berries in the Carolinas, fresh fruit in the summer is a crowd favorite. While getting to an orchard may be out of the plans this year, this fruity fun adventure can still go on in your own neighborhood! 

All you need to try foraging in your own neighborhood is a basket, a set of eyes to search for fruit and a mode of transportation. 

Be cautious! Remember never to eat a fruit you cannot identify. 

To help you find and identify what to pick in your own neck of the woods, check out Falling Fruit to map out trees and their fruit. Once you’re done foraging, get ready for the best picnic ever! Serve up your fruits as a snack or freeze them to add to some ice cream.

The best place to celebrate Fourth of July in the United States? The city where the Declaration of Independence was signed, of course! In addition to its history, Philadelphia also boasts the country's best fireworks show. Avoid crowds and host your own show on your own lawn. Here are some things to pick up for a patriotic party: 

• Sparklers and other residential-safe fireworks (be sure to check your firework laws) 
• Picnic blankets to watch the fireworks comfortably
• Sweet watermelon to snack on while watching the show
• Your best red, white and blue attire

Thirty teams, seventeen states and one classic summer ball game: from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the New York Yankees, baseball is America’s pastime for a reason. Although some stadiums may be opening up, limited capacities and high ticket prices can make going out to the ball game a hassle. 

Don’t miss out on the event of the summer: transform your backyard into a ballpark by streaming the big game or your favorite baseball movie on an outdoor projector and inviting your favorite fans. Grill hotdogs and make them extra special by putting together a toppings bar just like the stadium. Create a concessions stand with peanuts, hot dogs, pretzels and other ballpark faves to enjoy. It may not be Wrigley Field, but it’s sure to be a memorable tradition for years to come.

Known far and wide, the Minnesota State Fair is the largest fair in the country, boasting the greatest average daily attendance. It’s known for its extravagant food offerings and draws visitors from across the country as an annual summer send-off. While buckets of cookies (yes, we said buckets) may not be on your list this year, you can still chow down just like you’re there in your own backyard. Here’s are a few must-haves for your menu: 

• Chocolate chip cookies - Served in a bucket, like Sweet Martha’s.
• Corndogs - There are over 80 foods served on a stick at the fair. 
• Cheese curds - No midwestern festival would be complete without them.

Invite your friends to bring their own dishes for taste testing and set up lawn games such as cornhole, bobbing for apples and ring toss to provide some carnival-game fun!

Although you may not be able to travel far, you can still make the most out of your summer with these fun backyard experiences. At TruGreen, we know you take pride in your outdoor living space and want it to be a comfortable place for your family, friends and pets. 

With TruGreen's TruDefense Mosquito Control service, you can fully enjoy outdoor family gatherings, pie-eating contests, backyard baseball games and more with significantly less mosquito trouble for you and your loved ones.

Contact TruGreen today to make sure your backyard is ready for your family's summer traditions.