Posted by: Richie Bernardo

There’s nothing more American than going all out on Fourth of July. We grill, we drink and we blow stuff up — all in the name of freedom. But freedom is not free. Everything from hotdogs to travel to hospital bills following fireworks accidents costs major scratch. In fact, the National Retail Federation projects that American households this year will spend a collective $6.9 billion — down from last year’s record $7.1 billion — on Fourth of July food alone.

So in order to help Americans find the best and cheapest places to celebrate this star-spangled occasion, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on how well they balance holiday cost and fun. Our data set of 19 key metrics ranges from average beer and wine prices to duration of fireworks shows to Fourth of July weather forecast. Read on for the complete ranking, followed by expert money-saving tips and our full methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/4651/geochart-july4.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2tpJwHa>

 

Best Places to Celebrate 4th of July

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Fourth of July Celebrations’ Rank	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Attractions & Activities’ Rank	‘Safety & Accessibility’ Rank	‘Fourth of July Weather’ Rank
1	New York, NY	72.14	5	89	1	2	26
2	Los Angeles, CA	71.36	1	33	29	32	43
3	Chicago, IL	68.30	12	38	2	6	6
4	Denver, CO	67.12	2	30	9	38	95
5	Seattle, WA	65.85	9	100	3	4	2
6	Atlanta, GA	65.85	4	34	12	99	70
7	Milwaukee, WI	64.61	8	31	32	24	28
8	San Diego, CA	64.39	11	55	5	41	32
9	Washington, DC	63.74	10	51	6	11	82
10	Buffalo, NY	63.11	7	79	25	7	37
11	Dallas, TX	63.11	3	18	40	88	44
12	New Orleans, LA	62.82	6	36	11	77	92
13	Minneapolis, MN	60.40	43	49	7	25	18
14	Las Vegas, NV	60.20	22	4	20	31	54
15	Sacramento, CA	59.73	26	28	23	58	7
16	St. Louis, MO	59.31	23	9	13	85	30
17	Madison, WI	58.49	31	71	15	5	20
18	San Francisco, CA	58.47	18	74	4	20	62
19	Portland, OR	57.91	50	94	14	29	1
20	Boise, ID	57.33	14	46	52	26	19
21	Pittsburgh, PA	57.29	60	64	10	8	37
22	Lincoln, NE	56.95	35	75	26	14	8
23	Omaha, NE	56.65	74	41	18	59	5
24	Austin, TX	56.61	13	10	42	55	62
25	St. Paul, MN	56.44	28	67	39	19	26
26	Long Beach, CA	55.85	39	37	36	21	14
27	Scottsdale, AZ	55.80	51	2	47	64	10
28	Houston, TX	55.73	16	12	28	81	62
29	Tucson, AZ	54.85	17	19	45	52	68
30	Philadelphia, PA	54.41	95	22	17	3	49
31	Fresno, CA	53.25	15	21	96	27	3
32	Colorado Springs, CO	53.11	41	60	50	39	4
33	Cincinnati, OH	52.66	81	27	16	48	59
34	Honolulu, HI	51.84	72	80	19	18	77
35	Orlando, FL	51.74	21	17	21	98	97
36	Baltimore, MD	51.54	75	42	22	17	85
37	Indianapolis, IN	51.43	27	3	73	76	11
38	San Jose, CA	50.87	29	61	46	23	70
39	Phoenix, AZ	50.50	65	1	62	78	25
40	San Antonio, TX	50.45	24	8	57	89	70
41	Jacksonville, FL	50.35	67	26	37	80	53
42	Fort Worth, TX	50.32	32	48	54	60	49
43	Mesa, AZ	50.15	42	6	70	36	46
44	Irvine, CA	50.14	30	93	41	15	46
45	Detroit, MI	50.01	58	72	31	67	37
46	Virginia Beach, VA	49.63	48	82	27	35	85
47	Miami, FL	49.42	19	25	35	75	100
48	Reno, NV	49.09	56	5	67	74	32
49	Stockton, CA	48.67	61	66	61	50	23
50	Chandler, AZ	48.33	49	16	75	44	54
51	Glendale, AZ	48.24	83	35	59	73	17
52	Norfolk, VA	48.09	53	82	30	54	85
53	Oakland, CA	47.90	91	86	48	12	14
54	Greensboro, NC	47.74	37	56	64	42	78
55	Columbus, OH	47.73	93	14	60	43	49
56	Boston, MA	47.65	90	96	8	9	70
57	Nashville, TN	47.45	25	57	56	86	70
58	Plano, TX	47.43	66	69	51	22	62
59	Albuquerque, NM	47.12	55	20	38	95	92
60	Henderson, NV	46.94	76	7	84	51	32
61	Cleveland, OH	46.79	98	54	33	47	70
62	Arlington, TX	46.58	19	65	86	70	49
63	Oklahoma City, OK	46.55	40	29	89	61	37
64	Corpus Christi, TX	46.21	63	90	49	57	36
65	Anaheim, CA	46.14	33	68	83	49	31
66	Louisville, KY	45.88	80	45	72	46	35
67	Irving, TX	45.65	46	85	69	45	37
68	Fort Wayne, IN	45.54	34	78	85	33	37
69	Anchorage, AK	45.24	44	99	24	79	90
70	St. Petersburg, FL	45.12	59	59	34	100	96
71	Kansas City, MO	44.98	69	63	65	92	20
72	Gilbert, AZ	44.89	45	13	99	28	54
73	Baton Rouge, LA	44.87	78	44	44	91	85
74	Wichita, KS	44.78	84	40	91	56	9
75	Lubbock, TX	44.65	57	62	74	87	23
76	Charlotte, NC	44.53	68	11	68	64	82
77	Chesapeake, VA	44.44	54	88	53	62	78
78	Jersey City, NJ	44.32	87	76	78	1	62
79	North Las Vegas, NV	44.15	64	50	77	84	54
80	Raleigh, NC	43.72	77	43	63	63	82
81	Aurora, CO	43.71	47	73	66	37	94
82	El Paso, TX	43.37	70	53	81	53	68
83	Tampa, FL	43.18	88	24	43	71	98
84	Tulsa, OK	43.09	85	23	71	96	20
85	Riverside, CA	42.79	52	90	95	34	12
86	Chula Vista, CA	42.60	36	95	97	30	13
87	Santa Ana, CA	42.53	38	92	76	72	46
88	Newark, NJ	41.75	92	84	55	13	59
89	Lexington-Fayette, KY	40.61	79	39	87	69	85
90	Bakersfield, CA	40.11	62	70	98	82	14
91	Fremont, CA	39.65	99	98	58	10	54
92	Durham, NC	39.49	96	58	79	40	78
93	Birmingham, AL	39.33	73	32	94	94	70
94	Toledo, OH	39.32	100	52	80	66	44
95	Laredo, TX	38.08	94	15	93	68	90
96	Garland, TX	37.63	71	87	92	93	59
97	Winston-Salem, NC	37.30	89	81	82	90	78
98	Memphis, TN	37.17	97	47	90	83	62
99	Hialeah, FL	35.28	86	77	88	16	98
100	San Bernardino, CA	33.02	82	97	100	97	29

Ask the Experts: Fourth of July Savings Tips

As Americans, we value our freedom a lot, judging by the amount of money we spend on Fourth of July festivities. But there are ways to strut your patriotic stuff — and have a great time doing it — without breaking the bank. For money-saving advice, we asked a panel of experts for their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Fourth of July?
2. Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday this year. How does holiday timing affect people’s spending and travel plans?
3. Should cities invest in a large fireworks display and/or parade in order to attract tourists and generate new economic activity? Is there a good return on investment?
4. When evaluating the best cities for Fourth of July celebrations, what are the top five indicators?

< >

• Nathan Novemsky Professor of Marketing, Professor of Psychology, Yale School of Management
• Carol Kaufman-Scarborough Professor of Marketing, Director, Business Leader Development Program, Rutgers School of Business Camden
• Evan Jordan Assistant Professor in the School of Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University and Founder of The Trip Doctor Blog and Podcast
• Gene Del Vecchio Adjunct Professor of Marketing, USC Marshall School of Business & Author of Creating Blockbusters

Nathan Novemsky Professor of Marketing, Professor of Psychology, Yale School of Management

What money saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the 4th of July?

Try to think about what you really like and value on your trip. For some it is time at the beach, for some it is the food, etc.… Then focus your spending where it matters to you. For example, if you are not traveling for the food, think about how you can prepare easy meals yourself rather than spending a lot more to go to a restaurant or get take out. If it is about the food, try to avoid spending on other areas, like accommodation if that is not important to you. In other words, when money is limited, try to use it where you really care!

Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday this year. How does holiday timing affect people’s spending and travel plans?

I would guess a lot fewer people will travel given it is hard to make a long weekend out of it, but those who do, may be in for an especially long weekend! That might mean fewer of those medium length trips to a beach a few hours away, and more people either jumping in with both feet, maybe even getting on a plane. And lots more people doing the day trip to nearby beaches or family.

Should cities invest in a large fireworks display and/or parade in order to attract tourists and generate new economic activity? Is there a good ROI?

I don't know the data on this, but my guess would be that people don't usually travel for the fireworks unless there is a long running tradition so word can get out. Usually people think about where to go for fireworks on or near the day of. So I would not invest unless it will really be over the top and continue year to year so word of mouth can get out. That would be a long term investment, like the NYC display.

When evaluating the best cities for 4th of July celebrations, what are the top five indicators?

If you are going to a city, chances are that you want to feed of the energy of others, so populated beaches and busy night-sports are a plus. For those who want to focus more on family and friends, quieter spots, especially to BBQ are less likely to be a city experience. They are best off heading away from the city.

Carol Kaufman-Scarborough Professor of Marketing, Director, Business Leader Development Program, Rutgers School of Business Camden

What money saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the 4th of July?

• Do your homework! And be careful online that what you are looking at are for THIS YEAR. There’s nothing like turning up last year’s fourth of July events and not realizing it.
• Check online bargains – Groupon, hotel/motel loyalty programs, city incentives
• Are there ways to reduce your costs – e.g. are guests encouraged to bring their own food, is parking free, etc.?
• Are there any places in your hometown linked to entertainment venues in cities you are considering – e.g. if you are between City A and City B, suppose your hometown museum has reciprocal admission with City B’s museum but not City A.
• Carefully research accommodations for disabilities access if needed.
• Are there free or affordable mass transit options to get around a large city? How about parking – can you prepay online?

Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday this year. How does holiday timing affect people’s spending and travel plans?

Holidays on Wednesdays are notoriously more difficult than those on or adjacent to weekends due to employment demands. This may restrict people to attending a venue closer to home since they may not be able to travel overnight for celebrations.

Should cities invest in a large fireworks display and/or parade in order to attract tourists and generate new economic activity? Is there a good ROI?

Large fireworks displays, parades, and events tend to draw the local residents and regional communities to visit. Larger cities especially those with historical venues are likely to draw from much farther away.

I doubt that all locations would have the same financial benefit, although historical venues are likely to attractive experiential places that especially draw consumers due to the experience of history. Such venues are likely to have historical packages in place and traditional favorite in Fourth of July planning, thus having a positive impact on ROI.

When evaluating the best cities for 4th of July celebrations, what are the top five indicators?

• Correlation with historical themes
• Fourth of July celebrations partnering with other city venues, such as orchestra and rock concerts, special museum events, hotel venues
• Affordability and transportation to the city venues
• Attractions for all ages – e.g. some multigenerational, some for families, some for adults, etc.
• “Best bang for your buck” – sorry, couldn’t resist

Evan Jordan Assistant Professor in the School of Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University and Founder of The Trip Doctor Blog and Podcast

What money saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the 4th of July?

There are a ton of great activities that are healthy for the mind, body, and wallet. I recommend spending time in a park, going for a walk or bike ride on a trail or the beach, or taking a swim in the river/lake/ocean. All of those activities are generally free, and make you feel better about that third or fourth hamburger or hot dog hot off the grill.

Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday this year. How does holiday timing affect people’s spending and travel plans?

Timing plays a big role the distance and amount of time people are willing to travel for their holiday celebrations, and Wednesday is unfortunately equidistant between weekends. Those with limited vacation time may think twice about taking two days off to extend their trip. In all likelihood, a Wednesday 4th of July will mean many people stay much closer to home for their celebrations, resulting in higher visitation to day-trip destinations.

Should cities invest in a large fireworks display and/or parade in order to attract tourists and generate new economic activity? Is there a good ROI?

While a huge fireworks display and/or parade can certainly be a draw for some destinations, there are a huge variety of variables that impact people's travel plans for holidays like the 4th of July. Nostalgia from past trips, weather, availability of accommodations, and recreational resources like rivers, lakes, beaches, and parks all play an important role in attracting tourists to any destination. Some travelers may actually be interested in smaller scale celebrations, as they can lend a 'small town' feel to their travels.

When evaluating the best cities for 4th of July celebrations, what are the top five indicators?

1. Availability of outdoor recreation resources. The 4th of July is undeniably an outdoors-centric holiday.
2. Do they have fireworks or a parade? While bigger isn't necessarily better, having one or the other is a must.
3. Are there accommodations of a variety of scales available? Many larger families prefer to rent a big house and stay together.
4. What types of other activities are available nearby in the event of adverse weather? Indoor water parks, movie theaters, shopping, etc.
5. Is there a drive-in movie theater? Drive in movie theaters provide a throwback summer activity that really puts a destination over the top for me.

Gene Del Vecchio Adjunct Professor of Marketing, USC Marshall School of Business & Author of Creating Blockbusters

What money saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the 4th of July?

Stay closer to home; Gas prices are on the rise and are expected to be higher than last summer. So drive less. Eat cheap; 4th of July is about hotdog and hamburger cookouts with friends and relatives. So invite them over or drop in on them. You can't get cheaper than that. Partake in free activities; Most cities have free parades, free concerts, and free fireworks displays. Free is good.

Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday this year. How does holiday timing affect people’s spending and travel plans?

Let's be honest, it sucks to have the 4th of July on a Wednesday. Many employers only give one day off, so a Wednesday 4th destroys having a nice 3-day weekend which we would have from a Monday or Friday 4th and even a nice 4-day weekend that we can steal with a Tuesday or Thursday 4th. Unless you decide to take the entire week off, a Wednesday 4th might reduce the activities you can participate in, the amount of food and beer you will consume (got to go to work the next day), the miles you might travel, and the number of family members and friends you have time to see. Of course, when the 4th last fell on a Wednesday back in 2012, results were not so clear. That was because some of us decided to take the entire week off and had a blast eating, drinking and celebrating while the rest of us had to return to work. Anyway, a Wednesday 4th tends to result in less happiness for many of us consumers and probably less cash for many retailers, too.

Should cities invest in a large fireworks display and/or parade in order to attract tourists and generate new economic activity? Is there a good ROI?

City fireworks displays and related events can be a great city investment, but only if it's in proportion to the revenues that local businesses and city tax coffers expect to take in. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular reportedly spent $2.5 million on its fireworks display in 2010, and we can probably add a couple million more dollars for added security and cleanup. But that event reportedly netted about 500,000 spectators. If each of those spectators spent only $100 each on local food and entertainment, not to mention lodging for some, that's a local business gain of $50 million, some of which goes back to the city in related fees and taxes. Sounds like a good deal for the city. In an opposite example, one city eliminated its fireworks show last year because they could not afford the estimated $100,000 cost. The budget was tight and the cost too high relative to the benefits to local businesses and government. So each city needs to estimate the potential return and spend wisely, favoring smaller displays and activities to fit the budget. That said, city spending on 4th of July cannot be measured only by return on investment. It's about creating a feeling of patriotism, history, and community. And your citizens expect it. So cities should spend to attract locals and tourists, but each city needs to spend wisely.

When evaluating the best cities for 4th of July celebrations, what are the top five indicators?

The best cities for 4th of July celebrations have many fun activities (beyond the fireworks), a sense of American history, patriotic fervor, great food and drink, and of course, safety. Rooted in these indicators are several city-types, each of which provide a different yet memorable experience. There's the Big Heritage Bang. These are in big cities that are deeply rooted in our nation's birth, with Boston and Philadelphia being among the most prominent. They include not just fireworks, but activities that take you back to earlier, historic times and events. Then there are the Big City Bangs. The New York City festivities are among these. There's nothing comparable to watching fireworks from a tour boat in the East River close to the Brooklyn Bridge. My wife and I participated a couple years ago, and it was spectacular. Then there are the Big Military Bangs; These are cities that have an abundance of active and retired military that show an abundance of American spirit. The port city of San Diego and its surrounding military bases is among my personal favorites. And we must include the Big Bang in Small Town America. Many times, this is one of the best. Local police and firemen join the parades alongside horse drawn carriages and vintage cars filled with local mayors, store owners, military veterans, and local club members. My own city of Santa Clarita will begin the 4th with an Independence Day 5K and 10K run, followed by the Rotary Club pancake breakfast, then the parade in legendary Old Town Newhall, and finally the city's fireworks display at our Valencia Town Center. It doesn't get much better than that.

 

Methodology

To determine the best and worst cities for celebrating Independence Day, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across five key dimensions: 1) Fourth of July Celebrations, 2) Affordability, 3) Attractions & Activities, 4) Safety & Accessibility and 5) Fourth of July Weather Forecast.

We evaluated those dimensions using 19 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for Independence Day fun.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. Please note that our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

Fourth of July Celebrations – Total Points: 40

• Fourth of July Popularity: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Legality of Fireworks: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Number of Fourth of July Festivals & Performances: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)Note: Based on Fourth of July events listed on Eventbrite.com as of June 6, 2018, where at least two events were available.
• Average Price of Fourth of July Party Ticket: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)Note: Averages are based on Fourth of July events listed on Eventbrite.com as of June 6, 2018, where at least two events were available.
• Duration of Fireworks Show: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Google Search Interest for “4th of July Celebration”: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)Note: This metric measures the real intent of the population to find information about “4th of July Events Near Me”, “4th of July Parade” and “4th of July Activities”.

Affordability – Total Points: 15

• Prevalence of Affordable 4.5+ Star Restaurants: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
• Average Hamburger Cost: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
• Average Beer & Wine Prices: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)Note: “Beer” refers to a six-pack of 12-ounce Heineken containers, excluding any deposit. “Wine” refers to a 1.5-liter bottle of Chablis, Chenin Blanc or any white table wine.
• Lowest Price of a Three-Star Hotel: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)

Attractions & Activities – Total Points: 15

• Recreation-FriendlinessNote: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking of 100 cities’ entertainment options, recreational facilities and parks quality. The ranking includes 44 total metrics such as music venues per capita, parks spending per capita and movie costs.

Safety & Accessibility – Total Points: 15

• Walkability: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Access to Public Transportation: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of commuters who use public transit.
• Traffic Congestion: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Pedestrian Fatalities per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Crime Rate (Neighborhood Security): Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• DUI-Related Fatalities (July) per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)

Fourth of July Weather Forecast – Total Points: 15

• Difference Between Forecasted Temperature & Normal Temperature for Fourth of July: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: For this metric, the city was penalized if its forecasted temperature on Fourth of July is colder than the holiday’s average temperature.
• Forecasted Precipitations for Fourth of July: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)

 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Priceline Group, Federal Bureau of Investigations, INRIX, American Pyrotechnics Association, WalkScore, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Eventbrite, AccuWeather, Kayak.com, Yelp and WalletHub research.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress