Happy Independence Day from all of us at Galvin Creative Technologies. It is our nation's birthday and the whole country will be celebrating. We wish you a safe and fun-filled holiday and hope to see you out there.

BoomShakaLaka!

What better way to celebrate than to blow something up!

Pyrotechnics are rumored to have originated in China as a means to frighten evil spirits. Later they were used to frighten opposing soldiers and their horses on the battlefield. Imagine the first battle in which fireworks were shot into the enemy ranks. How startling that must have been in an age that pre-dated gunfire.

Today pyrotechnics are used in celebration. When an event is so joyous that it must be shouted to the stars, fireworks are a preferred manner of doing just that. I don't know exactly what draws us to oooh and aaah at those loud bursts of light and color, but I do know the 4th of July wouldn't be quite the same without the rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air. You can learn more about fireworks on wikipedia. Click below!

July 4th has traditionally been a day of family picnics, hometown parades, and of course the fireworks display. There are just too many activities going on around the city for us to list them all. Below are a couple of events that you and your family can participate in for free. Travel through Downtown will be limited to streets away from the core area. Parking meters are free to the public on July 4 in honor of the holiday (most meters near event sites will be restricted).

Canal Family Fun Fest and
Independence Day Concerts:
Indiana History Center
450 W. Ohio St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Event Phone: 317-232-1882

Free evening concerts on the Indiana History Center Canal Plaza. Celebrating with live music, balloon artists, jugglers, magicians, and lots more from 4:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Circle City Sound
Barbershop harmony chorus.

Indianapolis Municipal Band
Large concert band performing patriotic tunes and marches.

Jennie DeVoe
Popular and distinctive rock and blues.

Admission is Free

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Regions Bank Freedom Blast
One Indiana Square
Indianapolis, IN, 46204

Shot off from atop the Regions Bank Building (One Indiana Square) the Regions Bank "Freedom Blast" is the largest fireworks display in Indiana. The downtown sky will light up starting at 9:45 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their radios and tune to WFBQ, 94.7 FM, for a synchronized concert of patriotic and popular music.

The Best Views are from the Parks along Meridian Street, but these magnificent fireworks can be seen for many miles.

Admission is Free

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For these events and lots more, click here.

Celebrate your patriotism and keep cool with these easy to make ice-pop treats.

You will need:
• Red juice (red raspberry, cherry, cranberry)
• White juice (lemonade, coconut juice drink)
• Blue juice (blue Kool Aid, Gatorade, blue raspberry)
• Red string licorice for fuse

• 3 oz. paper cups
• Popsicle Sticks
• A baking sheet

Line up several 3 oz. paper cups on a baking sheet. Pour 2 tablespoons of red juice into each cup. Freeze 2-3 hours until firm-slushy.

Remove from freezer and poke a popsicle stick into the center of each cup of juice. Add 2 tablespoons of white juice and freeze 2-3 hours.

Remove from freezer. Top off with blue juice and freeze 1-2 hours until slushy.

Remove from freezer and insert a 2 or 3-inch string of licorice into each popsicle. Freeze until hard. Peel off paper cups to serve.