Red, White, and Mickey: Finding a Little Disney Magic in the 4th of July

There’s something about the 4th of July that always feels a little bit like Disney magic to me.

Maybe it’s the fireworks lighting up the night sky. Maybe it’s the way summer seems to pause just long enough for us to sit outside, eat too many snacks, and stay up later than we should. Or maybe it’s just the simple gift of being together … family, freedom, laughter, and a sky full of color.

Whatever it is, the 4th of July has always felt like a day that invites you to stop and notice things again.

To look up.To slow down.To feel a little wonder.

And in our home, that kind of wonder tends to come with a little Disney mixed in.

If you’ve ever been to Disney during a fireworks show, you know what I mean when I say it doesn’t feel like “just fireworks.”

It feels like storytelling.

Music swells, colors fill the sky, tinkerbell flies, and for just a few minutes, everything else fades into the background. You’re not thinking about schedules or laundry or what’s for dinner. You’re just… there. Present. Watching something beautiful unfold right in front of you.

And the 4th of July has always carried a similar feeling.

Even outside of Disney, fireworks have a way of reminding us that joy is worth celebrating loudly. That light pushing into darkness will always be something worth watching. That wonder isn’t something we outgrow, it's something we sometimes just forget how to access. It even sometimes reminds me of when Jesus told the disciples “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as thee” referring to the children. The children who took in all the surroundings, listening, learning, leaning in, believing with everything that they had. 

We love to do all things simple for the 4th of July.

In fact, our celebrations tend to be pretty simple comparatively. 

There’s usually food involved that no one pretends is healthy. Someone is always sticky. There’s always at least one kid who wants to “go check if the fireworks are starting yet” approximately 47 times before they actually start.

And somewhere in the middle of it all, we usually find a way to weave in a little Disney.

Maybe it’s a Disney playlist playing in the background while we cook.

Maybe it’s someone showing up in Mickey ears just because they can.

Maybe it’s watching Disney fireworks on YouTube after the real ones are over, when the kids are half asleep and wrapped up in blankets.

It’s not complicated. But it’s ours.

And I’ve learned that sometimes the simplest traditions end up being the ones that stick the longest.

As I’ve gotten older, the 4th of July has started to mean a little more than just fireworks and cookouts.

It’s become a day of gratitude.

Gratitude for the freedom we have. Gratitude for the ability to gather without fear. Gratitude for the people around our table and the season we’re in right now, even when it feels busy or uncertain.

And as a pastor, I can’t help but also think about how gratitude and worship are often closely connected.

Moments of awe have a way of reminding us that we’re not meant to carry everything alone.

That there is still beauty in the world. Still light. Still hope.

Even in seasons that feel heavy.

So yes, we’ll probably have our little traditions this weekend.

There will be fireworks. There will be snacks. There will be laughter and tired kids and probably someone asking if it’s bedtime before the sun even goes down.

And somewhere in the middle of it all, there will be a quiet reminder that joy doesn’t have to be complicated.

Sometimes it’s just:

• a summer night sky

• a burst of color

• a familiar song

• and the people you love right next to you

And if I’m being honest, I think that’s a little bit of Disney magic too.

So this year, I’m holding onto it all a little tighter.

The red. The white. The Mickey-shaped moments tucked into ordinary life.

Because maybe that’s what magic really is.

Not something far away or reserved for special places…

But something we learn how to notice right where we are.