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Keith McCord ReportingPeople are already getting into the Independence Day mode. With the holiday falling on the weekend, a lot of people are going to take a few extra days off this week or early next week.
People will actually be celebrating the 4th on three different days this year. With the holiday falling on Sunday, a lot of the normal activities are either being moved to Saturday or Monday, depending on the city.
Everything from pancake breakfasts, tug-of-war contests, parades and fireworks displays -- it's all happening this 4th of July weekend. A number of cities across the state are starting their celebrations as early as Friday. Many people will be heading to the hills to a favorite campsite or fishing spot. The weather should be perfect.
If you are planning to go camping, don't delay. We went online, put in some random campsite, and told the computer we wanted to check in on Friday, July 2nd. We discovered a lot of the sites are already gone.
It's expected to be busy on the highways as people get away. AAA expects a record number of Americans to travel 50-miles or more from home.
Fireworks stands are already open and that comes with a reminder that Utah law only allows you to set them off the three days before and three days after the holiday. A safety reminder -- fireworks cause about 2400 eye injuries every year, and one-forth of those injuries result in permanent eye damage.
And remember your animals during this long holiday period. The Salt Lake County Department of Animal Services says 200-300 dogs run away every year during the July 4th and 24th holidays. Also, a reminder, there are fireworks restrictions in many parts of the state.
There are activities scheduled all over this weekend. Besides the usual, there are car shows, rodeos, rock-and-roll concerts and our favorite, a chocolate chip cookie bake-off in West Point.
For a look at celebrations in your area, follow the links to the Deseret Morning News.
