For the United States of America, July 4 is a time to gather as a community, enjoy the summer, and celebrate our country’s independence. As a child, I remember when the summer carnival would come to town, we’d watch the fireworks over the lake, cook out with friends, and have endless days of baseball. In this article, I’ll look at the official Independence Day festivities at Universal Orlando and those thematically adjacent.

Baseball & Hot Dogs

The summer haze is thick as the sun sets on a metropolitan city skyline. The lights blare from the center field, you can see the bugs entranced by the illumination. If you are like me the one thing I want during that time is a hot dog with Bertman’s stadium mustard. Thanks to a partnership with the man behind Rainforest Cafe, Universal Orlando is home to the Hot Dog Hall of Fame, a baseball-themed, quick-service dining location in CityWalk. The menu features hot dog combinations from all over the country plus a specially curated mustard bar if you like to keep this simple. Plus a huge Jumbotron showing baseball games and sports highlights hangs in front of a seating area comprising an assortment of ballpark fold-down seats from stadiums around the country.

Ice Cream

It’s hot and sunny out, what better way to cool off than with some ice cream? Ice cream is available all across the Universal theme parks but here are some of our favorites:

⭐️ Florean Fortescues Ice Cream Parlor in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida leaps off the book pages and into the real world with fanciful hard-packed ice cream flavors like chocolate chili, lavender, Earl Grey tea, and sticky toffy pudding. Soft-serve vanilla, chocolate, and Butterbeer are also available.
⭐️ Schwab’s Pharmacy is a replica of the iconic Hollywood pharmacy in Universal Studios Florida. Inside is an old fashioned soda hop with vintage signage and a bar to sit and order your malts. The menu includes ice cream from Häagen-Dazs ice creams, sundaes, malts, shakes, and floats.
⭐️ Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream in New York backlot of Universal Studios Florida replaces the old Ben & Jerry’s location with a new, modern ice cream shop. The menu is similar to Schwab’s with scoops of ice cream, sundaes, shakes, smoothies, and coffee frappe drinks.
⭐️ Waturi Fusion Ice Cream at Volcano Bay offers a unique twist on their soft serve ice cream with swirled-in flavors. This works by adding ribbons of flavor like orange, blue raspberry, strawberry, and banana to the base vanilla or chocolate ice cream as it’s dispensed.
⭐️ Toothsome Chocolate Emporium in CityWalk is the restaurant that desserts built. While the menu is chock-full of items and an all-day brunch, the big showpiece items are the outrageous milkshakes.
⭐️ Cold Stone Creamery & Machines in CityWalk are franchises that offer familiar ice cream and frozen yogurt.

Carnival Games

Universal upgrades the games of skill found at carnivals and festivals with themed games and prizes run by friendly Team Members, not carnies hawking dingy off-brand posters and plush. Games cost $10 per play, buying multiple plays on a game card saves money at 6 plays for $50. Games range from games-of-skill like milk bottles, to races like the water shooter, and games for younger kids like fishing for plastic eggs. Prizes are high quality and related to the properties in the parks. Carnival games are found in three places in the Universal parks.

Fireworks

BOOM! Fireworks are an integral part of any July 4th celebration and Universal has several firework shows for the holidays. Starting at dusk (around 8:00 pm) the Hogwarts Always nighttime show performs at Hogwarts Castle in Islands of Adventure. The show predominantly uses production effects and only features minimal fireworks. At 9:00 pm is CineSational, Universal Studios Florida’s new nighttime spectacular. The show sets fountains, fireworks, and lasers to the iconic scores of Universal’s films and theme park attractions (aka non-Universal owned properties). Finally, the themed July 4th fireworks show is at 10:00 pm at Universal Studios Florida lagoon.

The Pool

If I wasn’t at a family party eating burgers on the 4th of July, I wished I was at our local pool. Guests staying at Universal’s hotels have access to amazing pools that are well-maintained, clean, and safe – pools are gated and are staffed with Team Member lifeguards. Guests staying at Prime Value level hotels and higher can “pool hop” between the different hotel pools, a great perk for those who want to try the massive pools at Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay. If your kids are into water slides, book a stay at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, Sapphire Falls, or Cabana Bay. And after you’ve racked up an appetite (or thirst) roll on over to the pool bar and grill for snacks and delicious cocktails

If the hotel pool becomes a little too boring then roll on out to Volcano Bay. Universal’s tropically themed water park is known for its wave pool, lazy river, slides, wading pools, and water play areas.

Do you have a favorite July 4th tradition or activity at Universal Orlando? Leave them in the comments below!