Lehigh Valley celebrations of the Fourth of July are looking like they used to: red, white, blue and mostly mask-free

On a Fourth of July looking a lot more like the ones Americans are used to, Scott Holloway went with his family to the Lehigh Valley Zoo decked out in holiday apparel: shirt and sequin hat, all red, white and blue with flag patterns.

By CLARE FONSTEIN

THE MORNING CALL |

JUL 04, 2021 AT 6:57 PM

This trip was his 16-month-old son’s first time at the zoo and one of their first big outings since the COVID-19 restrictions have loosened.

Last year, he said, they just had an outdoor cookout.

“It was small, not like we would have liked to,” Holloway said. “Everyone was invited but some didn’t show up, which is understandable.”

With vaccinations on the rise and pandemic restrictions lifting, Fourth of July festivities were in full swing across the Lehigh Valley. Even before the fireworks started, residents celebrated with live music, lawn games, parades and cookouts. Even the weather cooperated, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s.

At the George Taylor House in Catasauqua, Caitlin Dougherty’s Fourth of July apparel consisted of head-to-toe colonial dress. She played a loyalist townsperson in reenactments at the histroic venue, which also featured house tours, music, food, readings from the Declaration of Independence and more.

Being able to act live once again, Dougherty said, “It’s way more fun. We get to feed off each other’s energy.”

Children and adults involved in the reenactments and the George Taylor House Association were dressed in colonial apparel, with the women in long dresses and bonnets while the men wore waist coats and trousers.

Over 100 people came out, many shouting “hip, hip, hoorah” after performances and gathering for the reenacted speeches.

Joan Leuschner, who is visiting the Lehigh Valley from Florida, went to see the activities at George Taylor House with her daughter, who lives in the area.

“We heard about all the wonderful things that were going on here,” Leuschner said. “We wanted to see it all and experience it to celebrate the Fourth of July.”

Other than the tours of the 1700s-era home, all activities were outside. Most people were maskless. Leuschner said she even forgot all about masking and that it felt like a thing of the past.

Few people wore masks at the zoo as well.

In celebration of the holiday, customers were greeted at the ticketing entrance by a 9 ½- foot-tall Uncle Sam on stilts.

Set up next to the bald eagle exhibit, Trevor Hohman offered customers small American flags and streamers.

Families — Hohman said he saw a lot more strollers than on an average day at the zoo — walked around the exhibits, with mask-optional guidelines. Crowds formed for the penguin feedings, but otherwise groups moved at their own pace around the facility.

The mask-optional policy has one exception: giraffe feeding, when spectators must wear them.

“We don’t want to be the zoo that finds out they can get it,” Hohman said.

Visitor Katie Moran said the giraffes are her favorite part of the zoo. She normally makes the hourlong trip to the North Whitehall Township attraction one or two times a year, but due to the pandemic, this was her first time in almost two years.

“Last time we were here … Tatu [the giraffe] was so small his head could barely reach up on the top to get fed.”

Tatu now reaches the feeding spot with ease.

Moran, who last year spent the holiday at home, said the rest of their plans for the day just include barbecuing.

”Everything was really shut down [last year],” she said. “So I am glad to get back out again.”