Tuesday, 4 July 2023

July 4th sales to shop from Target, REI and more. Plus, keeping kids and pets safe while celebrating.

July 4, 2023 | VIEW IN BROWSER

This is TODAY

Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸 In this special holiday edition of This is TODAY, we've got some huge deals at Target, North Face, REI, Overstock and more; plus, tips to keep your kids (and your pets) safe during the festivities; how to watch the Macy's fireworks show; and a few easy and delicious recipes you can whip up last-minute.

The Latest

But first, here's the latest news ...

Four people were killed and two boys, ages 2 and 13, were injured when a gunman opened fire in a Philadelphia neighborhood Monday, police said. The gunman later surrendered. The Texas man who was found last week after he went missing as a teenager in 2015 is "not able to communicate," according to his family. Actor Robert De Niro said in a statement that he is "deeply distressed" about the death of his grandson Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez, who is the son of his oldest child, Drena De Niro. A roller coaster at a festival in Wisconsin got stuck Sunday, causing riders to remain upside down for at least three hours while emergency responders worked to free them. Luckily, no one was hurt.

🚙 Need to run errands? Here's which popular stores are open with holiday hours today.

If you need to make a last-minute grocery run, or want to shop some July Fourth sales at brick-and-mortar stores, we've got you covered with a comprehensive list of holiday hours for major retailers. A surprising number of businesses are actually open today, so check out our list of holiday hours and closures for grocery stores, Walmart, Home Depot, the post office, banks, Target, Costco and popular restaurants.

🧨 5 activities to skip to keep safe on July 4th — plus the one grilling tool doctors say you shouldn't use.

Keep kids safe on this Fourth of July with 5 simple precautions from emergency room doctors who are also parents themselves. Safety experts repeat this warning every year at this time — no fireworks at home, even the legal ones. Opt for glow sticks as a safer alternative to sparklers, which can get up to 2,000 degrees. Also make sure to supervise kids when they're in the pool or rough ocean conditions, and make sure everyone's got helmets on before zooming off on a bike ride. If you're going to be grilling today, consider ditching your wire grill brush for safety reasons. This ER doc outlines why.

🛍️ Target, Lululemon, REI, mattresses, furniture and more: Take advantage of these great Fourth of July deals.

In between the barbecues and fireworks shows, the Fourth of July is also about some of the best sales of the year. Our Shop TODAY team has done their homework on deals that can get you up to 50% off on sneakers, workout gear, mattresses, and outdoor gear from brands like REI and The North Face. Target is having a huge sale, while Lululemon, Asics and more are offering great deals under $50. Plus, we found deals on all types of summer items starting as low as $2, and great prices on home decor from Overstock's massive markdown of more than a million items.

🇺🇸 Here's how to watch the Macy's fireworks show — plus, how to keep pets calm, and songs to add to your July 4th playlist.

Macy's world famous fireworks show kicks off on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m., here's how you can watch it. If you're a pet owner, you probably know fireworks shows can frighten animals, so we've got some expert tips on how to keep your pet safe and calm tonight. And if you're having a cookout and want to give your music playlist a little patriotic flare, check out this mix of 23 pop, rock and country songs we've compiled for the holiday, including a mix of old faves (Dolly Parton, John Denver) and new classics (Rihanna, Katy Perry). If your friends aren't feeling your musical taste, dazzle them with your philosophical side with these 50 famous quotes about freedom, or try one of these 100 clever July 4th captions to post on Instagram.

What's for dinner?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

Give your Fourth of July greens a patriotic flair with this red, white and blue steak salad from chef Jeanette Donnarumma. The colorful salad saves time on prep thanks to a wine vinegar marinade that also doubles as the salad dressing. Throw in some seasonal strawberries and blue cheese crumbles, grill up the steak and enjoy the holiday! Get this recipe and more July 4th cookout ideas here.