The Fourth of July has traditionally been one of the most enjoyable Island holidays any way you measure it. It’s just fun on a variety of levels no matter what your station in life.

There’s a family friendly parade full of community members and jovial pirates; fabulous beaches with gin-clear water bordered by wonderful picnic areas; and, of course, fireworks displays.

This year, however, will be a little different. First there will be only one display, that being at the BeachHouse restaurant July 3. The July 4 event at the Sandbar restaurant was called off at the request of public officials and law enforcement, who are trying to bring under control the illegal fireworks that people set off on the beaches. It is a one-time cancellation and the Sandbar display should be back next year.

But it was a move that should have been expected, especially when some 10,000 people were jamming onto the shore to watch the Sandbar display. That was a recipe for disaster, just waiting to happen - wall to wall people with cherry bombs, M-80s and bottle rockets being set off right and left. It’s amazing more people weren’t seriously injured than there were.

None of this has to ruin a perfectly good time for us though. There are plenty of small fireworks that remain legal, such as those packs you can buy at Publix, full of sparklers and showering rainbows. The BeachHouse display will be beautiful, as usual, and the Privateers parade will be as fun and rowdy as ever.

This isn’t a time to grouse about what we don’t have. It’s a time to get out, put on some red, white and blue and celebrate our country’s Independence Day.