With Independence Day on Wednesday, I was planning to put together a post on July 4th celebrations, maybe something similar to what I did last year on Best Fireworks Displays. I received a press release from Yahoo! Travel touting the top fireworks destinations, including New York City (no surprise), Washington, DC (also, no surprise) and Lake Tahoe (yes, somewhat surprising), so I thought, why not?
I was thinking I’d take some of the “revelations” in the press release and supplement them with some other fun July 4th-related news. So, I started to check out some other press materials, and oh my gosh, the crazy ways that marketers try to glom onto the holiday to promote themselves.
I definitely get that there will be a certain number of press releases dedicated to related travel deals, seasonal sales and fireworks safety, but come on now. I’ll note now that this post will have nothing to do with family travel. I really couldn’t help myself though. Take a look at some of the July 4th “news” items.
* A major food ordering service proclaimed that pizza is the “most patriotic food,” even going so far as to note that Hawaiian and Buffalo Chicken are among the most-ordered pies.
* Another press release screams, “USDA Encourages Public to Celebrate the Red, White, Blue and Orange.” It goes on to suggest that citizens make this July 4th a celebration of the role citrus plays in the holiday’s food and culture. Kind of stretch, don’t you think?
* One electronic cigarettes provider ends the first paragraph of their press release with “Light fireworks not cigarettes this Fourth of July with South Beach Smoke.” It also suggests that smokers take a stand for their own independence by switching from traditional to electronic cigarettes. Puh-leeze.
* I’d never heard of Adam Levy, who is also known as the Alcohol Professor, but there are two “July 4th-theme” press releases from him this week. One is on the top-ten beers to have at a July 4th barbecue, and of course, the other is on the top-ten wines to have at the same barbecue.
* One press release focused on the “top-ten Independence Day traditions and festivities that corn might pop into your life.” Yes, it was from a corn growers association. Corny, right? Pun intended, of course.
* Another “news release” declared the Fourth of July “App Independence Day.” Apparently this seasonal tie-in was designed to inform the public that we can now create mobile apps for free.
I worked in public relations for many, many years, so I definitely get the need to identify a seasonal hook to try to promote your product or services, but I’m pretty sure the needle won’t be moving courtesy of any of the above press releases. Too bad.
I’m not sure why I strayed so far from family travel today. Maybe I’m in need of a vacation, or at least a day off to spend enjoying parades, sparklers and cook-outs with my family. I hope you have a fantastic holiday on Wednesday!
Photo Credit: Kelvin Beecroft
