August 7 – National Lighthouse Day

National Lighthouse Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY

•  Read about lighthouses (or color them in a cool lighthouse color book).
•  Go visit lighthouses – list of American lighthouses.
•  Read “A History of Lighthouses” on Project Archaeology.
•  Make one of these amazing lighthouse cakes.
•  Buy lighthouse gifts for yourself or someone special.
•  If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM FOR NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY

Ah, lighthouses. What’s not to love? They’re quaint, picturesque, and often located in some of the most beautiful (and remote) places on earth. Not to mention, they serve a very important purpose: warning sailors of dangerous shoals and guiding them safely to port. But there’s more to these iconic structures than meets the eye. Did you know, for example, that many lighthouses are actually hollow inside? This is because their round shape makes them more resistant to high winds and waves.

And speaking of waves, did you know that the tallest lighthouse in the world (the Jeddah Light in Saudi Arabia) is located right next to the Red Sea? At over 1,000 feet tall, it’s nearly twice the height of the Empire State Building! With a history that dates back thousands of years and a fascinating design, it’s no wonder that lighthouses continue to capture our imaginations.

NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY:  A BRIEF HISTORY OF LIGHTHOUSES

Lighthouses have been a beacon of hope for ships navigating treacherous waters for centuries. The history of lighthouses goes back to over 2000 years ago in ancient Greece. However, the popularity of lighthouses came about in the 18th century when maritime trade grew exponentially. The Eddystone Lighthouse, located in the English Channel, was one of the most famous lighthouses of the 18th century, standing defiantly against the ferocious waves and guiding ships to a safe harbor.

In the United States, there are approximately 700 lighthouses still standing, each with its unique history and architectural design, with many of them being transformed into museums and tourist attractions.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY

1. Beacon Bake-Off: Host a lighthouse-themed baking competition where participants create cakes or cookies shaped like lighthouses.
2. Lighthouse Lantern Walk: Organize a nighttime lantern walk to a local lighthouse, with participants carrying lanterns or flashlights.
3. Lightkeeper Costume Contest: Encourage guests to dress up as lighthouse keepers or sailors for a costume contest.
4. Guiding Light Crafts: Set up a crafting station where guests can make lighthouse-themed crafts like painted rocks, clay models, or paper lanterns.
5. Maritime Movie Night: Screen classic maritime movies or documentaries about lighthouses for guests to enjoy.
6. Keeper’s Cove Photo Booth: Create a photo booth area with lighthouse-themed props and backdrops for memorable pictures.
7. Navigational Games: Plan games like “Pin the Light on the Lighthouse” or a lighthouse trivia quiz for interactive entertainment.
8. Seaside Storytelling Circle: Gather around a bonfire or cozy indoor space for storytelling sessions focused on lighthouse tales and maritime adventures.
9. Lighthouse Lighthouse Relay: Organize a relay race where teams must navigate through obstacles to reach a miniature lighthouse replica.
10. Foghorn Karaoke: Host a karaoke session featuring sea shanties and maritime songs, with a foghorn sound effect for added ambiance.
11. Harbor Cruise Excursion: Arrange a boat trip to sail past local lighthouses, providing guests with a unique perspective from the water.
12. Lighthouse Puzzle Challenge: Set up tables with lighthouse-themed jigsaw puzzles for guests to work on collaboratively.
13. Beacon Bonanza Scavenger Hunt: Plan a scavenger hunt with lighthouse-related clues leading participants to hidden treasures.
14. Lightkeeper’s Luncheon: Serve a maritime-inspired menu with seafood dishes and coastal cuisine, featuring lighthouse-themed decorations.
15. Sailing Simulator Experience: Set up a sailing simulator or virtual reality experience for guests to navigate through rough seas and reach a virtual lighthouse.
16. Lighthouse Tour Guided Walk: Arrange guided tours of nearby lighthouses, providing historical insights and interesting facts about their significance.
17. Marine Wildlife Watching: Organize a boat trip or coastal hike for guests to observe marine wildlife such as whales, dolphins, or seabirds near lighthouses.
18. Keeper’s Cottage Tea Party: Host a tea party with nautical-themed snacks and refreshments served in a cozy setting reminiscent of a lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
19. Lighthouse Beacon Dance: Set up a dance floor with maritime decorations and music, encouraging guests to dance under the beacon’s light.
20. Tidepool Exploration: Take guests on a guided tidepool exploration to discover marine life and coastal ecosystems near lighthouses.
21. Beacon Book Club: Start a book club focused on lighthouse literature, discussing novels, memoirs, and historical accounts related to lighthouses.
22. Maritime History Trivia Night: Host a trivia night with questions about maritime history, lighthouse architecture, and famous lighthouse keepers.
23. Lighthouse Painting Party: Provide canvases, paints, and brushes for guests to create their own lighthouse-themed paintings.
24. Nautical Knot Tying Workshop: Arrange a workshop where guests can learn how to tie various nautical knots used by sailors and lighthouse keepers.
25. Lighthouse Farewell Fireworks: Conclude the celebration with a spectacular fireworks display near a lighthouse, illuminating the night sky with colorful bursts of light.
26.  Beacon Burgers: Serve burgers with a twist, featuring buns decorated with lighthouse shapes using condiments.
27. Seascape Salad: Create a colorful salad inspired by the sea, with ingredients like shrimp, crab, and seaweed arranged to resemble ocean waves.
28. Lighthouse Lollipops: Make lollipops shaped like lighthouses using molds and colorful candy melts.
29. Tidal Wave Tacos: Fill taco shells with seafood, lettuce, and salsa, representing the waves crashing against the lighthouse.
30. Maritime Macarons: Bake macarons decorated with lighthouse designs using edible ink or royal icing.
31. Foghorn Fritters: Fry up crispy fritters made with seafood or vegetables, served with a dipping sauce reminiscent of the sea.
32. Nautical Nachos: Layer tortilla chips with cheese, black beans, and jalapeños, topping them with a dollop of sour cream shaped like a lighthouse.
33. Lighthouse Lemonade: Serve refreshing lemonade in glasses rimmed with blue sugar, garnished with a lemon slice and a miniature lighthouse figurine.
34. Buoyant Bagels: Offer a spread of bagels with various toppings, including smoked salmon, cream cheese, and capers, evoking a maritime breakfast.
35. Coastal Cupcakes: Bake cupcakes topped with blue frosting and edible lighthouse decorations made from fondant or chocolate.
36. Keeper’s Clam Chowder: Prepare a hearty clam chowder soup, served in bread bowls and garnished with parsley to represent seaweed.
37. Seafarer’s Sandwiches: Make sandwiches with layers of deli meats, cheeses, and veggies, served on bread shaped like lighthouses using cookie cutters.
38. Lighthouse Latte: Offer specialty lattes with foam art depicting lighthouse scenes, such as waves crashing against the rocks.
39. Majestic Mussels: Serve steamed mussels in a savory broth, accompanied by crusty bread for dipping and savoring the flavors of the sea.
40. Oceanic Oysters: Shuck fresh oysters and serve them on a bed of ice with lemon wedges and a tangy mignonette sauce.
41. Sailor’s Sushi Rolls: Prepare sushi rolls filled with seafood and veggies, sliced into rounds and arranged to resemble a lighthouse tower.
42. Lighthouse Lantern Cake: Bake a layered cake decorated with fondant or icing to resemble a lighthouse, complete with windows and a beacon on top.
43. Pier Pesto Pasta: Toss cooked pasta with homemade pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, and grilled shrimp, evoking the flavors of a coastal Italian dish.
44. Seashell Sweets: Offer a variety of chocolates and candies shaped like seashells and lighthouses, perfect for satisfying sweet cravings.
45. Fishing Fleet Fruit Platter: Arrange a colorful platter of fresh fruits in the shape of fishing boats sailing around a lighthouse centerpiece.
46. Barnacle Bruschetta: Top toasted baguette slices with diced tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese, drizzled with balsamic glaze for a savory appetizer.
47. Waves of Waffles: Serve waffles shaped like waves, topped with whipped cream and berries, symbolizing the ocean crashing against the lighthouse rocks.
48. Lighthouse Lava Cake: Bake individual molten lava cakes with a gooey chocolate center, garnished with powdered sugar and a lighthouse-shaped cookie.
49. Anchored Avocado Toast: Spread mashed avocado on toast and top with smoked salmon and a sprinkle of sea salt, representing a coastal brunch favorite.
50. Seafaring S’mores: Build s’mores using graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, shaped like lighthouses with a marshmallow beacon on top.
51.  Clay Lighthouse Figurines: Sculpt lighthouses using air-dry clay and paint them in vibrant colors to create miniature decorations.
52. Lighthouse Lanterns: Repurpose old tin cans by painting them to resemble lighthouses, then add LED tea lights inside for a glowing effect.
53. Seashell Lighthouse Ornaments: Glue together small seashells in the shape of a lighthouse, attaching a string to hang them as ornaments.
54. Lighthouse String Art: Hammer nails onto a wooden board in the outline of a lighthouse, then wrap string around the nails to create a stunning piece of string art.
55. Driftwood Lighthouse Decor: Arrange pieces of driftwood into the shape of a lighthouse and secure them together with hot glue for rustic coastal decor.
56. Lighthouse Painted Rocks: Paint rocks with lighthouse designs using acrylic paints and display them in a garden or as paperweights.
57. Lighthouse Wind Chimes: String together wooden beads and small metal bells, attaching them to a lighthouse-shaped wooden cutout to create a charming wind chime.
58. Lighthouse Mason Jar Lanterns: Paint mason jars to resemble lighthouses, then place LED candles inside to illuminate the jars with a warm glow.
59. Lighthouse Shadow Boxes: Arrange miniature lighthouses, shells, and sand inside shadow boxes to create charming coastal-themed displays.
60. Lighthouse Collage Art: Cut out images of lighthouses from magazines or printouts and collage them onto canvas or paper for unique wall art.
61. Lighthouse Stained Glass: Create faux stained glass lighthouse designs using black adhesive lead strips and colored transparent film.
62. Lighthouse Terrariums: Build miniature terrariums inside glass containers, incorporating tiny lighthouse figurines and coastal plants for a whimsical display.
63. Lighthouse Wooden Signs: Paint wooden plaques with lighthouse scenes or quotes using stencils or freehand painting techniques.
64. Lighthouse Pebble Mosaics: Glue colorful pebbles onto wooden boards in the shape of a lighthouse to create beautiful mosaic artwork.
65. Lighthouse Papercraft: Print out lighthouse templates and assemble them using cardstock or construction paper, decorating them with markers or stickers.
66. Lighthouse Fabric Wall Hanging: Sew together fabric scraps in the shape of a lighthouse and hang it on a wooden dowel for a charming wall decoration.
67. Lighthouse Bottle Art: Decorate glass bottles with lighthouse designs using glass paint pens or decoupage techniques.
68. Lighthouse Cross Stitch: Create lighthouse-themed cross stitch patterns on fabric, framing the finished pieces for decorative wall art.
69. Lighthouse Felt Ornaments: Cut out lighthouse shapes from felt and embellish them with embroidery stitches and sequins to hang as festive ornaments.
70. Lighthouse Paper Lanterns: Fold and glue paper into cylindrical shapes, then decorate them with lighthouse designs and place LED tea lights inside for a soft glow.
71. Lighthouse Ceramic Tiles: Paint ceramic tiles with lighthouse scenes using acrylic paints, then seal them with varnish for use as coasters or decorative tiles.
72. Lighthouse Papier-Mâché Sculptures: Mold papier-mâché into lighthouse shapes and paint them in bright colors for whimsical tabletop decorations.
73. Lighthouse Rope Art: Arrange and glue lengths of rope onto canvas or wood in the form of a lighthouse, adding details with paint or markers.
74. Lighthouse Puzzle Crafts: Glue together pieces from old jigsaw puzzles to form lighthouse scenes, then frame them for unique wall art.
75. Lighthouse Beadwork: Create lighthouse designs using seed beads or pony beads, then mount them onto backing boards for colorful beadwork displays.
76.  Beacon Relay Race: Organize a relay race where participants carry a miniature lighthouse model to a designated finish line.
77. Lighthouse Trivia Challenge: Host a trivia game with questions related to lighthouses, maritime history, and famous lighthouse keepers.
78. Guiding Light Scavenger Hunt: Plan a scavenger hunt with clues leading players to various lighthouse-themed items hidden around the venue.
79. Lighthouse Jigsaw Puzzle Race: Divide players into teams and see who can complete lighthouse-themed jigsaw puzzles the fastest.
80. Beacon Bean Bag Toss: Set up a bean bag toss game with lighthouse-shaped targets, awarding points based on accuracy.
81. Lighthouse Memory Match: Create a memory card game with pairs of cards featuring lighthouse images, challenging players to match them.
82. Maritime Bingo: Play bingo with lighthouse-themed bingo cards, calling out descriptions of different lighthouses for players to mark off.
83. Foghorn Freeze Dance: Dance to music while a designated “foghorn” intermittently stops the music, causing players to freeze in place.
84. Seascape Pictionary: Draw lighthouse-related words or phrases and have teammates guess the correct answers within a time limit.
85. Lighthouse Ring Toss: Toss rings onto lighthouse-shaped targets, awarding points based on the accuracy of the throws.
86. Beacon Balloon Pop: Attach lighthouse-shaped stickers to balloons and have players pop them to reveal hidden prizes inside.
87. Maritime Charades: Act out lighthouse-themed words or phrases without speaking, while teammates try to guess the correct answer.
88. Lighthouse Labyrinth: Set up a maze with lighthouse-themed obstacles for players to navigate through.
89. Guiding Light Pinata: Fill a lighthouse-shaped pinata with candies and treats for players to break open and enjoy.
90. Beacon Bowling: Arrange lighthouse-shaped pins and use a ball to knock them down in a game of lighthouse-themed bowling.
91. Marine Simon Says: Play Simon Says with maritime-themed commands, such as “Pretend to climb a lighthouse staircase.”
92. Lighthouse Tic-Tac-Toe: Draw a tic-tac-toe grid with lighthouse images and have players use markers to compete in the classic game.
93. Guiding Light Relay: Race while carrying a flashlight or lantern to simulate the duties of a lighthouse keeper guiding ships.
94. Beacon Bean Bag Race: Balance bean bags on heads while racing to the finish line, mimicking the stability of a lighthouse beacon.
95. Maritime Musical Chairs: Play musical chairs with lighthouse-themed music, removing chairs each round until one player remains.
96. Lighthouse Puzzle Challenge: Race against the clock to assemble lighthouse-themed puzzles of varying difficulty levels.
97. Beacon Balance Challenge: Navigate an obstacle course while balancing a miniature lighthouse model on a tray or spoon.
98. Seascape Simon Game: Follow sequences of lighthouse-themed lights and sounds in a game inspired by the classic Simon electronic game.
99. Lighthouse Tug-of-War: Compete in a tug-of-war game while standing on opposite sides of a lighthouse-themed rope or ribbon.
100. Guiding Light Whack-a-Mole: Use a mallet to “whack” toy moles as they pop up from behind miniature lighthouses, testing players’ reflexes and coordination.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate National Lighthouse Day?  Please share them!