The Monday Briefing: Getting a bang from the 4th

PICK OF THE WEEK: If you can't wait for dusk for your Independence Day dose of loud explosions, head over to Fort Snelling for the cannon salutes at 1 and 4 p.m. The day also includes battle re-enactments (noon and 3 p.m.), military parades (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and fife and drum corps performances (12:30 and 3:30 p.m.), as well as other events (see tinyurl.com/jup9p7w for the full schedule). The park is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12; $10 for seniors, students and active military; $6 ages 5 through 17, and free for kids under 5 and members of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Cheat sheet: July 4th is rich with trivia you can share over the day's hot dogs:

• The Declaration of Independence was dated July 4, 1776, but only a few of the founding parents signed it that day. Most of the signatures weren't added until Aug. 2.

• Fireworks have been around since the beginning. Congress ordered their use to celebrate the first anniversary of Independence Day in 1777.

• The legal separation from Great Britain actually happened on July 2. So if you've been partying for two days already, you've got an excuse.

Day by day: If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, mark Sunday on your calendar. It's national Piña Colada Day, which, we suspect, is singer Rupert Holmes' favorite holiday.

LIFE HACK: If you have friends who "forget" to return the things you lend them, take a picture of them holding the object when they borrow it.

JEFF STRICKLER • jeff.strickler@startribune.com