How are Americans celebrating 4th of July this year?
1. An estimated 16,000 professional firework displays have been set up to mark Fourth of July festivities
Travel records are expected to be broken as Americans eagerly flock to airports and jam highways to celebrate Independence Day with parades, cookouts, and spectacular firework displays.
Many are prioritizing leisure and adventure, undeterred by economic concerns. The Denver Gazette reports that an estimated 16,000 professional firework displays are planned, along with numerous backyard gatherings, marking an all-time high in firework usage, according to a consumer fireworks industry group.
"This is how we celebrate. It's the bombs bursting in air. It's the rockets' red glare. That's how people show their pride and patriotism," said Julie Heckman of the American Pyrotechnics Association.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported a record-breaking nearly 3 million travelers passing through airports in a single day last week, with expectations of breaking this record again this week. Additionally, 60.6 million people are expected to travel by car during the holiday period, partly due to easing inflation despite ongoing economic concerns.
Celebrations are varied across the country. In Down East, Maine, some plan to enjoy lobster boat races. Descendants of the Declaration of Independence signers will ring the Liberty Bell 13 times in Philadelphia, once for each original colony. Bolinas and Stinson Beach in California are holding their annual tug-of-war contest, where losers end up in a lagoon. The annual hot dog eating contest on Coney Island, New York, is also taking place.
However, the Northern California city of Oroville has canceled its annual fireworks due to the Thompson Fire, which has displaced an estimated 26,000 residents. Hundreds of firefighters are working under extreme heat to prevent the flames from reaching more homes.
