NEW YORK — Americans across the country will celebrate Independence Day with barbecues, fireworks and a day off from work for many employees.
The Fourth of July marks the birth of American independence, the day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
This year, the Fourth of July will fall on a Thursday.
Here’s what will be open and closed.
Retail
Target and Walmart locations will be open during their regular local hours. Most grocery stores under Kroger — which includes Fred Meyer, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Ralphs and QFC — will be open during their regular hours on July 4.
Walmart is one of the stores that will remain open on the Fourth of July this year.
Sam’s Club will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Plus members and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Club members. Costco warehouses will be closed on July 4.
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For those who want more specialty groceries, most Whole Foods stores will be open during normal hours, while Trader Joe’s locations will close at 5 p.m.
Make sure to check with local retailers and restaurants for their Independence Day hours before visiting.
Postal services
Independence Day is a holiday for the United States Postal Service, so it won’t be picking up or delivering mail.
There will be no UPS pickup or delivery service, though UPS Express Critical service is available. Make sure to check your local UPS store, as locations may be closed on July 4.
Most FedEx services will also be closed, though FedEx Custom Critical will be open for crucial shipments.
Financial services
July 4 is a Federal Reserve banking holiday, so most bank branches across the country will be closed. The Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange will also get the day off.
As always, online banking services and ATMs will be available.
Government offices
Nonessential government offices will be closed on Tuesday, including the DMV and public libraries.
Help your dogs stay calm during July 4th fireworks
The Fourth of July can be a miserable day for dogs. The fireworks make scaredy-cats out of many canines.
How a dog responds to noises may be influenced by breed, with German shepherd dogs more likely to pace, while border collies or Australian cattle dogs are more likely to show their fear by hiding.
While veterinarians don’t know exactly why some dogs are afraid of fireworks and others not, many dogs that react to one noise often react to others. Therefore, early intervention and treatment are essential in protecting the welfare of these terrified dogs. Here’s how you can protect your dog from fireworks.
- Take your pet to the vet. If your dog is afraid of fireworks, the first step is to have your veterinarian evaluate him or her, especially if your dog’s noise sensitivity is relatively new. One 2018 study found a link between pain and noise sensitivities in older dogs, indicating that muscle tension
