Thursday saw millions of Americans celebrate and endure the effects of heat warnings as they gathered at beaches and traveled in large numbers to commemorate their nation’s independence with July Fourth parades, barbecues, and the much-anticipated fireworks displays.
In Washington, colorful fireworks lit up the night sky above the National Mall. The Boston Pops orchestra performed a spectacular musical fireworks show at Hatch Memorial Shell in the city. Across the country, people from Brattleboro, Vermont, to Waco, Texas, to Alameda, California, dressed in patriotic colors and waved flags to honor Independence Day.
Record-breaking travel numbers were expected as people packed airports and highways to join Fourth of July festivities that stretched into a long weekend for many.
On the East Coast, some beachgoers in Connecticut were turned away due to full parking lots at state parks, including Hammonasset Beach State Park, the state’s largest shoreline beach.
In the West, residents faced oppressive heat as the National Weather Service issued warnings of a dangerous heat wave covering much of the region. Some areas in the Southwest were forecasted to reach temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius), while hot and humid conditions affected the Deep South and Middle Atlantic regions.
Despite a heat advisory in Philadelphia with temperatures in the 90s, crowds gathered at historic sites in the city associated with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Volunteer actors in Revolutionary War-era costumes gathered outside the National Constitution Center, emphasizing the importance of community and historical connections.
Evening fireworks were planned over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway following a concert by Ne-Yo and Kesha.
In New York City, Macy’s annual fireworks display lit up the skylines of Manhattan, Hoboken, and Jersey City with thousands of projectiles launched from the Hudson River.
Residents in Queens enjoyed their own fireworks displays, celebrating the holiday with pride and patriotism.
The holiday season saw a significant increase in travel, with a record number of people passing through airports and hitting the roads, while concerns about the economy still lingered.
In suburban Chicago, the city of Highland Park resumed its annual parade on the second anniversary of a mass shooting. Mayor Nancy Rotering acknowledged that July Fourth is a day of mixed emotions, with the community coming together to honor the lives lost.
The holiday is traditionally marked by barbecues, cold drinks, and patriotic displays, but communities also added their own unique celebrations.
Aside from the traditional events, people across the country celebrated in various ways, from hot dog eating contests to midnight fireworks displays in Alaska.
Despite challenges like wildfires and extreme heat, communities came together to celebrate the holiday and reflect on the country’s history and values.
Associated Press writers John O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois; Isabella O’Malley in Philadelphia; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut; and Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contributed to this report.
