USA celebrates July 4th with barbecues and lots of fireworks

Burgers aren’t the only thing grilling this Fourth of July: Millions of people in the United States are under heat advisories as droves of Americans hit the road to celebrate the birth of their nation with parades, barbecues and fireworks after dark.

Record-breaking travel was expected as people packed airports and highways ahead of the Fourth of July to reach their destinations. In the West, meanwhile, residents faced sweltering heat as the National Weather Service warned of a heat wave.significant and extremely dangerous” in much of the region.

Fireworks — a staple of the holiday — will likely hit an all-time high, with untold numbers of backyard displays, plus 16,000 professional performers lighting up the horizon from sea to sea.

“This is how we celebrate. It’s the bombs exploding in the air. It’s the red glow of the rockets. This is how people show their pride and patriotism.“said Julie Heckman of the American Pyrotechnics Association.

All signs pointed to big celebrations: The Transportation Security Administration reported that a record of nearly 3 million people traveled through the nation’s airports in a single day last week, and that number is expected to be surpassed this week. And the American Automobile Association (AAA) projected that 60.6 million people will travel by car for the holiday. Part of the boost was attributed to lower inflation, though many Americans remain concerned about the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile, across much of the West Coast, residents were advised to take precautions to avoid overheating during the holiday.

Temperatures were forecast to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) along the coast and inland in California, with heat spreading as far as the nation’s northwest coast. Some areas in the desert southwest could see temperatures as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). Hot and stifling conditions were also forecast for the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region.

In the Northern California city of Oroville, the traditional annual fireworks display was cancelled as around 26,000 residents remained displaced by the growing Thompson Fire, while hundreds of firefighters struggled in scorching heat to contain the flames from spreading to more homes.

From Maine to Hawaii, there was plenty of barbecue, desserts, cold drinks and Stars and Stripes. But Americans were also celebrating in other ways unique to their communities.

On the rocky coast of Down East Maine, some planned to enjoy lobster boat races. In Philadelphia, descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence rang the Liberty Bell 13 times, once for each of the original colonies. The California communities of Bolinas and Stinson Beach, north of San Francisco, participated in their annual tug-of-war contest in which the losers end up in a lagoon.

And of course, there’s the annual hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, New York.

The Independence Day holiday typically unites Americans in their shared love of country, but the 2024 version is being celebrated against a backdrop of deep political polarization and a divisive presidential race.

In Boston, where thousands were expected to attend the Boston Pops fireworks show, conductor Keith Lockhart said it was inspiring to see people of different political persuasions gathered on the Charles River Esplanade. But he noted that “You would have to have your head buried deep in the sand not to notice the deep divisions in our country.”.

“It is, indeed, a dangerous time.“he wrote in an email before the show.If, even for just one day, we can put aside our differences and embrace our commonalities, it has to be a positive thing.”.