Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain (now officially known as the United Kingdom). Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.
With Independence Day just around the corner, start planning your July 4th long weekend! The City of Charleston and surrounding areas are organizing events for the entire family. Come watch the specular fireworks at Patriot’s Point or ocean front celebrations at Folly Beach. Spend time with family and friends and celebrate America’s 238 birthday!
Find out more about all of Charleston’s Fourth of July events at: http://www.charlestonlowcountry.com/specialpages/4thofJuly.html
Did you know about some of these unique celebrations and events?
- Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.
- Since 1868, Seward, Nebraska has held a celebration on the same town square. In 1979 Seward was designated “America’s Official Fourth of July City-Small Town USA” by resolution of Congress. Seward has also been proclaimed Nebraska’s Official Fourth of July City” by Governor James Exon in proclamation. Seward is a town of 6,000 but swells to 40,000+ during the July 4 celebrations.
- Since 1912, the Rebild Society, a Danish-American friendship organization, has held a July 4 weekend festival that serves as a homecoming for Danish-Americans in the Rebild municipality of Denmark.
- Since 1972, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City.
- Since 1959, the International Freedom Festival is jointly held in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario during the last week of June each year as a mutual celebration of Independence Day and Canada Day (July 1). It culminates in a large fireworks display over the Detroit River.
- Numerous major and minor league baseball games are played on Independence Day.
- The famous Macy’s fireworks display usually held over the East River in New York City has been televised nationwide on NBC since 1976. In 2009, the fireworks display was returned to the Hudson River for the first time since 2000 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s exploration of that river.
- Since 1970, the annual 10 kilometer Peachtree Road Race is held in Atlanta, Georgia.
- The Boston Pops Orchestra has hosted a music and fireworks show over the Charles River Esplanade called the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” annually since 1973. The event was broadcast nationally from 1987 until 2002 on A&E, and from 2003 until 2012 on CBS (who aired the final hour of the event in primetime). In 2013, CBS dropped the Pops broadcast, with no reason given; however, executive producer David G. Mugar believed that an encore presentation of the Macy’s fireworks on NBC aired at 10:00 PM ET/PT was successfully counterprogramming the Boston Pops, since the broadcast lost as much as 20% of its audience in 2012 in comparison to 2011. As it did prior to the cancellation, the full concert continues to air locally by Boston’s CBS affiliate WBZ-TV.
- On the Capitol lawn in Washington, D.C., “A Capitol Fourth”, a free concert, precedes the fireworks and attracts over half a million people annually.
Enjoy your Independence Day!
