On July 4th, Americans celebrate their annual Independence Day with various festivities. From watching fireworks displays to participating in pet parades and showing off classic cars and painting fences, there are a wide range of ways for people across the country to celebrate this special day.
July 4th also marks the peak of summer entertainment activities. Some celebratory events can be traced back several decades, while others showcase local charm, highlighting the unique appeal of major cities or small towns.
Here are some of the ways in which Americans celebrate Independence Day, as compiled by Share America, a cultural website under the U.S. Department of State.
Every year on July 4th, Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania hosts a classic car show. Car owners showcase vehicles from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany, paying tribute to the four countries involved in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). Soldiers from various German regions participated in both sides of the war, with 30,000 soldiers from these regions joining the British forces. France provided supplies, troops, and naval support to the United States during the war.
Many places hold celebratory parades, each with its own unique focus. In Bend, Oregon, the Fourth of July parade features a variety of pets, from dogs to goats, attracting 8,000 to 10,000 people each year. This tradition has been ongoing since 1924, only pausing during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The town of Cody in Wyoming holds three parades annually, along with a children’s parade. Located near Yellowstone National Park, this small town of thousands celebrates with the Cody Stampede, a popular cowboy rodeo event.
In 2025, Cody’s celebrations will span from July 1st to July 4th, featuring not only parades and rodeo competitions but also craft fairs, concerts, and fireworks displays.
Despite having a population of only 17,000, the town of Addison in Texas attracts over 500,000 visitors to its elaborate Independence Day celebrations, including air shows, parachuting, and fireworks displays. The American Pyrotechnics Association has recognized Addison’s fireworks as among the best in the country.
Some festivities start bright and early. In Independence, California, the tradition is to kick off celebrations for the town’s namesake holiday with a sunrise flag-raising ceremony, followed by a public pancake breakfast event.
In Bar Harbor, Maine, locals also start their Independence Day celebrations with a pancake breakfast, followed by craft and food expos, parades, live music, and concluding with fireworks over Frenchman Bay.
Hannibal, Missouri, the childhood home of 19th-century author Mark Twain, celebrates Independence Day in a unique way—by organizing a fence-painting competition. The fence-painting task is a mission depicted in Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” where the protagonist persuades his fellow townspeople to complete the whitewashing task for him.