Revelers across the US brave heat and heavy downpours to celebrate Fourth of July

Revelers throughout the United States courageously faced scorching heat and heavy rainfall to partake in Fourth of July festivities on Tuesday. They celebrated the nation’s founding with parades, fireworks, and hot dog eating contests, all while the country grapples with lingering political divisions and concerns about the future.

In Boston, despite raindrops falling, people maneuvered to secure a coveted spot on the grassy oval in front of the Hatch Shell along the Charles River, eagerly anticipating the traditional Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Typically, hundreds of thousands of partygoers line both sides of the river to witness the breathtaking fireworks display following the concert.

Meanwhile, in the Coney Island section of New York City, enthusiasts of competitive eating flocked to witness the renowned Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

In other news, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut overcame a rain delay and successfully defended his title at the Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog contest. Despite heavy downpours interrupting the competition, Chestnut managed to consume 62 franks and buns in just 10 minutes. Expressing his emotions afterward, the 39-year-old from Westfield, Indiana remarked, “What a roller coaster!” Having first competed for the Nathan’s title in 2005, Chestnut has maintained his winning streak since 2015.

The impact of weather was not limited to New York alone. In Atlanta, the 10-kilometer Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race, usually attracting thousands of runners in humid summer conditions, had to be shortened due to potential thunderstorms. Further north, storms were expected from the Dakotas and Minnesota, extending southward through Kansas and Missouri, posing risks to cookouts and fireworks displays. Reports of hail the size of ping pong balls emerged from southeastern South Dakota.

As a result of lightning, the fireworks show in Yankton, South Dakota, had to be postponed until Wednesday night, as the crew was unable to set up the display. Similarly, in Nebraska, the Omaha Symphony’s Independence Day Celebration, comprising a concert and fireworks shows, was also rescheduled for Wednesday night.

In New Orleans, residents welcomed rain and slightly cooler conditions following days of scorching heat and humidity. The General Roy S. Kelley fireboat made its return to New Orleans Riverfront, offering a patriotic water show by releasing streams of red, white, and blue water into the air.

While the holiday highlighted the varying perspectives on patriotism among Americans, many individuals embraced the occasion with lightheartedness and a sense of community.

In Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, the Fourth of July weekend coincided with National Tom Sawyer Days, featuring fence-painting and frog-jumping contests.

Altoona, Iowa, named its celebration “CORNival” in honor of America’s birthday, while also commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first acre of commercial hybrid seed corn being grown and harvested in Altoona in 1923. Local artists unveiled twenty 6-foot-high fiberglass corn cob sculptures, which will be placed throughout the town of 21,000 residents.

In Joppatowne, Maryland, hundreds of people lined up at a Sheetz gas station to fill up their tanks with regular fuel priced at $1.776 per gallon, commemorating the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Meanwhile, in the eastern Tennessee city of Gatlinburg, the annual Independence Day midnight parade was held early Tuesday. Unfortunately, George Hawkins, the creator of the parade, had passed away on Saturday.

Running events were a prominent feature of many celebrations. Around 2,000 people participated in a race through downtown Lexington, Kentucky, fulfilling a long-standing goal for Stephanie Thurman, who expressed her enthusiasm for the event.

Fireworks displays were not without accidents. In western Michigan, a fireworks explosion on Monday resulted in the death of one woman and left nine others with injuries ranging from critical to minor. In Parker, Colorado, on early Tuesday, a blaze destroyed two homes due to improperly disposed fireworks thrown into a bin.

In an effort to minimize the risk of fires in states already devastated by massive burns, some cities opted for drone shows instead of traditional fireworks displays. Drones equipped with lights were programmed to create impressive, moving shapes in the sky, including an expansive American flag and the year 1776 in red, white, and blue. Lake Tahoe, California, Salt Lake City, and several Colorado towns embraced this alternative. The Chicago suburb of Highland Park, where a shooting marred last year’s Fourth of July parade, also replaced fireworks with a drone show to avoid the startling noise.

Unfortunately, gun violence cast a shadow over the celebratory atmosphere, with shootings leaving five people dead in Philadelphia and three dead in Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Fourth of July festivities

More about Fourth of July festivities

• Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
• Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race
• Omaha Symphony’s Independence Day Celebration
• Lake Tahoe Drone Show
• Highland Park Fourth of July Parade