Revelers across the US braved heat and heavy rain to take part in Fourth of July activities on Tuesday — celebrating the nation’s founding with parades, fireworks and hot dog eating contests.
In Boston, people dodged raindrops to nab a coveted space on the grassy oval in front of the Hatch Shell along the Charles River ahead of the traditional Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.
Hundreds of thousands of partygoers typically line both sides of the river for the fireworks spectacular that follows a concert.
Photo: Reuters
At another longstanding celebration, fans of competitive eating crowded to watch Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in the Coney Island section of New York City.
Heavy downpours interrupted the contest, but after the pause, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut swallowed 62 franks and buns in 10 minutes.
“What a roller coaster, emotionally,” Chestnut said.
Photo: Reuters
The 39-year-old from Westfield, Indiana, first competed for the title in 2005 and has not lost since 2015.
The unsettled weather moved on before the start of Macy’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show, which launched about 60,000 pyrotechnics into the sky, bursting in bouquets of colorful light over New York City’s East River.
New York was not the only state where weather factored into events.
The 10km Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race that typically draws thousands of runners in humid summer weather was cut short because of possible thunderstorms.
Farther north, a fireworks show in Yankton, South Dakota, was postponed because lightning prevented crews from setting up the display.
In Nebraska, the Omaha Symphony’s Independence Day Celebration that includes a concert and fireworks shows was also postponed.
New Orleans residents welcomed rain and slightly cooler conditions after days of heat and humidity baked the city.
The General Roy S. Kelley fireboat was returning to New Orleans Riverfront for a patriotic water show, sending streams of red, white and blue water into the air.
The Colorado towns and suburbs of Estes Park, Golden and Highlands Ranch canceled fireworks celebrations after thunderstorm alerts were issued.
Severe weather warnings scuttled Independence Day travel plans at Denver International Airport, where at least 290 flights were delayed and 171 canceled — among the most flights affected in the nation — Flight Aware data showed.
US President Joe Biden hosted a barbecue for military families at the White House, which was decked out with red, white and blue bunting, and big US flags draped over the columns facing the South Lawn.
Biden told the crowd how grateful he was for their service and talked about how important it was to work to unify the nation.
“Democracy is never guaranteed,” Biden said. “Every generation must fight to maintain it.”
Later, the Bidens watched fireworks from the White House balcony with thousands of guests on the lawn, as Louis Armstrong’s version of America the Beautiful played over loudspeakers.
Many people embraced the holiday with whimsy and a sense of community.
In Hannibal, Missouri, the hometown of Mark Twain, the Fourth of July weekend coincides with National Tom Sawyer Days. Fence-painting and frog-jumping contests were held.
Altoona, Iowa, dubbed its celebration “CORNival.”
In addition to the nod to the nation’s birthday, the festival marks the 100th anniversary of the first acre (0.4 hectares) of commercial hybrid seed corn, grown and harvested in Altoona in 1923.
Twenty 1.8m-tall fiberglass corn cob statutes decorated by local artists were unveiled and were to be placed around the town of 21,000 residents.
In Joppatowne, Maryland, hundreds of people lined up at a Sheetz gas station to pump regular fuel at US$1.776 per gallon (3.79 liters), WBAL-TV reported.
Sheetz set the price per gallon in commemoration of the year the Declaration of Independence was signed, a statement posted on the company’s Web site said.
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