People wearing patriotic red, white, and blue marched down prominent streets. Hot dog aficionados devoured dozens of franks as a mob in mustard-yellow foam hats gathered on the Coney Island beachfront in Brooklyn. Additionally, it was anticipated that people would congregate in both big cities and little communities across the nation to watch fireworks crackle in the sky.
Cookouts, parades, and parties commemorating America’s 249th birthday took place on Friday during a highly divisive time for the US. While the organizers of some Independence Day festivities intended to utilize the occasion to protest the Trump administration’s agenda, other towns in the Los Angeles region canceled their Fourth of July celebrations due to concerns about immigration raids.
Nevertheless, there were many acts of patriotism. In a number of states, newly naturalized Americans commemorated the day at ceremonies, and families adorned their vehicles and yards with the Stars and Stripes.
Celebrations across the country looked like this:
Washington, D.C.
Outside the National Archives, the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps gave a performance.
Brooklyn
In Coney Island, Brooklyn, people are waiting for the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest to start.
Okla, Edmond.
During the LibertyFest Parade, Cub Scouts assisted in keeping the Stars and Stripes in the air.
Danville, Vermont.
The Fourth of July Parade of the North Danville Community Club.
Brooklyn
For the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, people started congregating early near the intersection of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island.
Southampton, New York.
During the Fourth of July parade, a veteran of World War II waves to the audience.
Alexandria, Virginia.
At an outdoor naturalization ceremony at Mount Vernon, Randa Alakkad, a Syrian native, took the oath of allegiance to become a citizen of the United States.
Brooklyn
Joey Chestnut won his 17th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest title after consuming 70.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Alongside Holly and Tim Rigby, Russ Lauf, on the right, led the crowd in Johnstown’s yearly Fourth of July Flag Parade.
Brooklyn
The Nathan’s contest’s defending women’s champion, Miki Sudo, easily won after consuming 33 hot dogs, although she was unable to reach her previous record of 51.
Texas’s McAllen
Before participating in the McAllen Fourth of July Parade, many decked out their vehicles.