IndependenceDayisanationalholidaymarkedbypatrioticdisplays.Similartoothersummer-themedevents,IndependenceDaycelebrationsoftentakeplaceoutdoors.IndependenceDayisafederalholiday,soallnon-essentialfederalinstitutions(likethepostalserviceandfederalcourts)areclosedonthatday.Manypoliticiansmakeitapointonthisdaytoappearatapubliceventtopraisethenation'sheritage,laws,history,society,andpeople.

　　FamiliesoftencelebrateIndependenceDaybyhostingorattendingapicnicorbarbecueandtakeadvantageofthedayoffand,insomeyears,longweekendtogatherwithrelatives.Decorations(e.g.,streamers,balloons,andclothing)aregenerallycoloredred,white,andblue,thecolorsoftheAmericanflag.Paradesareofteninthemorning,whilefireworksdisplaysoccurintheeveningatsuchplacesasparks,fairgrounds,ortownsquares.

　　ThenightbeforetheFourthwasoncethefocalpointofcelebrations,markedbyraucousgatheringsoftenincorporatingbonfiresastheircenterpiece.InNewEngland,townscompetedtobuildtoweringpyramids,assembledfromhogsheadsandbarrelsandcasks.Theywerelitatnightfall,tousherinthecelebration.ThehighestwereinSalem,Massachusetts(onGallowsHill,thefamoussiteoftheexecutionof13womenand6menforwitchcraftin1692duringtheSalemwitchtrials,wherethetraditionofbonfiresincelebrationhadpersisted),composedofasmanyasfortytiersofbarrels;thesearethetallestbonfireseverrecorded.Thecustomflourishedinthe19thand20thcenturies,andisstillpracticedinsomeNewEnglandtowns.[18]

　　IndependenceDayfireworksareoftenaccompaniedbypatrioticsongssuchasthenationalanthem"TheStar-SpangledBanner","GodBlessAmerica","AmericatheBeautiful","MyCountry,'TisofThee","ThisLandIsYourLand","StarsandStripesForever",and,regionally,"YankeeDoodle"innortheasternstatesand"Dixie"insouthernstates.

　　SomeofthelyricsrecallimagesoftheRevolutionaryWarortheWarof1812.

　　Fireworkshowsareheldinmanystates,andmanyfireworksaresoldforpersonaluseorasanalternativetoapublicshow.Safetyconcernshaveledsomestatestobanfireworksorlimitthesizesandtypesallowed.Illicittraffictransfersmanyfireworksfromlessrestrictivestates.

　　AsaluteofonegunforeachstateintheUnitedStates,calleda"salutetotheunion,"isfiredonIndependenceDayatnoonbyanycapablemilitarybase.[19]

　　In2009,NewYorkCityhadthelargestfireworksdisplayinthecountry,withover22tonsofpyrotechnicsexploded.[20]OthermajordisplaysareinChicagoonLakeMichigan;inSanDiegooverMissionBay;inBostonontheCharlesRiver;inSt.LouisontheMississippiRiver;inSanFranciscoovertheSanFranciscoBay;andontheNationalMallinWashington,D.C..

　　DuringtheannualWindsor-DetroitInternationalFreedomFestival,Detroit,Michiganhostsoneoftheworld'slargestfireworksdisplays,overtheDetroitRiver,tocelebrateIndependenceDayinconjunctionwithWindsor,Ontario'scelebrationofCanadaDay.

　　WhiletheofficialobservancealwaysfallsonJuly4,participationlevelsmayvaryaccordingtowhichdayoftheweekthe4thfallson.Iftheholidayfallsinthemiddleoftheweek,somefireworksdisplaysandcelebrationsmaytakeplaceduringtheweekendforconvenience,again,varyingbyregion.

　　ThefirstweekofJulyistypicallyoneofthebusiestAmericantravelperiodsoftheyear,asmanypeopleutilizetheholidayforextendedvacationtrips.[21]