The red-white-blue fireworks display over Washington, DC, on Independence Day night alone is set to be so spectacular that it will make it into the Guinness Book of Records, writes The Washington Post. A total of 860,000 fireworks, nearly 50 times more than a “normal” year, will be set off - a spectacle that has been criticized for being costly and environmentally damaging.
Donald Trump seems unfazed by such issues. Celebrating America's 250th anniversary of independence is something he has planned since his first term in the White House. Collector's coins and commemorative passports with Trump's portrait are being issued. And the anniversary is linked to several projects that the former real estate magnate has initiated in the capital - such as the establishment of a sculpture park with American heroes, the renovation and blue painting of the pond in front of the Lincoln Memorial, the construction of a giant banquet hall on the White House grounds and, not least, the construction of an enormous triumphal arch.
We are the only big city - the only big place - without a triumphal arch, the president said in a
about the 250th anniversary last winter.
To organize the festivities, the White House's Freedom 250 project, which brings together agencies, businesses and organizations, has been formed. Congress has its own bipartisan organization called America 250. And many cities, states and associations are organizing their own celebrations.
Here are some examples of how the United States celebrates:
1. State festivals and salutes on the National Mall
Every year, the states of the United States hold a kind of market, a gimmick called a “state fair” with agricultural exhibits, amusement parks, dance and music performances and various competitions - everything from hot dog eating to rodeos. This year, all 50 states have been invited to a giant market in the National Mall in Washington, DC, which runs until July 10.
In recent weeks, however, artist dropouts from the state fair celebration have made headlines. Stars like Martina McBride, Young MC, and The Commodores have canceled, citing the event as being too political.
The National Mall also hosts the grand Salute to America celebration on July 4. It will feature military ceremonies, music, a speech by the president, and a record-breaking fireworks display. However, Trump has broken with the tradition that national day celebrations are non-political and announced that the “most spectacular Trump rally” will take place in the park on the evening of the national day.
2. Party at Mount Rushmore
The night before the national holiday, July 3, a big celebration is held at Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota. The national park - where huge busts of the four presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are sculpted into the mountain - features fireworks, drum ceremonies and performances about the lives of the four presidents.
In the neighboring state of North Dakota, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, a wooden adventure museum, will open on National Day. Nature lover and historian Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and the one who began establishing national parks in the early 20th century.
3. New York City Float Parade
A peaceful armada of sailboats and warships from over 30 countries will enter New York Harbor on National Day. There will also be a flyover by the Blue Angels naval squadron, fireworks and a week-long festival-like celebration. Sailing ships will also call at ports in New Jersey.
4. Street parties galore
At the initiative of Congress, Americans across the country are being urged to organize street parties in their neighborhoods - and at the same time raise money for various relief organizations. Help is being provided by both New York and Los Angeles, where star-studded shows are held on Broadway and in the Memorial Coliseum arena, which can be streamed to the local parties. Congress wants the national day to be largely about giving - both to the vulnerable and to the homeland.
5. Historic “freedom trucks”:
Six so-called “freedom trucks,” mobile exhibits that tell the story of how the United States became independent, have been touring the country since spring. The trucks feature an AI version of first president George Washington and the ability to digitally sign the Declaration of Independence from 1776. The exhibit also features portraits of 50 American heroes, including civil rights activist Rosa Parks, author Mark Twain, and singer Aretha Franklin.
6. A time capsule and bell ringing
An AI forecast, a state flag, an Olympic gold medal and poetry. And a whole lot of other things. On Independence Day, the time capsule that all states contributed to and which is intended to reflect life in the United States around the 250th anniversary will be buried. The steel cylinder will be buried in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, near the building in which the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. The cylinder will not be removed until 2276, when the United States turns 500 years old.
Philadelphia is also home to America's famous Liberty Bell, believed to have declared independence. It - and a number of other bells across the country - take part in a giant bell-ringing festival on July 4th.
7. Indycar racing, martial arts and prayer
In August, an IndyCar race called the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC will be held in the capital, at the initiative of the president. The idea is for the cars to pass famous landmarks like the Capitol and the White House at over 300 kilometers per hour.
"I love racing," Trump said in January when he signed a presidential decree about the competition.
President Trump has made it clear that the celebration will continue throughout 2026. This spring, Freedom 250 organized a nine-hour prayer meeting on the National Mall and initiated an art competition for young people on the theme of American heroes. In addition, the martial arts gala held in a specially built arena on the White House lawn when the president turned 80 on June 14 was also attributed to the 250th anniversary celebration.
The 13 British colonies in North America declared their independence from Great Britain at a convention in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The United States of America was then formed.
The United States and its indigenous peoples had been under the influence of European colonizers for several hundred years. The American Revolutionary War, also known as the Revolution, began in 1775 and was preceded by several conflicts.
The main author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson, who later became the third president of the United States. The text is characterized by the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment about human rights, freedom and the equal value of all. However, in the document, the colonists also declared that they no longer accept London as their guardian. They were mainly dissatisfied with Britain's handling of their trade and foreign policy - with years of rising taxes and trade restrictions without the colonies being represented in the parliament in London.
Britain did not recognize the independence of the American states until 1783, when the Revolutionary War ended. By then, the US Constitution had already been formulated and came into effect in 1789, and George Washington had been elected as the new republic's first president.
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