Festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain have kicked into high gear across the United States, with celebrations balanced against efforts to stay safe as much of the country bakes in extreme heat.
US President Donald Trump is travelling to South Dakota to deliver a speech and watch fireworks at Mount Rushmore. And in a novel twist, there will be a ball drop in New York City's Times Square at midnight to usher in the July Fourth holiday with much the same revelry that is typically reserved for New Year’s Eve.
The activity culminates in the main event Saturday, when fireworks will erupt in communities across the US, along with backyard cookouts and block parties.
Trump will deliver another speech at the National Mall in Washington before what is being billed as a historically massive fireworks show.
But for all the celebrations, there are also serious safety considerations as potentially record heat grips much of the Midwest and East Coast. Officials have warned those celebrating the holiday to stay hydrated and take air-conditioned breaks as needed.
The heat has already affected some of the programming surrounding the holiday.
In Washington, organisers of the Capitol Fourth concert banned the public from attending a Thursday rehearsal because of the heat.
The concert on Friday, a staple of Washington's Independence Day traditions, may ultimately be cancelled. Organisers of celebrations in Washington on Saturday said they were adding water stations, cooling resources, and medical support.
From Boston to Norristown, Pennsylvania and Gettysburg National Military Park, plans were shifting to accommodate the soaring temperatures. Amtrak cancelled some trains in the Northeast due to excessive heat that could affect the tracks.
Resilience of ordinary Americans
About 4 in 10 US adults feel “proud” about the country’s 250th anniversary, according to an April survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Roughly 3 in 10 said “excited” describes their emotions.
Ahead of the holiday, auto technician Joe Fuqua-Bejarano, in Topeka, Kansas, sized up “what makes us awesome” as a people. It is clearly not the politics, in his view, but rather resilience.
“We’ve just all got to find unity somewhere, whether that’s in laughter or perseverance, and keep everybody cool,” he said from the fireworks stand where he is doing a booming business as a side hustle.
Christina Zhou, a 25-year-old research assistant from Cambridge, Massachusetts, said she would aim to “think about just things that are happening locally.”
“It feels a little bit more like within our own personal control," she said.
