First, here is the list of area fireworks! At least the ones that we know about! CLICK HERE
The first Fourth party … The Fourth of July has come a long way since the very first celebration on July 4th, 1777. Exactly one year after the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence and created the United States of America, a Philadelphia tavern called City Tavern hosted what is believed to be the first Independence Day celebration. The establishment opened in 1773 and is known to have served up some drinks and food to Paul Revere, George Washington, and many of the signers of the Constitution in 1787. It's unclear what was on the menu on the first Fourth of July, but it wasn't burgers, hot dogs, hard seltzer and macaroni salad. Some drink historians believe something called Fish House punch may have very well been served. It was a common colonial-era mixture of rum, brandy, lemon juice, sugar, and tea.
Food and fireworks … Here are some Fourth of July facts:
- Americans will spend $8.9 billion for July 4th food.
- 150 million hot dogs are eaten each Fourth of July.
- July 4th is America’s top beer drinking holiday.
- $5 billion will be spent on beer and wine
- 61% of Americans will attend a July 4th BBQ or picnic
- 16,000 fireworks displays are held each Fourth of July.
- 41% of Americans will attend a July 4th fireworks display.
- 66% of fireworks injuries occur within a month of July 4th.
Which cities are best for Fourth of July celebrations? WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities to find the best balance between holiday costs and fun. They looked at a number of factors including average prices for beer and wine, the length of fireworks displays, and the Fourth of July weather forecast. We like ours here in Virginia, but these are the Top 5 Cities for Fourth of July Celebrations according to WalleHub.:
- Las Vegas
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Minneapolis
- St. Paul, Minnesota
Road trippin' … AAA forecasts that 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the July 4th holiday, setting a new record for Independence Day travel. Of those, 61.6 million will travel by car – a 2.2% increase from 2024 and the highest number ever recorded.
What’s a food you eat only on road trips? Fourth of July weekend is one of the busiest driving times of the year. And if you have to be in the car for hours, you’re going to want a snack. For some reason, there are snacks you eat exclusively on road trips and never during “regular” life. Here are some that we agreed are great road trip treats:
- Combos: You eat one at a time, and you can even just gnaw at the pretzel shell for a minute or two before you get to the cheese center. That lasts for miles and miles.
- Corn Nuts: That toasty, salty flavor is perfect when you’re behind the wheel for hours. Just don’t eat them by the handful.
- Peanut M&Ms: OK, maybe you eat these at home, but in the car, you pop one in your mouth and then let the shell and the chocolate melt before chewing up the peanut.
- Beef Jerky: You can’t exactly eat a steak in the car, but sometimes you want some protein.
- Twizzlers: Somehow, spending hours picking chewy cherry candy out of your teeth is OK only if you’re in the car.
- Sunflower Seeds: Really they’re just a salt-delivery system, but cracking each seed between your teeth is ASMR heaven.
Glazed glory … Hey, doughnut lovers. Krispy Kreme is celebrating America's freedom on the Fourth of July by offering free doughnuts! On your way to the beach, parade, or barbecue on July 4th, stop into Krispy Kreme and get yourself a free Original Glazed doughnut. There's only one thing you need to do. You must wear red, white, and blue to claim your free doughnut.
Get corny … If you're planning to have corn at your Fourth of July cookout, feel free to eat as much of it as you like, because there is a lot more of it coming. According to a USDA survey, American farmers planted over one million more acres of corn this growing year, bringing the country's total to 96.6 million acres of corn across the country. But as farmers are growing more corn, they're actually growing less of some other commodities like wheat and soybeans.
Your lyin' wine … If you're planning to get your Fourth of July drinking on with a bottle of wine this weekend, there's something you should know. That wine may contain more alcohol than you thought, and what's even printed on the label. Wines always list the ABV (Alcohol by Volume) on the bottle, but what you likely didn't know is that in the U.S., wine labels are legally allowed to be off by as much as 1.5% alcohol by volume. That means a wine labeled at 12% could actually be as low as 10.5% or as high as 13.5%. It's enough of a difference that can affect both your buzz and your calorie count. Additionally, experts warn that about 20% of bottles actually fall outside that generous range, so the ABV could be more than 1.5% higher than what the label says.
The return of Chestnut ... Grills will be fired up on July 4th and so will the competition at Coney Island for the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Last year's winner, Patrick Bertoletti, will defend his title, but he will have to eat more than 58 hot dogs this year, because Joey Chestnut is returning after missing last year's match due to a contract issue. Chestnut, who is the sport's biggest name, and 16-time winner, is the odds-on favorite to regain his title, and he has guaranteed a victory. The betting line has him projected to eat 71 hot dogs in 10 minutes. His record, which is the Guinness World Record, is 76, which he accomplished back in 2021. On the women's side of the table, Miki Sudo is looking to extend her dominance. She devoured 51 hot dogs last year to win her 10th championship in the past 11 years. The only year she didn't win was 2021 when she sat out because she was pregnant. The festivities begin at 10:45 a.m. ET. on ESPN 2 and 3.
LA is tops for dogs ... Americans will eat more than 150 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July, but did you know that there is one city that eats more hot dogs than any other? The most hot dog-loving city is Los Angeles, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, which is a real thing. New York came in second place, followed by Dallas, Chicago, and Houston. But those are all big cities, so of course they eat the most hot dogs. So, what about hot dog consumption per capita? In that case, Greensboro, North Carolina, is tops, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina; Paducah, Kentucky; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and Knoxville, Tennessee.
Hot dog nails … Just in time for the Fourth of July, hot dog nails are trending. Picture a nude base (the bun), with thick red line down the center (the hot dog) and some bright yellow mustard on top.
Haute dog … When it comes to hot dog records, there's one that has stood for 10 years and holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive hot dog. In 2014, a hot dog known as the Juuni Ban, created by Seattle food truck business Tokyo Dog, sold a wiener for $169. The Juuni Ban frank contained smoked cheese bratwurst, butter Teriyaki grilled onions, Maitake mushrooms, Wagyu beef, foie gras, shaved black truffles, caviar and Japanese mayonnaise on a brioche bun. Six of the pricey dogs were sold and it earned the Guinness record. No one has tried to break the record since, and Tokyo Dog actually closed down in 2017. Maybe because their hot dogs cost $169.
Fireworks and ER trips … As we gear up for the Fourth of July, so are emergency rooms. According to the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory, injuries from fireworks jumped significantly last year, with nearly 15,000 people treated in emergency rooms across the country. Adults over the age of 30 accounted for about 42% of those injuries, which means the rest of the injuries were among young adults and children. Based on reported hospitalizations, the device sending most people to the emergency room is actually the sparkler, which caused 33% of all fireworks-related injuries. Those seemingly harmless sparklers can burn at temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. High-grade aerial shells were responsible for the majority of injuries involving adults over the age of 30. And Roman candles are what sent more teens to ER.