Beachgoers gather at Coney Island Beach on the Independence Day holiday in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., July 4, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Home » Americans Celebrate Independence Day with Parades, Pies and the Beach

Americans Celebrate Independence Day with Parades, Pies and the Beach

Americans gathered around the country to celebrate Independence Day on this 4th of July, with crowds heading to the beach in scenes we’re usually more used to seeing in Durban, Rio de Janeiro, Bondi and Brighton… rather than New York! Parades were held around the country, including in Washington DC where there was also a […]

By SAPeople
04-07-17 23:47
in News
Beachgoers gather at Coney Island Beach on the Independence Day holiday in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., July 4, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Americans gathered around the country to celebrate Independence Day on this 4th of July, with crowds heading to the beach in scenes we’re usually more used to seeing in Durban, Rio de Janeiro, Bondi and Brighton… rather than New York!

Beachgoers gather at Coney Island Beach on the Independence Day holiday in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., July 4, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Parades were held around the country, including in Washington DC where there was also a Founding Fathers reenactment.

According to Reuters, Americans celebrated with fireworks, acts of gluttony and escapes to the beach, even for people in New Jersey where legislators brokered a last-minute deal to reopen state parks.

A Lifeguard monitors beachgoers at Coney Island Beach on the Independence Day holiday in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., July 4, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Fireworks is an important part of the festivities, as set out before the American colonies’ Declaration of Independence from Britain was even signed on 4 July 1776. The first Independence Day fireworks went off in Philadelphia in 1777.

The Declaration document details Americans’ rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… which today appeared to be either hanging at the beach or wolfing down pies, hot dogs and hamburgers in competitions around the USA.

Jason Long (L) and other contestants bury their faces in Key lime pie, while competing in the Mile-High Key Lime Pie Eatin’ Contest in Key West, Florida, U.S. July 4, 2017. Trey Bergman, a Houston resident, devoured a 9-inch pie in 51.92 seconds to win the competition that is staged as the Florida Keys’ answer to New York’s July 4th hot dog eating contest. Rob O’Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau/Handout via REUTERS

The US Embassy in South Africa held its annual #July4inSA party and said “today, just like every 4th of July, Americans celebrate Independence Day — the birthday of the United States of America”.

#Happy241stBirthdayAmerica!