Washington: Festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain kicked into higher gear across the United States on Friday as celebrations were balanced with efforts to stay safe as much of the country bakes under extreme heat.
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.
Organisers of celebrations in Washington on Saturday said they were adding water stations along with 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. The holiday is unfolding at a unique time in the US. The anniversary has served as an opportunity for the country to reflect on its history while also reminding it of the political polarisation of the moment.
Even the celebrations themselves have not quite escaped the divide.
Freedom 250, an organisation aligned with the White House, has come to rival America250, a bipartisan group founded by Congress a decade ago.
Freedom 250 has organised much of the activity in Washington, including the Great American State Fair, which has gained attention for the relatively small crowds it has attracted. America250 is behind the ball drops unfolding in many cities, including New York, and will host a concert in Los Angeles on Saturday.
About 4 in 10 US adults feel “proud” about the country’s 250th anniversary, according to an April survey from The Associated Press-NORC Centre 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.
