Fourth of July celebrations: What is happening and what is not?

As America’s independence day celebrations on July 4 are around the corner, the country attempts to recover from its COVID-19 battered affairs and has called off multiple events. On the other hand, some states have decided to not restrict their July 4 celebrations.

So what is cancelled and what is still happening?

The annual and highly anticipated fireworks celebrations at Atlanta’s Lenox Square have been called off this year as the state continues to recover from the COVID pandemic. A few events in the state, which are usually held with a large audience, are being organised virtually to prevent an increase in infections. 

The National Park Service of US national capital Washington DC announced in early April this year that the official independence day parade of America will be called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the number of cases had started to decline by the time as vaccination rates grew. 

The Park Service’s statement said that the event can not go on “without the excitement and sound provided by these high school bands, drill teams and other youth organizations”, according to reports from Washington Post.

However, some states have permitted the conduct of such celebrations and parades. The Towson Parade in Maryland, which has a history of being celebrated for around 120 years, will kick off with performances from renowned bands and marching units and will also be facilitated by clowns and military parades.

However, the ‘Fredrick’s 4th’ a parade which has been celebrated with fireworks and large gatherings for 30 years, will not be celebrated due to the pandemic and under the threat of new variants of the virus. Even though the event has been cancelled, a fireworks show is likely to be arranged for public viewing from a safe distance in their cars, according to US media reports.

Even though some restrictions have been placed over a recovering America, the celebrations are expected to be much more eventful in 2021 in comparison to last year, when nearly all such events were called off.