Fireworks and freedom: That’s what America does on the Fourth of July to celebrate the country’s birthday, established with 56 founding fathers’ pen strokes on the Declaration of Independence in 1776. We also eat a whole lot of hotdogs: 150 million in total. We make a toast or two to freedom and good old Uncle Sam, shelling out more than $1.4 billion on July Fourth beer and wine. And we travel, with nearly 47 million of us planning to venture 50+ miles from home this year. Though celebrations were subdued last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccine has paved the way for people to gather together this year.
Even though July 4, 2021 marks America’s 246th birthday, there’s still a lot to learn about this red, white and blue anniversary. To help fill you in and pump up your patriotism, we put together an awesome infographic filled with 4th of July fun facts. We also polled a panel of experts for some added insight into Independence Day. You can check it all out below.
Key 4th of July Facts:
- $7.5 Billion: Amount Americans plan to spend on 4th of July food.
- 150 Million: Number of hot dogs eaten each 4th of July.
- $1.4+ Billion: Amount Americans plan to spend on 4th of July beer and wine.
- 80%: Share of community fireworks displays that were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
- $1.5+ Billion: Estimated amount spent on fireworks in 2020 (73% of fireworks injuries occur within a month of July 4).
- $6.7 Million: Value of American flags imported annually.
- 48 Million: Number of people who travel 50+ miles from home for the 4th of July.
Ask The Experts: Celebrating Independence Day The Right Way
In search of pointers for how people can safely showcase their patriotism this Independence Day, we turned to a panel of leading experts in all matters relating to the safety of both consumers and their wallets. You can check out their bios and responses to the following questions below.
- What is the best way to celebrate the 4th of July and the founding of our country?
- What are the biggest 4th of July money-wasters?
- What are some health and safety tips for enjoying the holiday during the ongoing pandemic?
- What tips do you have for a person that wants to put a fireworks display on a budget for 4th of July?
Ask the Experts
Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University
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Associate Professor, Department of Marketing – University of Illinois at Chicago Business
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Ph.D., Department Chair, Associate Professor; President, American Collegiate Retailing Association; Hospitality and Retail Management, College of Human Sciences – Texas Tech University
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