The Fourth of July is Americana at its core: parades and cookouts and cold beer and, of course, fireworks. Here are five things to know about July Fourth, including the origin of the holiday and how fireworks became part of the tradition.

Fourth of July fireworks and festivities are being held in plenty of New Jersey locations in 2025. See our town-by-town listing.

A UDUBON, New Jersey − Every year on July Fourth, this tiny town hosts a parade, complete with marching bands, fire trucks, babies in star-spangled strollers and kids on red-white-and-blued-up bikes.