The Fourth of July is observed as America's Independence Day in commemoration of the historic Declaration of Independence, which was signed by representatives from the 13 colonies that would become the United States on July 4, 1776. It was a grand announcement of the colonies' self-declared independence from England.

Since 1941, the Fourth of July has been a federal holiday. Families and friends generally gather together for outdoor barbecues on this day. Picnics, parades, and fireworks displays are held in many cities and towns around the United States to commemorate the day.

As the country begins to emerge from limitations imposed in reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Fourth of July may be the first time many family and friends see each other in more than a year.