by Brandi Borland

Created on: May 22, 2008

This July fourth (2008) will mark the 232nd birthday of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence in 1776. Throughout the United States, citizens of every age, gender, and race come together every year in celebration of their independence. There are many different ways this date is celebrated throughout the country:

In Gatlinburg, TN, they hold the nation's first Independence day parade, kicking off at 12am on the early morning of July 4th. The parade is known to attract up to 100,000 spectators every year. Festivities also include their ever-popular River Raft Regatta, where all families/groups entered into the event race an unmanned floatable object from Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and ending at Ripley's Aquarium bridge. Quite an event!

Irving, TX Fourth of July Celebration is presented by The Irving Symphony Orchestra. The festival is one of the Dallas/Fort Worth annual favorites! The festival is held in the evening in Las Colinas' Williams Square. Enjoy the culinary delicacies of many vendors, while the Orchestra performs, along with many other musical delights. At dusk, the patriotic concert is followed by a spectacular fireworks display that takes off over the waters of Lake Carolyn. An event your sure to remember!

The annual "LibertyFest" in Edmond, OK has been selected as one of the "top 10 places to be in the United States on July 4th" by national news leaders. Their week long celebration, put on by more than 450 local volunteers, includes a synchronized kite festival, food festival, family chalk event, the parade, concert of patriotic music, road rally, beauty pageant, and several more. The event ends in a grand finale of a family celebration in the park and an out-of-this-world fireworks and entertainment show.

The Gateway to the Grand Canyon, Williams, AZ holds their own small town mountain community celebration with their annual Ice Cream Social, a fabulous parade, different kinds of BBQ, lots of family activities, and their spectacular fireworks display. The Great American Road Show, which tours across America following Route 66 all the way to Chicago(!), is also included in Williams' spectacular parade.

The town of Enfield, Connecticut holds a huge 3-day extravaganza on the weekend following the holiday. After the opening ceremonies and ribbon cutting, you'll find yourself entertained by an array of different activities, such as, the pie or spaghetti eating contest, the girls and boys "three on three" basketball tournaments, helicopter

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