The United States marked the 235th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with parades, fireworks, barbecues, a White House birthday and competitive eating.
Thousands came to the Washington Monument for the annual fireworks show on the National Mall, while others threw on Hawaiian shirts and shorts to ski the still-snowy slopes at resorts from California to Colorado.
On New York's Coney Island, the annual Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog-eating contest brought out the biggest names in competitive eating for a clash that was high in calories.
Joey "Jaws" Chestnut of San Jose wolfed down 62 hot dogs and buns during the 10-minute contest, winning his fifth straight title. Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas chowed her way to victory in the first women-only contest, eating 40 hot dogs, one shy of her 2009 total.
At the mountaintop home to Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Va., officials continued an almost 5-decade-old tradition of swearing in new U.S. citizens. Seventy-seven people took their oaths during a naturalization ceremony at Monticello.
The holiday is celebrated as the nation's birthday, but it also was Malia Obama's 13th birthday. The president's eldest daughter had to share her parents with hundreds of others as the president and first lady Michelle Obama invited troops and their families to attend a special barbecue and USO concert on the South Lawn. The president is approaching a milestone birthday of his own - he turns 50 on Aug. 4.
In New York, Karina Suriano, 23, wore patriotic colors and bright red feather earrings as she sold beach supplies in Brooklyn. For her, the holiday is a cash cow.
"It means money to me," she said with a grin.
She sold a water gun to the mother of 8-year-old Dejairah Mooreland. What does the holiday signify to her?
"Indepencendy!" the little girl exclaimed, not quite getting the holiday's name right. "Freedom! America!"
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