Known now as a day of patriotism and enjoying time off from work, the Fourth of July began the journey to becoming a quintessential American holiday in 1776, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

A crowd of revelers celebrated Independence Day with fireworks, food and fun at the Ramona July 4th Family Picnic & Fireworks Show. A group of seventh-graders from Olive Peirce Middle School were mostly anticipating spending time with their friends at the start of the event held at the back of their campus.

People celebrate their new U.S. citizenship on July 4, 2025, during a naturalization ceremony on at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix.