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For 40 of the last 43 years, We've watched fireworks with friends in Wilmette (IL). Their July 3 festival and fireworks are terrific i write that as someoe who moved here from DC. This year, they cancelled at the exact moment we were leaving to go to the park.

For several yeasr now, we've watched firworks in Chicago on the 4th from high up in a high rise about as close to the explosions as possible. Really, the explosions of light appear between us and the next building a few hundred feet away. The fog rolled in a few hours before the show was scheduled to start.

All we saw were diffuse, washed out colors. Interesting experience. Disappointing, though.

Looking at previous years' photos doesn't grab me. I think tonight, I'll look for 2026 fireworks shows on YouTube.

Anybody see a good show this year?

The San Francisco fireworks were held over the Golden Gate Bridge for only the 3rd time ever (they are usually off of barges in the SF bay). It would have been spectacular, but Karl the Fog came in wet and heavy so it was a bust. When it looked like it was going to be foggy, I decided to stay in my town outside of SF and ours were pretty good- the fog came in near the end and only affected the very highest ones. It was enjoyable for me but not one of my cats, who hid under the covers on the bed all night.

Our town is doing "high fireworks" so that you can see them from all around town and don’t have to drive or go anywhere. It allows them to launch from our fairgrounds which is the safest place from a wildfire risk but then we can’t gather there like we used to. Overall pretty good and was nice to gather with local neighbors in a neighborhood park to watch instead of crowds of strangers.

I remember the bicentennial fireworks, so I really wanted to watch some this year as well. Here’s to another 250 years… 🎆

We didn't want to risk the heat and crowds down in Washington D.C., and then the event was delayed due to storms, but right before midnight - the very last minute of America's 250th birthday - the fireworks lit. We watched an amazing 40 minute broadcast of the largest fireworks show ever. Watching from home wasn't like being there, but we both agreed this show was really something. It's online to see again.

I no longer live in the US-so needless to say-nothing to report here. 🤣

Many years also in Northern CA/Sausalito and I can so relate to the fog and lackluster display. 😆

I've been catching videos of Europeans who are here for the world cup experiencing the 4th of July for the first time and it's kind of exciting vicariously seeing it through their eyes. It makes me feel kind of patriotic seeing them experience and appreciate America for themselves instead of being filtered through a partisan lens on social media and the news. They're downright shocked and pleasantly surprised. A lot of them are admitting we've gotten a bad rap. "Don't believe what you see on the news and media. America is amazing!" Many don't want to leave.

They're overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality our country has to offer. People opening and holding doors, saying "hello" to random strangers walking down the street before they even realize they're visitors from another country, folks offering to be tour guides, and... free drink refills. Good lord they're blown away with free refills. That and air conditioning, lol. Lots of things we take for granted. America's 250th birthday was a unique and wonderful way for them to experience our country.

Some other videos I saw that were very impressive were some of the drone light shows that were put on this year. I'd daresay they were even more impressive than the fireworks.

ETA: many of the Brits were jokingly referring to the 4th as "Tactical Retreat Day," lol.

[This message edited by Pogre at 1:51 PM, Friday, July 10th]

I'm going to be the downer here. I do love fireworks, but over the years I've become aware of how traumatic they can be to some people and animals. Veterans with PTSD come to mind first. I have no idea how they handle it - and these days it's not like you can tell them, well just get some noise-cancelling headphones and stay inside during the fireworks because there are too many people shooting them off from their backyards(mostly illegally) the whole week - I was able to still hear some last night - a week later. When we lived in SoCal, I had a hard time sleeping the week of the 4th (because again, people set them off for a week) because I was worried in that fires would start in my neighborhood while I was asleep due to stray fireworks.

Nights of firework shows are also traumatic for animals, in particular dogs. I follow several local lost animal social media sites, and in the 3-4 days after the 4th, there were so many reports of dogs gone missing. In fact, in our town, a devastated 1-year old dog was found dead July 6th, after he'd broken off his leash on the 4th during our fireworks show. Supposedly last year he had no problems with the noise (they live near where our fireworks were shot off). And again, it's not like pet owners can put their dogs in a closet with a loud fan or radio during the main fireworks, because amateurs think the 4th celebration should be carried out all week with fireworks.

Other wildlife is known to be spooked by fireworks, in particular birds.

I also learned the loud explosions are not necessary when shooting off fireworks; manufacturers can produce fireworks that don't boom. For me, I'd prefer my fireworks without the noise.

Like I said, I like fireworks and we went to our local show this year. But I'd 100% be in favor of everyone switching over to drone shows.