America celebrates Independence Day - in pictures

Fireworks light up the sky over the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, DC Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Fireworks light up the night sky over the Washington Monument Photograph: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

The fireworks display as seen from New York Photograph: Jeffrey Furticella/AP

The Empire State Building illuminated with red, white and blue lights, as seen from Queens Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP

A couple watch the fireworks over the Hudson Photograph: John Minchillo/AP

Fireworks watchers on a dock in Inlet, New York Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA

A US flag waves next to carnival rides as fireworks burst to mark the beginning of Independence Day in East Rutherford, New Jersey Photograph: Julio Cortez/AP

Regis Philbin hosted the TV coverage of the fireworks, which were shown live on NBC Photograph: Michael Stewart/WireImage

Barack and Michelle Obama deliver a few remarks to the nation at an Independence Day picinic on the South Lawn of the White House Photograph: Getty Images

Chefs grill corn in preparation for a July 4th barbecue at the White House in Washington Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Reuters

New US citizens take part in a naturalisation ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona. About 250 people, hailing from 62 countries, became US citizens Photograph: Jack Kurtz/Zuma Press/Corbis

Thomas Gaines, 11, gets his face painted at an Independence Day celebration in Augusta, Georgia Photograph: Sara Caldwell/ZUMA Press/Corbis

Maggie Hughs, 10, and Mary Chapman Morrow, 10, at the annual Independence Day parade and block party in Memphis, Tennessee Photograph: Mike Brown/ZUMA Press/Corbis

William Jackson, three, waves to the crowd during the Fourth of July parade and plaza celebration in Sonoma, California Photograph: Crista Jeremiason/ Crista Jeremiason/ZUMA Press/Corbis

The Uncle Sam balloon floats during the Independence Day parade in Washington DC Photograph: Fang Zhe/ Fang Zhe/Xinhua Press/Corbis

The 108th Huntington Beach Fourth of July parade in California Photograph: Jerry Englehart Jr/Zuma Press/Corbis

Sonya Thomas, winner of the women's division of Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, celebrates in Coney Island. She ate 45 hot dogs in 10 minutes Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Horse riders taking part in a parade in Centerville, Texas
Photograph: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The 100th Rebild Festival, an annual celebration of US Independence Day in northern Jutland, Denmark. The festival has been a tradition since 1912 when Danish-Americans bought the hills in Rebild and donated them to the Danish people, at the same time creating the first national park in Denmark. Thousands of people meet each year to strengthen the ties and form friendships between Americans and Danes Photograph: Henning Bagger/AFP/Getty Images

Jeffrey Silverstone, dressed as Uncle Sam, marches in the Takoma Park parade in Maryland Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters

Captain Paul J Covell of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts reads the Declaration of Independence from the Old State House in Boston Photograph: CJ Gunther/EPA

Denali, a 16-year-old California bald eagle, makes an appearance at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California Photograph: Reuters

Chefs prepare Stars and Stripes desserts for Independence Day celebrations at the US embassy in Paris Photograph: Jacques Demarthon/AFP/Getty Images

Armed forces personnel carry flags during the national anthem at the Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium in California Photograph: Chris Williams/Icon SMI/Corbis

Fans wave American flags on Independence Day, during the seventh inning of the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds in Los Angeles, California Photograph: Alex Gallardo/Reuters