The Fourth of July holiday, also known as Independence Day, celebrates the Second Continental Congress’ unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
A year later, according to the Library of Congress, a spontaneous celebration in Philadelphia marked the anniversary of American independence.
But observations weren’t commonplace until after the War of 1812, when they quickly took off. Congress was late to the party, finally passing a law making Independence Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1870.
Here’s what is open and closed this year on the Fourth of July:
Government offices, post offices, courts and schools are closed.
U.S. stock markets and banks are closed Friday. Most FedEx and UPS pickup and delivery services will also not be available.
Warehouse membership club Costco is closed on July Fourth. Most other major national retailers such as Target and Walmart will be open, with some offering promotional sales to lure customers. Most grocery stores are also open. Hours may vary by location, so check your local store.
Millions of Americans are expected to hit the road, taking advantage of the Fourth of July falling on a Friday this year.
Spokeswoman Adrienne Woodland said AAA is forecasting that a record 72.2 million Americans will travel domestically between June 28 and July 6, an increase of 1.7 million over last year and 7 million more than in 2019. AAA estimates 61.6 million Americans will drive and 5.8 million travelers will fly.
Woodland recommended that anyone traveling over the holiday should consider taking precautions, including a pre-trip inspection of their vehicle to avoid issues such as dead batteries, flat tires and empty gas tanks.
Associated Press journalist Mike Householder in Michigan contributed to this report.
Fireworks light up the St. Louis skyline and the Gateway Arch on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in St. Louis. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Orlando guard Jalen Suggs left the arena aided by a wheelchair on Saturday night after an NBA Cup semifinal loss to New York, and the already short-handed Magic will now wait to learn the severity of his left hip injury.
Suggs was shaken up when he was fouled and landed on the hip late in the second quarter but played on until the fourth quarter. He eventually left the game and headed to the locker room for the final minutes of Orlando's 132-120 loss to the New York Knicks.
Suggs finished with 26 points — 25 coming in the first half. The wheelchair usage was a precaution, largely just to keep Suggs from taking an extended walk to the bus that would carry the Magic back to their hotel. But the hip is clearly cause for some concern.
“We’re going to look at it when we get back,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “At the end of the day, he’s a warrior for being out there and dealing what he’s dealing with. I think we’ll evaluate him when we get back home and see where he is with it.”
The good news for Orlando — which is flying home on Sunday — is that it doesn't play again until Thursday when it opens a four-game trip in Denver. The bad news is that the Magic are already without brothers Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner; Franz has a high ankle sprain, Moritz is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered last season.
To lose Suggs for any amount of time would be another blow for a team that's had no shortage of injury issues over the last couple seasons.
“He’s been battling through some pain the last few games,” Magic forward Paolo Banchero said. “He’s just been giving it his all for the team and kind of playing through it. So you hope it’s not too bad, whatever injury it is. You don’t want to lose him. But he gave us a great effort in that first half.”
Suggs was limited to 35 games last season with injuries.
“We know who he is and what he’s about,” Orlando's Desmond Bane said. “He wants to win more than anything. He laid it all on the line for us.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) deflects a pass by Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell, left, during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
