The Fourth of July is about all things American: parades, cookouts, cold beer and, of course, fireworks. Those pyrotechnics remain at the center of Independence Day, a holiday 247 years in the making. Massive fireworks lit up the skyline of multiple American cities, marking festivities across the country.

The Fourth of July is a celebration of all things American with parades, backyard barbecues and the night sky lit up with fireworks.

People across the country celebrated Independence Day on Friday, July 4, with the traditional parades, fireworks and cookouts. Others used America's 249th birthday as a chance to protest President Donald Trump and his administration.