US Marks 250th Independence Day With Nationwide Celebrations

WASHINGTON, July 4 (NNN-dpa) -- The United States (US) marks the 250th anniversary of its independence from Britain on Saturday, celebrating the milestone with air shows, a record-breaking fireworks display and a "really long speech" from the president, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Events are planned across the country, with major celebrations taking place in cities including New York, Boston and Los Angeles.

In the capital, Washington, festivities begin with an Independence Day parade along the National Mall in the morning, followed by a day of commemorative events. 

Fighter jets and helicopters are set to fly over Washington throughout the day, with organisers saying more than 30 flypasts are planned.

Air Force One, the government's official aircraft, is scheduled to join the spectacle, flying alongside US bombers above the capital.

Despite temperatures forecast to reach around 42 degrees Celsius, President Donald Trump said he plans to mark the occasion by giving "a really long speech, just to show that [he] can do anything." 

Alongside the president's speech, the evening programme includes a fireworks display that is set to break a world record, with 850,000 fireworks to be released at 10 locations over roughly 40 minutes.

Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the US Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, when the 13 American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain.

--NNN-dpa