On July 4th, 2024, the United States will celebrate Independence Day, marking the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This federal holiday will see the closure of government offices, post offices, banks, and stock markets. However, major national retailers, including Target, Macy's, Home Depot, and TJ Maxx, will remain open, with some offering promotional sales. Additionally, grocery stores and restaurants such as Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Walmart, Sendik’s, Woodman’s, Colectivo, and McDonald’s will have adjusted holiday hours or remain open. The holiday is also expected to see a significant number of travelers, with 70.9 million people projected to travel 50 miles or more from home, marking a 5% increase from the previous year. Of these travelers, a record 60.6 million are expected to travel by car, and 5.74 million are projected to fly. However, some businesses may be affected by closures due to unsafe E. coli levels at Minneapolis beaches and the cancellation or rescheduling of fireworks shows due to storms. Independence Day is the sixth postal holiday of the year, and mail services will resume on July 5th. This holiday is part of a series of federal holidays, with the next ones being Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The celebration of Independence Day has a rich history, with the first anniversary of American independence being marked by a spontaneous celebration in Philadelphia, and the holiday becoming a federal one in 1870. Overall, while many businesses will be closed, there are still plenty of options for those in need of last-minute supplies or looking to celebrate the holiday.
