Parades, fireworks, naturalization ceremonies, eating contests and music ushered in the Fourth of July as the United States marked 239 years as an independent nation on Saturday. Here were some highlights of Independence Day celebrations:
Music, cultural celebrations on National Mall • Heavy rainstorms drenched the region around the White house Saturday, forcing a cancellation of an annual July Fourth picnic for military members and their families on the South Lawn.
Still, many festivities in Washington proceeded as scheduled, including a fife and drum corps, parade and concerts on the National Mall.
As morning rains cleared, the capital's Fourth of July parade kicked off. The parade featured marching bands, floats and balloons with plenty of red, white and blue.
The U.S. Air Force Band performed Saturday evening on the Washington Monument grounds. The big event is the "Capitol Fourth" concert on the west lawn of the Capitol, featuring Barry Manilow and the National Symphony Orchestra.
New citizens sworn in • Naturalization ceremonies big and small were held across the U.S.
The director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Baltimore district administered the oath of allegiance to 40 people from 27 countries during a ceremony at The Engineers Club in Baltimore.
In Plymouth, Vt., 20 people became U.S. citizens at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site. The great-granddaughter of President and Mrs. Coolidge sang the national anthem.
Officials say over 4,000 new citizens were welcomed in more than 50 naturalization ceremonies across the country from July 1 through July 4.
Presidental hopefuls campaign in parades • Parades across Iowa and New Hampshire were clear reminders of the race for the White House: Red balloons promoting "Jeb! 2016," a tractor draped in a Rick Perry banner and dutiful volunteers holding signs and chanting.
Former Govs. Jeb Bush of Florida, Rick Perry of Texas and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island as well as South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham worked the crowd in Amherst, while Hillary Rodham Clinton marched in a parade in New Hampshire's North Country. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio spent the holiday in New Hampshire's Lakes Region as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley met voters in Iowa.
Declaration signing • Visitors to the National Archives building in Washington were invited to sign replicas of the Declaration of Independence.
Some signed with a quill pen while others used modern writing instruments.
The National Archives — which houses the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights — also hosted a reading of the Declaration of Independence by re-enactors portraying Abigail Adams, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.
Concerts, a parade and beer • Philadelphia marks the holiday with a Celebration of Freedom ceremony, a parade through its historic district and a concert and fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The Celebration of Freedom is the 50th anniversary of a protest outside Independence Hall that is a milestone in the fight for gay rights.
The tall ship Hermione passes near the Statue of Liberty as it leads the Lafayette Parade of ships up the Hudson River in New York's Upper Bay Saturday, July 4, 2015. The Hermione is a replica of the 18th century ship the Marquis de Lafayette sailed to the America's with news of full French support for the revolutionary cause. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Jacob Dowling, 9, leaps into the air as he's hit by a cup of green powder thrown by John Wofford, left, during the Bluebonnet Blast Color Run on Saturday, July 4, 2015, in Rusk, Texas. The event, featuring both a children's fun run and a 5K run, kicked of the annual community Fourth of July celebration which included a patriotic program, music, parade and more. (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Republican presidential candidate New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his wife wife Mary Pat stop to pose for a photo with Tim Osgood and his son William, 2 months, of Amesbury, Mass., during the Fourth of July parade, Saturday, July 4, 2015, in Wolfeboro, N.H. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., smiles as he greets his supporters as he arrives to the staging area for the Fourth of July parade, Saturday, July 4, 2015, in Wolfeboro, N.H. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Republican presidential candidate former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, center, looks to shake hands while participating in the Fourth of July Parade in Amherst, N.H., Saturday, July 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)
Ashland, Va. resident John Wallmeyer portraying parriot and native-son Patrick Henry, marches during the annual 4th of July parade in Ashland, Virginia, Saturday, July 4, 2015. (Joe Mahoney/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)
Patrick Murphy, Port Carbon, Pa., rides in a tank pulled by his father Bill Murphy as his mother Cassandra Murphy carries Keegan Murphy as they make their way down S. Coal Street during the annual Fourth of July Parade nicknamed the "Baby Parade" in Port Carbon, Pa., on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The event was hosted by The Port Carbon Citizens Committee. (Jacqueline Dormer/The Republican-Herald via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Children throw candy from one of the floats Saturday, July 4, 2015, during the annual Fourth of July parade in Rusk, Texas. (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
MaKayla Harris, 11 months old, is decked out in red, white and blue in honor of the holiday Saturday, July 4, 2015, in Rusk, Texas. (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Joey Chestnut, left, and Matt Stonie compete in Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest men's competition Saturday July 4, 2015 in the Coney Island section in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Stonie came in first eating 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Chestnut came in second eating 60 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Liam Meredith competes in the watermelon eating contest at the Old Fashion July 4th event at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Fla, Saturday, July 4, 2015. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
The tall ship Hermione passes near the Statue of Liberty as it leads the Lafayette Parade of ships up the Hudson River in New York's Upper Bay Saturday, July 4, 2015. The Hermione is a replica of the 18th century ship the Marquis de Lafayette sailed to the America's with news of full French support for the revolutionary cause. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Miki Sudo, second from right, holds her trophy and smiles after winning the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest women's competition Saturday, July 4, 2015, at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Sudo ate 38 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)(AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Liam Meredith competes in the watermelon eating contest at the Old Fashion July 4th event at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Fla, Saturday, July 4, 2015. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Twenty three new American citizens stand on the steps of Harmony Hall in Kinston, N.C., following a Naturalization Ceremony on July 4, 2015. (Zach Frailey/The Free Press via AP)
Olympic cross country skier Jessie Diggins, who is from Afton, throws candy while headed down the main drag in downtown Afton, Minn., during the 4th of July parade Saturday, July 4, 2015. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)
Julian Riviere,left, seven months-old, had a commanding lead when Silver Ware, 13 months-old, sprinted for the finish line and won the Baby Crawl finals. The annual "Our Country Day" Parade snaked through the heart of Keystone Heights, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2015. The Fourth of July celebration started before the parade with a 5k race, volleyball tournament, live music and a baby crawl. The celebration continued with a watermelon eating contest more music and scheduled fireworks. (Bruce Lipsky/The Florida Times-Union via AP)
Charles Mallard, of Mallard's Dollarama, walked up and down the parade route selling made in America US flags for $1 and $2 each. The annual "Our Country Day" Parade snaked through the heart of Keystone Heights, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2015. The Fourth of July celebration started before the parade with a 5k race, volleyball tournament, live music and a baby crawl. The celebration continued with a watermelon eating contest more music and scheduled fireworks. (Bruce Lipsky/The Florida Times-Union via AP)
Johnny Garcia, of Veneta, Ore., waves to the crowd as he joins members of his family in the 2015 Creswell Fourth of July Parade in Creswell, Ore. July 4, 2015. (Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard via AP Photo)
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