The first Independence Day celebrations weren’t held on July 4.
The colonists waited until July 25, 1776 instead. Celebrations took place in Williamsburg, Virginia; Trenton, New Jersey; and New York City. Residents of the first two cities had parades; New Yorkers, who were pretty tough even in those days, decided to melt a lead statue of the British King George III to make bullets.

The father of our country didn’t mind a little booze.
For the celebration in 1778, George Washington issued a double allowance of rum to each of his soldiers. It’s not known if he issued any to himself. But if he did, he deserved it.