This holiday weekend, as you fire up the grill and wave sparklers through the air, think about how generations of Americans have celebrated the Fourth of July before you.
Parades, fireworks, and picnics have always been standard patriotic celebrations — while wearing plenty of red, white, and blue clothing, of course.
See how your party plans stack up to these vintage photos of Fourth of July past.
Fourth of July Parade, 1942
Though the U.S. was in the middle of World War II, plenty of cities still had major celebrations for the holiday, including patriotic parades.
Playing Dress-Up, 1916
This little girl is dressed up as Liberty on July 4 in Washington, D.C. It’s perhaps the cutest rendition of Lady Liberty we’ve ever seen.
A Grown-Up Liberty, 1916
Perhaps at the same event, this grown-up Liberty and Columbia are looking regal in their flowing robes.
Kids Celebrating the Fourth, 1950s or 1960s
These kids look like they’re all dolled up for a parade, with their bikes and doll strollers all decorated in red, white, and blue. Their hat game is on point!
Fourth of July Fireworks Over Washington, D.C., 1954
Could there be a more American photo than this? We think not.
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Children’s Fourth of July Parade, 1964
This is a pretty well put together kid’s parade in Chicago. It’s got drummers leading the way, and tons of stars and stripes.
48 Stars, 1960
The brothers in this photo are celebrating the Fourth along with one of their birthdays. Check out the flags, though, which only have 48 stars, and are from the time before Alaska and Hawaii became states.
Fourth of July Parade Bicyclists, 1941
These kids are gearing up for a parade in Vale, Oregon. We’re not quite sure what the clown costume and makeup has to do with anything, but we’re guessing it was red and blue.
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Watertown, Wisconsin, 1941
It looks like Boy Scouts are the color guard leading this parade past Woolworth’s department store. We love the print on all the ladies’ dresses.
Fourth of July Celebration in South Carolina, 1939
Though the decorations at this outdoor gathering are simple with one large American flag, everyone has arrived looking fantastic in their Sunday best.
Making it a Great Fourth of July, 1920s Style
Long before stars and stripes sunglasses and t-shirts, these women turned themselves into one big flag — and looked great doing it!
Fourth of July Fireworks on Coney Island, 1962
We love this slice-of-life photo of everyone looking up in awe at the fireworks on Coney Island. The light-festooned ferris wheel must have been a popular ride while the show was going on.
Somewhere in Texas, 1976
1972 marked America’s bicentennial, so everyone went all out on the Fourth that year. Uncle Sam is looking pretty impressive riding on his red, white, and blue-decorated pickup truck.
Sailing Day in New York City, 1976
Crowds gather on a beach in New York City to watch sailing ships on the Fourth of July. The Twin Towers stand tall in the background, while a man sells special 1976 American flags.
Dyn-O-Mite!, New York City, 1976
These kids are absolutely adorable as they celebrate the Fourth. We especially love the kid’s “Dyn-o-mite” shirt, a popular saying at the time from the TV show Good Times.
My Uncle Rocking Some 4th of July Attire, 1976
Is it possible to be any cooler than this guy, sporting a comically oversized red, white, and blue tie? We doubt it.
Sears Roebuck & Co., 1976
Everyone wanted to get in on the bicentennial celebration in 1976, including companies like Sears, which is only a shell of what it used to be.
Getting Into the Spirit of the Bicentennial, 1976
We love the boy’s hat in this photo as he waves a couple American flags around. But check out the man’s sideburns!
My 19-Year-Old Uncle on the 4th of July, 1977
The leather jacket and the long, pointy lapels are bringing back all kinds of memories in this photo, and sparklers always look good on film.
Getting Ready for the Fourth, 1980s
Everyone has a pyrotechnic in the family, and that appears to be this guy, who’s really excited about the firecrackers he’s going to be setting off later.
Kentucky Fourth of July Parade, 1982
This family painted an old pickup truck for holidays, including the 4th of July parade. Its hood stripes match lots of dresses and shirts, too.
Fashionista, 1992
Stars-and-stripes fashion really took off in the 1990s. It used to be a novelty, but more than one dad wore American-flag laden shirts and windbreakers year round.
Getting Ready for the 4th of July Parade, 1996
Safety first, even during a festive celebration, seems to be the motto of this family decked out in bike helmets before a Fourth of July parade.
