Independence Day is celebrated in the United States every year on July 4th, but Americans who live in Germany will be aware that events marking the occasion are few and far between in Europe.
This year, July 4th marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence -- a momentous occasion that US authorities, including embassies in Germany, have been preparing for months already.
From the official events to German festivals with fireworks, here's a look at where in Germany you can celebrate this July 4th.
'Freedom 250'
The official celebration of the United States of America's 250th 'birthday' has been titled "Freedom 250", and involves a series of events and activities across the US and abroad, with the US's embassies and consulates also taking part.
The US Embassy in Berlin kicked off its Freedom 250 festivities last week, with an event that was punctuated by four fighter jets buzzing the city of Berlin.
But celebrations to mark the occasion are also set for July 4th, on Saturday. An events page on the embassy website notes that Independence Day Celebrations are scheduled at "all posts", meaning at all of the US embassy and consulate locations.
The US has an embassy in Berlin as well as consulates in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich.
EXPLAINED: How US consulates help American citizens living in Germany
The Elvis Museum
For a more unique 4th of July experience, you could head to the Elvis Museum in Kircheib.
For the uninitiated, the Elvis museum here celebrates German-American friendship through the legacy of Elvis Presley. It was established in 2014 and is the only Elvis museum in Germany. It includes a room dedicated to Elvis’s time in the US Army in Germany.
For its “250 Years of the USA” celebration on July 4th this year, the museum will host an all-day public event including music, performances and storytelling. The event aims to bring together audiences of all generations in a spirit of freedom and cultural exchange.
Kircheib is about a two hour drive northwest from Frankfurt, or a bit over an hour's drive southeast from Cologne.
Fireworks
If your idea of a good 4th of July is simply having a few drinks with friends and family and watching a fireworks show in the evening, then you might be more interested in the following:
A number of German festivals taking place on, or close to, July 4th offer an easy alternative to the official events above.
Note that these are German cultural festivals rather than official Independence Day celebrations, so don't expect to see all the red, white and blue. But with a few American friends in tow, you may find that the beer drinking, Bratwurst eating and firework watching make for a kind of July-4th-in-Germany experience, that feels pretty close to home.
This year the famous Rhine in Flames events in Bingen and Rüdesheim are taking place on July 4th. The annual event, which includes multiple fireworks displays over the Rhine River, offers the perfect opportunity to get your fill of flashing lights and loud booms whilst also enjoying the scenic landscape of the Rhine Gorge.
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The Bluhendes Barock castle grounds is also putting on a musical fireworks show on July 4th. The castle gardens will be lit up, music begins at 7pm and builds to the main event at 10:30 pm. The cost of entry for adults in €18.50, or €10.50 for kids aged four to15.
Darmstadt’s Heinerfest, closes with a colourful fireworks displays on July 6th. At this German folk festival you'll find local wines and beers, and the nearby Herrngarten offers a cosy spot to see the fireworks finally.
The Sekt und Biedermeier Fest in Eltville also closes on July 6th with fireworks launched from a boat on the Rhine. Here you can also catch rock, pop and soul concerts. Fireworks go off at 10:45 pm.
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