Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Many US July 4 Fireworks, Festivities Canceled Due to Coronavirus Deborah Block ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA - Independence Day is one of America's favorite holidays and celebrated with a bang. But most of the traditional parades, fireworks and festivals in many cities for the Fourth of July went by the wayside this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Fireworks in some of the biggest cities such as Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago were canceled. This week, New York is having short fireworks displays in different locations each night but not announcing when or where to discourage too many people from gathering. The grand finale is taking place on Independence Day at the Empire State Building. Just outside Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon, the historic home of George Washington, America's first president, decided to hold its annual fireworks event that occurs the weekend before July 4. .