Festivities mark nation’s 240th

Associated Press

From fireworks soaring above the Washington Monument to hot dogs being downed in New York City’s frank-eating contest, Americans aren’t shy about celebrating their nation’s birthday. Many places rolled out long-established Independence Day traditions on Monday (even if some of those traditions aren’t as long-established as they sound). Rain was forecast in many cities, but revelers were trying not to let it dampen their fun. Some Fourth of July highlights from around the country:

MACY’S magic

More than a million spectators in New York City braved a light sprinkle of rain as they watched Macy’s annual July Fourth fireworks display.

The nearly 30-minute-long show Monday featured dazzling blues, reds and whites among other colors from the more than 56,000 pyrotechnic shells launched from barges in the East River.

The Macy’s show was aired live on NBC, and organizers said it was the biggest firework display since the millennium show of 2000.

Presidential party

President Barack Obama called America a “miracle” that needs to be defended and nurtured on Monday during his final July Fourth celebration at the White House.

The Democrat made the brief comments to hundreds of people who gathered after rain forced officials to cancel an annual barbecue on the South lawn for military service members, veterans and their families.

It was the second-straight year that weather scuttled the picnic.

Obama also led the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” to his older daughter, Malia Obama, who turned 18, reminding those gathered it’s a father’s job to embarrass his daughter.

Philly Fourth

In Philadelphia, where the Founding Fathers approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the national birthday party ran all day.

It kicked off at 10 a.m. with a reading of the document and an event honoring everyday heroes, with celebrity guest Leslie Odom Jr., a Philadelphia native who plays Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” Then came the holiday parade, including Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell.

Next up was a five-hour party with free entertainment on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The celebration was to continue with a five-hour concert with performers including Odom and singer-songwriter Leon Bridges. Fireworks closed out the day.

BOSTON BLOWOUT

Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to line the banks of Boston’s Charles River to watch the fireworks there, with millions more across the country watching live on CBS.

The celebration featured pop stars Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato, country group Little Big Town and, as always, the Boston Pops Orchestra, which drives home the climactic fireworks finale to Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”

Western wingding

There’s a something-for-everyone approach to fireworks in Los Angeles, where displays were planned at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Hollywood Bowl, Grand Park near City Hall and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, among other places around the massive metro area. San Francisco holds a large fireworks display over the San Francisco Bay