Image courtesy of Jeremy Nicholson, accessed via Wikimedia
July 4, 2026, marks 250 years since the adoption of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. And through all 250 anniversaries of that date, including the very first in 1777, Americans have celebrated with fireworks.
For a small portion of that quarter-millennium, Snopes has been investigating and fact-checking rumors, legends and claims about the colorful, celebratory explosives.
Of course, people don't have to be American or celebrating Independence Day to enjoy fireworks — so wherever you are and whatever you're celebrating, feel free to peruse these 12 stories we've written about fireworks:
Emery Winter is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and previously worked for TEGNA'S VERIFY national fact-checking team. They enjoy sports and video games.
Don't sleep on this story about English town canceling fireworks show to let walrus rest
Dec. 25, 2025
Shouts of "goo goo g'joob" would likely have been just as unwelcome to the walrus as the pops an ...
