4th of July Coloring Pages

• Fireworks: bursts, fountains and sparkling trails over water and rooftops
• Flags: waving flags, flag banners and bunting. Find more on our American flag page
• Parades: marching bands, decorated bikes and kids waving from the curb
• National symbols: the bald eagle, the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty
• Cookout food: hot dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon and red, white and blue ice pops
• Stars and stripes patterns: hats, pinwheels, balloons and rosettes
• Summer evening scenes: families on blankets and kids with glow sticks waiting for dark

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, which announced that the thirteen American colonies were breaking away from British rule. That date became the country's birthday. The thirteen stripes on the flag stand for those first colonies, and the fifty stars stand for today's fifty states. Americans have celebrated with fireworks since the very first anniversary in 1777. Parades, cookouts and concerts are part of the day too, and red, white and blue show up on almost everything.

• Parade decorations: color flags and pinwheels, tape them to craft sticks and attach them to bike handlebars.
• Picnic placemats: one page per seat keeps kids at the table while the grill is going.
• Waiting for fireworks: bring a clipboard, pages and a flashlight to the viewing spot.
• Three-color challenge: color a whole page using only red, blue and the white of the paper.
• Firework art: color fireworks with bright crayons, then brush thin black watercolor over the page for a night sky.