Everything Everywhere Daily · Saturday, July 4, 2026
The 1976 bicentennial saw significant corporate involvement, leading critics to dub it the 'buy-centennial.' Future celebrations, like the upcoming 250th anniversary, are expected to follow similar patterns of corporate branding and large-scale fireworks displays, with projections for advanced celebrations involving robots and moon parades.
“Critics panned the bicentennial as the buy-centennial, as corporations capitalized on the enthusiasm by branding nearly every product from t-shirts to soda cans to the famed Pland red, white, and blue spirit of '76 commemorative chainsaw.”
“As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, or its semi-quincentennial, a term that doesn't really roll off the tongue, we will be celebrating in many of the same ways that we have in the past.”
“The Washington Mall is expected to host a world-record fireworks display this July 4th, featuring a 40-minute show with an estimated 851,000 fireworks.”
“And if you're around 50 years from now, you might get to enjoy the tri-centennial, which will probably involve robots and a spaceship parade on the moon.”