Hot-dog eating champs, backyard picnickers and small-town parade lovers pressed on with Fourth of July celebrations on Friday, some featuring less sizzle than usual after Hurricane Arthur dampened many Independence Day plans.

Here are some highlights of Independence Day celebrations across the globe: FIRE IN THE SKY Tens of thousands of people gathered to watch the fireworks show in New York City. A brilliant 25-minute show of reds, whites and blues lit up the sky from three barges on the East River, sandwiched between Brooklyn and lower Manhattan — and even some from the Brooklyn Bridge itself. Macy’s says more than 1,600 shells were launched per minute during the display, the nation’s largest. Other major fireworks shows were being held in Chicago and San Francisco. WEATHER WORRIES The first hurricane of the season, Arthur, forced many East Coast cities to switch the dates of their celebrations. Boston officials moved the annual Boston Pops concert and fireworks to Thursday. Several cities in Maine, New Hampshire and New Jersey moved their fireworks shows to either Saturday or Sunday. When it made landfall in North Carolina late Thursday, Arthur narrowly missed becoming the first hurricane to make landfall on July Fourth, according to National Hurricane Center research that dates to the 1850s. INSPIRING MUSIC In Washington, composer John Williams was debuting a new arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner” featuring choirs, trumpets, an orchestra and cannons on the National Mall. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the national anthem. Francis Scott Key was inspired by the sight of the flag over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry in September 1814 after a 25-hour British bombardment. Thousands of people celebrated the day in the nation’s capital under clear skies. GLUTTONY ON THE FOURTH Joey “Jaws” Chestnut dropped to one knee and proposed to his longtime girlfriend before the annual Coney Island hot dog eating contest, then ate 61 franks and buns to hold onto his coveted mustard yellow winner’s belt. He fell far short of his record last year of 69 dogs and buns, but he still easily beat second-place finisher Matt Stonie, who downed just 56. INDEPENDENCE HALL Vice President Joe Biden, addressing the annual “Celebration of Freedom” ceremony at Independence Hall, said the lessons of the civil rights movement show that the struggle for freedom that began in Philadelphia more than two centuries ago is not over. EXPATS IN CANADA Julie Buchanan, treasurer of Democrats Abroad, planned to celebrate at a Toronto bar with red, white and blue sparklers, about 125 of her American expat friends, and life-size cut-outs of President Barack Obama and the first lady. “We really miss the patriotism of America; so many of us crave that sense of pride and camaraderie from back home,” Buchanan said. MOSCOW PARTIES The national anthems of both Russia and the United States played at the traditional garden party held at the stately residence of the American ambassador in Moscow. But far fewer Russians than usual came, either because they were unwilling to be seen associating with American diplomats or because their anti-American statements had gotten them scratched off of the guest list. The other big Independence Day party in Moscow, organised by the American Chamber of Commerce, takes place on Sunday and, in a break from tradition, is being held at a private golf and polo club instead of a city park. Security appears to have been a concern for the change.

In Washington, President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, presided over a barbecue and concert on the White House South Lawn attended by members of the US military and their families.

“Today immigrants from around the world dream of coming to our shores. Young people aspire to study at our universities. Other nations look to our support and leadership at times of disaster and conflict and uncertainty,” Obama said. “And when the world looks to America, so often they look to all of you, the men and women of our armed forces.

“Today we honour all of you,” he said.

Hurricane Arthur travelled up the East Coast but did not wash out the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, where a slate of professional eaters competed for purses of $20,000.

World champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, 30, of San Jose, California, walked away with his eighth straight title after consuming 61 wieners and buns - short of his world record of 69 set in 2013. Runner-up Matt Stonie took down 56 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Chestnut proposed marriage to his girlfriend on stage to roars from the crowd of about 1,000 people just before the competition.

The women’s contest saw an upset, with rookie Miki Sudo, 28, of Las Vegas toppling reigning champion Sonya Thomas, eating 34 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

“I love watching the guys stuff their faces,” said Barbara Hicks, 43, of Queens.

Hicks said she intended to try the amusement park rides, including the famous Cyclone roller coaster and the newly opened state-of-the art Thunderbolt.

“We’re going to have fun no matter the weather,” she said.

The evening’s fireworks show in New York City was ready to go off as scheduled, but police said the barge used to stage the display in New York’s East River was moved south below the Brooklyn Bridge due to an expected high rip current.

People ‘want to travel’

Roads were expected to be jammed during the busiest summer travel holiday weekend, with 41 million people traveling 50 miles or more from home, the American Automobile Association said.

That marks a 1.9 per cent increase over the 40.3 million people who travelled this time last year, AAA said.

Travellers can be undaunted by the weather, even Hurricane Arthur, experts said.

“People do try to err on the side of keeping their vacation plans in place. They want to go. They want to travel,” said AAA spokeswoman Heather Hunter.

Erin Hutchinson, 36, a marketer from Pittsburgh, visiting family in Maplewood, New Jersey, said she was taking her children, Ava, 9, and Kane, 4, to ice-cream eating contests and a dog show that had been moved inside because of the damp weather.

“We have an indoors backup plan,” Hutchinson said.

With the storm approaching, towns from Ocean City, Maryland, to Nashua, New Hampshire, delayed July 4 fireworks displays until Saturday.

Many towns in Connecticut put off festivities, while the famed Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular went off on Thursday, a day ahead of schedule, to beat the hurricane.

In California, a fast-moving wildfire near Julian, about 35 miles east of San Diego, destroyed 150 acres and two homes and prompted officials to cancel the local July 4 parade.