Paint the stars and stripes on your lawn: Spud Byrd of Bowling Green, Ky. paints a star on a 300-foot by 600-foot American flag in the front yard of Robert and Doris Burr's home in Bowling Green, Ky., on July 1, 2012. Burr, with Ken Cardwell, has been pairing the huge flag for 10 years. Joe Imel/Daily News/AP
Ride a mechanical bull: Kylee Wicker laughs while holding onto a mechanical bull during the 21st annual Freedom Has a Birthday Fourth of July celebration, in 2011 at Washington Park in Laramie, Wyo. Andy Carpenean/Laramie Boomerang/AP
Join a parade: Boy Scouts of America and Cub Scout troops carry a large American flag during the LibertyFest Fourth of July parade in Edmond, Okla., in 2011. Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman/AP
Salute the flag: Pearl Harbor survivor Mickey Ganitch salutes during a Fourth if July parade in 2011, in Alameda, Calif. Ben Margot/AP
Take in a ballgame: Max Larsen of Steger, Ill., cheers along with the crowd at the Kansas City Royals - Chicago White Sox baseball game during the seventh inning on July 4, 2011, in Chicago. Chicago won 5-4. John Smierciak/AP
Listen to the Boston Pops: The Boston Pops perform at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, on July 3, 2007. The performance was a free dress rehearsal for the annual July Fourth celebration. Winslow Townson/AP
Eat a hot dog: MC George Shea signals the start of the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, on July 4, 2011, in Brooklyn, New York. John Minchillo/AP
Have some watermelon: Magnolia Springs Fire Department President Mary Emmett and town Mayor Charlie Houser enjoy watermelon at the town picnic after the annual Fourth of July parade in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, in 2011. Ray Stubblebine/Reuters
Become a US citizen: Anas Rahma (in blue) holds a US flag as he, his sister Romesa (rear), and their mother Hala Bishara became new United States citizens, along with more than 300 others from 70 different countries, during the 18th annual Fiesta of Independence at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 4, 2006. Jeff Topping/Reuters
Decorate your house in patriotic bunting: Eric Huerta hangs a United States flag on Ocean Avenue in preparation for the Fourth of July in Carmel, Calif., on June 25, 2012. David Royal//Monterey County Herald/AP
Go skiing!: Dressed from head to toe in red, white, and blue, Jason Utgaard (l.) celebrated the 4th of July holiday by skiing Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah, in 2011. Snowbird was open for the Fourth of July for only the third time in history. Lynn DeBruin/AP
Design your own flag: Kaitlyn Urbanek carries a flag students made at a daycare during the annual First Baptist Church's Weekday Education Fourth of July parade in Oxford, Miss., on July 3, 2012. Bruce Newman/Oxford Eagle/AP
Make some noise: Party popper fireworks fill a box in Kodiak, Alaska's fireworks store, on July 2, 2012. Fireworks can be used in the Kodiak Island Borough until July 15. James Brooks/Kodiak Daily Mirror/AP
Enjoy the fireworks from a safe distance: Fireworks light up the sky over the United States Capitol dome and the Washington Monument as the US celebrates its 235th Independence Day in Washington, in 2011. Hyungwon Kang/Reuters
Wildfires, dry weather and tight budgets have put a damper on fireworks in some communities this Independence Day.
As millions of Americans celebrate Independence Day on Wednesday, there are some whose holiday won't be going off with a bang.
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