Culture & History

Photos: St. Louis area rings in Independence Day with fanfare and fireworks

St. Louis Public Radio | By Lylee Gibbs,

Published July 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM CDT

Updated July 5, 2025 at 7:42 AM CDT

Thousands gather as fireworks light up the sky behind the Gateway Arch on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. — Thousands gather as fireworks light up the sky behind the Gateway Arch on Friday in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.

St. Louis-area residents are celebrating the United States' 249th birthday — just a year shy of the country's sestercentennial soiree — with fanfare, fireworks and community gatherings.

Kate Mahoney, a 42-year-old longtime resident of the city’s Shaw neighborhood, said she especially appreciates the neighborhood’s annual kids’ bike parade, which drew more than 100 people this year.

"It's really just a chance to get together," she said. "A lot of people were wondering what to do for this Fourth of July, given the state of our country. I thought: 'Well, this is a community that I really love and support ... so it's good to get the chance to get together.'"

Are you looking to keep the good times going? Explore how communities across the bistate are celebrating the Independence Day weekend. NPR also has a guide on how to keep your pets safe this thunderous weekend.

See photos of how Independence Day lit up the St. Louis region by St. Louis Public Radio’s Lylee Gibbs and Brian Munoz.

Spectators watch and take photos of the Fourth of July firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Spectators watch and capture photos of the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

Thousands of spectators sit on the steps leading to the Gateway Arch from the Mississippi River as they watch the firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Thousands of spectators watch the fireworks show at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday — steps away from the Mississippi River.

Emma Vaughn, 23, and Jack Andrews, 21, spend their one year anniversary watching the Fourth of July fireworks at the Gateway National Park, where they spent their first date, on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Emma Vaughn, 23, and Jack Andrews, 21, celebrate their first anniversary watching the Fourth of July fireworks at Gateway Arch National Park — the same place where they had their first date — on Friday in downtown St. Louis.

Thousands of spectators sit under the Gateway Arch as they watch the firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Thousands of spectators sit under the Gateway Arch as they watch the fireworks show on Friday.

Minnesota resident Bri Brehm, right, lights her sparkler using Jennifer Brehm’s already lit sparkler as they wait for the firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Bri Brehm, right, of Minnesota, lights her sparkler using one held by Jennifer Brehm as they wait for the fireworks show at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

Fireworks explode over the Old Courthouse and Gateway Arch as seen from Kiener Plaza on July 3, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Fireworks explode over the Old Courthouse and Gateway Arch as seen from Kiener Plaza on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.

An outline of Superman is formed by drones ahead of the firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — An outline of Superman is formed by drones during a promotional light show for an upcoming Superman film, ahead of the fireworks display at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

Lylee Gibbs

St. Louis Public Radio

Drones form the Superman logo in the sky during a promotional light show for an upcoming Superman movie, ahead of the fireworks display at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

Drones form a dog with a cape during a promotional light show for an upcoming Superman film, ahead of the fireworks display at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Drones form Superman's dog, Krypto, during a promotional light show for an upcoming Superman film, ahead of the fireworks display at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday in downtown St. Louis.

A St. Louis Police officer uses his flashlight to play with a stray street cat at Kiener Plaza before a firework show on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in downtown St. Louis. — A St. Louis police officer uses a flashlight to play with a stray street cat at Kiener Plaza before the fireworks show on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.

Thousands of spectators crowd the streets following the end of the Fourth of July firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Thousands of spectators fill the streets following the end of the Fourth of July fireworks show at the Gateway National Park on Friday.

Spectators sit on the lawn near the Arch while the sun sets before the firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Spectators sprawl across the lawn as the sun dips behind the Gateway Arch, waiting for the evening’s fireworks display on Friday, at the Gateway Arch National Park in downtown St. Louis.

Everlie Cole, 9, thinks of her next move in checkers while her mother Lacie Cole, 32, watches ahead of the firework show at the Gateway Arch National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Everlie Cole, 9, contemplates her next move in a game of checkers as her mother, Lacie Cole, 32, looks on before the fireworks show at the Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

Clifford Brooks of South Hampton writes a message on a whiteboard ahead of the firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Clifford Brooks, of St. Louis' Southampton neighborhood, writes a message on a whiteboard ahead of the fireworks show at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

The words “Happy 4th of July” is written on a whiteboard ahead of the firework show at the Gateway Arch National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — “Happy 4th of July” is written on a whiteboard ahead of the fireworks show at the Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

Ariela Chavez and two-year-old Athena Chavez, of Ferguson, practice yoga poses while they wait for the firework show to begin at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Ariela Chavez and her 2-year-old daughter, Athena, both of Ferguson, practice yoga poses while waiting for the fireworks show to begin at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

Carter Washenfeldt, left, and Aiden Washenfeldt, right, of Mattoon, Illinois, blow bubbles as they wait for the firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — Carter Washenfeldt, left, and Aiden Washenfeldt, right, of Mattoon, Illinois, blow bubbles while waiting for the fireworks show at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

A couple walks through the grass as the sun sets behind the Old Courthouse ahead of the firework show at the Gateway National Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. — A couple walks through the grass as the sun sets behind the Old Courthouse ahead of the fireworks show at Gateway Arch National Park on Friday.

Tiffany Mapp of Northwood wears a red cowboy hat with silver starts for the Fourth of July during the annual Ferguson parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Ferguson, Missouri. Mapp attended the parade with her husband Jessie, not pictured, on the three year anniversary of when they met. — Tiffany Mapp, of Northwoods, wears a red cowboy hat with silver stars during the annual Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday in Ferguson. She attended the parade with her husband, Jessie, not pictured, marking the third anniversary of when they met.

Members of the Spirits of New Northside Drill Team sit on their phones as they wait for the start of the annual Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Ferguson, Missouri. — Members of the Spirits of New Northside Drill Team sit on their phones as they wait for the start of the Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday.

Nine-year-old Reagan Wilbret, of Boy Scouts Pack 743, holds onto a giant American flag alongside other members of the Boy and Cub Scouts at the start of the Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, along Florissant Road. — Reagan Wilbret, a 9-year-old member of Cub Scouts Pack 743, holds a giant American flag alongside fellow Boy and Cub Scouts at the start of the Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday along Florissant Road.

Six-year-old Marlon Ewing, of Ferguson, runs through a foam machine at the end of the annual Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Ferguson, Missouri. — Marlon Ewing, 6, of Ferguson, runs through a foam machine at the end of the Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday.

Jax and Sydni the Rottweilers sit in the backseat of a truck as they wait for the start of the annual Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Ferguson, Missouri. — Jax and Sydni, rottweilers, sit in the backseat of a truck before the Ferguson parade on Friday.

Three-year-old Camden Scott of Ferguson holds an American flag as he watches the annual Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 along Florissant Road. — Camden Scott, 3, of Ferguson, holds an American flag as he watches the Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday.

Boy and Cub Scout members of Pack 743 and Troop 608 work together to fold up a giant American Flag after walking in the annual Ferguson Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Ferguson, Missouri. — Members of Cub Scout Pack 743 and Boy Scout Troop 608 fold a giant American flag after walking in the annual Ferguson Fourth of July Parade on Friday in Ferguson.

More than 100 residents gather for the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids Bike Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood. — More than 100 residents gather for the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids' Bike Parade on Friday in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood.

Jayne Jackson, center, prepares to kick off the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids Bike Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood. The parade has been a community tradition for nearly a decade. — Jayne Jackson, center, prepares to kick off the Shaw Independence Day Kids' Bike Parade on Friday in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood. The parade has been a community tradition for nearly a decade.

James Odham, 4, smiles while wearing red, white and blue stars as more than 100 residents gather for the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids Bike Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood. — James Odham, 4, smiles while wearing red, white and blue stars as more than 100 residents gather for the Shaw Independence Day Kids' Bike Parade on Friday.

Rosie Trost, 9, weaves her bike through a crowd as more than 100 residents gather for the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids Bike Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood. — Rosie Trost, 9, weaves her bike through a crowd as more than 100 residents gather for the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids' Bike Parade on Friday.

Virginia Salinas, 7, looks out of the window of her retrofitted wagon pulled by her father, not pictured, during the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids Bike Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood. — Virginia Salinas, 7, looks out of the window of her retrofitted wagon pulled by her father, not pictured, during the Shaw Independence Day Kids' Bike Parade on Friday.

A festivalgoer reaches for an Independence Day sticker as more than 100 residents gather for the annual Shaw Kids Bike Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025. — A festivalgoer reaches for an Independence Day sticker as more than 100 residents gather for the annual Shaw Kids' Bike Parade on Friday.

Hilda, a 1-year-old German shorthaired pointer, licks her nose during the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids Bike Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood. — Hilda, a 1-year-old German shorthaired pointer, licks her nose during the annual Shaw Independence Day Kids Bike Parade.

Audrey Rundblad, 6, blows bubbles before the start of the Shaw Independence Day Kids Bike Parade. — Audrey Rundblad, 6, blows bubbles before the start of the Shaw Independence Day Kids' Bike Parade on Friday in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood.