Happy 4th of July from your favorite celebrities! Stars like Reese Witherspoon, Katy Perry and more celebrate Independence Day in style

Fourth Of July is here!

The annual American federal holiday fell on Thursday this year as celebrities got ready to kick off Independence Day with a big bang.

Several stars took to Instagram to show their followers what they were up to.

Reese Witherspoon gave a 'Happy 4th Of July' shout out to her fans on both her own Instagram account and her Draper James page. Mark Wahlberg was seen with his family in a group photo as he wrote in his caption: 'Wishing my fellow Americans a happy and safe 4th of July!! ❤️.'

Heather Graham, 54, of The Hangover fame was seen in a red string bikini while on a yacht in Malta. 

Bethenny Frankel, 53, from RHONY fame was at her second home in the Hamptons with her 14-year-old only child, daughter Bryn Hoppy.

Robert Wagner of Hart To Hart fame posted a throwback photo with his late wife Natalie Wood and their three children on a boat as he wished his fans a happy 4th of July. 

Finding Nicole actress Blanca Blanco wore a US flag bikini while on the rocky shores of a lake in Washington state.

Molly Sims - who is married to Netflix honcho Scott Stuber - was in a black bikini on the beach with her YSE bag. 

Taylor Hill was in a floral print mini dress as she toured the coast of Italy with friends while Heidi Klum has been in Paris with her husband Tom Kaulitz. 

Sylvester Stallone posted a photo of his wife and three daughters with a US flag over it as he said, 'Grateful for my family, freedom, and fireworks. Happy Fourth of July!'

Kelly Ripa posted a throwback photo as a little girl as well as many other images with the caption: 'Fourth of July - a few snaps of celebrations from 1973-2024.'

Independence Day - known colloquially as the Fourth of July - is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches, and ceremonies.

But it was founded for a political move. 

Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence.

It was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.

The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III.

They were now united, free, and independent states.

The Congress voted to approve independence by passing the Lee Resolution on July 2 and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4.

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2.

After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence.

It was a statement explaining this decision.

It was prepared by the Committee of Five, which asked Thomas Jefferson to author its first draft.

Jefferson for the most part largely wrote the Declaration of Independence in isolation over 17 days between June 11, 1776, and June 28, 1776.

He did so in Philadelphia.

Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, removing Jefferson's vigorous denunciation of King George III for importing the slave trade, finally approving it two days later on July 4.