How Do We Celebrate Independence Day?

NBC News Radio National Correspondent Rory O'Neill joins us to discuss how Americans will be celebrating Independence Day. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ory O'Neil is one of the world's most interesting men,
an NB Seniors Radio national correspondent, and joins us as
we get ready for the Independence Day weekend. Rory, thanks
for doing this today.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Sure, Good morning, Steve.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
We just had a call from somebody that said, let's
say Independence Day more than we say Fourth of July,
and I thought that was sort of a nice sentiment.
So talk to us a little bit about the ways that.
I mean, we know some of the obvious ones Americans
will be celebrating this weekend.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Well, yeah, it runs the gamut, of course, with fireworks
being front and center. We're going to spend about three
billion dollars on fireworks this year. But I thought it
was interesting there will be more than sixteen thousand fireworks
displays held all across the country, and about forty one
percent of Americans will attend one of those displays, so

(00:48):
that's obviously a big part. And then, of course eating
nearly nine billion dollars in spending on Fourth of July food.
By the way, any guesses as to how many hot
dogs we're going to eat tomorrow?

Speaker 1 (00:59):
Oh my god.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Now keep in mind, keep in mind three hundred and
fifty million Americans ish, So how many hot dogs will
be consumed on the Fourth of July.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
Well, Joey Chestnut himself will have a few, but right,
I'm going to say fifty million. I'm going to say
seventy five million.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
U triple Steve double Brett. Right, so it's one hundred
and fifty million hot dogs I'm going to get consumed
each Fourth of July. By the way, seventy six is
the record number of hot dogs eaten in ten minutes
by Joey Chestnut back in twenty twenty one. And the
first and original Bristol Parade is the oldest Fourth of

(01:41):
July parade in America. In Bristol, Rhode Island, right across
the bay from where I grew up. The double yellow
line down Main Street is actually a lot a red,
white and blue line down there for the oldest parade
in the country.

Speaker 1 (01:52):
That's something you can talk about with your friends when
you're waiting for the parade and insert your municipality here.
Even watch the Joey Chestnut thing, it grosses me out.
I can't watch it.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
I cannot watch it.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
I don't think it's a musty TV No, I mean, afterwards,
I'll hear the number is something like seventy six. It's
just hard to put your head around that that would
even fit in a human, let alone what happens after
Let's not discuss. I would recommend you, if you are
going to eat a hot talk this weekend, like you
reference there, Rory, do it before that eating competition. Rory,

(02:26):
what's on you?

Speaker 2 (02:27):
No ketchup on hot dogs going? That's where I was going.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
I'm a mustard onion sky period.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, chili although chili cheese.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Oh sure that's different me on tyro yeah. Rory NB
Seniors Radio National Correspondent. Thanks for your time today. Happy
Independence Day guys, and to you the same