A crazy July 4 tradition sees one of the United States replacing the usual firework festivities with something a little different. In Alaska, they prefer to launch cars off of a cliff instead, because what else screams patriotism more than that?
Independence Day is one of the biggest celebrations on the calendar each year across the United States. It marks the day the Declaration of Independence was recognized, and thus, holds a special place for the most patriotic Americans. For others, it’s just an excuse to take a day off work and watch some fireworks.
Typically, that’s how Fourth of July celebrations draw to a close, with a bang. Americans reportedly spend billions each year ensuring their fireworks are the best in the neighborhood. But it’s not the same story across each and every state.
For one state in particular, they’ve found a different way to mark the occasion. Rather than fireworks, those in Alaska prefer to launch a few dozen cars off a cliff and watch the impact.
Alaska hosts car-destroying July 4 celebration
In what’s become an annual tradition, hundreds of spectators descend upon Glacier View, Alaska, with one thing in mind: Total mayhem.
Known for its midnight sun, Alaskan sunsets occur extremely late in the night. As such, fireworks don’t exactly make sense. Since 2005, townsfolk have been enjoying something else as a result.
Show organizer Arnie Hrncir clears over 1,000 trees from his private property before inviting attendees to watch as a few dozen cars are driven off a cliff. Of course, no one is actually driving the vehicles; they’re automatically set to floor it in a straight line directly off the cliffside.
Spectators cheer and applaud as each patriotically decorated car smashes into a hundred pieces on the ground just meters away. In fact, as of recent iterations, they’re even paying up to $30 for a ticket to attend.
“People from all over the world” are making the trek to enjoy Independence Day with something rather unique, as one TikTok user said of their experience at this year’s show. “There were people from Australia, Chile, England, and all over the US.”
