NEW YORK, July 4 (Reuters) - Millions of Americans took

a welcome Fourth of July break on Thursday, flocking to parades,

fireworks shows and barbecues for a brief respite from the daily

drumbeat of unsettling news at home and abroad.

The holiday, which marks the July 4 signing of the

Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1776, is a day when

Americans traditionally celebrate with proud displays of

old-fashioned patriotism.

This year, with the country's drift toward

hyper-partisanship and an election battle underway between

President Joe Biden and challenger Donald Trump, it was a chance

for Americans to come together for a day and forget about their

differences.

"It seems to me that the country is much more divided than

it ever has been," said Dwight Kinsey, 69, a New York City

resident enjoying the sun on the Coney Island beach on

Wednesday.

"Then again, you come out here, it's a beautiful day, the

beach is clean and nice and, you know, life goes on."

With red, white and blue flags and bunting decorating homes

and shops from New England to Hawaii, Independence Day was, as

usual, mostly about family, food and summer fun.

In New York, the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating

Contest usually sets the tone for a day of over-indulgence.

After dark, it will end with a bang along the Hudson River,

where the Macy's fireworks display will light up the sky against

the backdrop of Manhattan's skyline.

Even though 16-time champ Joey Chestnut was a persona non

grata at Nathan's contest this year, the man known as Jaws still

loomed large at the annual feeding frenzy at Coney Island.

Chestnut, who cruised to top honors last July 4 by wolfing

down 62 franks and buns in 10 minutes, was disinvited this year

because he signed a deal with a rival company that makes veggie

dogs. Instead, the champ will live-stream his own July 4 hot dog

event from a Texas military base.

In his absence, a field of 15 lesser-knowns will battle for

the vacated "Mustard Belt" that goes to the winner.

Patrick Bertoletti, a 39-year-old from Chicago, emerged

victorious on the men's side by consuming a 58 dogs and buns in

the allotted 10 minutes, still far short of Chestnut's record of

76 set in 2021.

On the women's side, Miki Sudo successfully defended her

title against a field of 14 rivals by consuming a

record-breaking 51 dogs and buns to win her 10th Mustard Belt.

Later in the day, the Macy's department store chain will

stage its 48th annual Fourth of July fireworks show along the

Hudson for the first time in a decade. In recent years, the

spectacle was staged along the East River.

Launched from barges moored in the river, some 60,000 shells

will travel about 1,000 feet (300 meters) high before exploding

into dozens of colors and special effects sure to delight tens

of thousands of spectators who will line both sides of the

Hudson, which separates Manhattan from New Jersey.

Across the country, other cities are hosting fireworks

shows, road races, baseball games and other events that will

give people the chance to forget their troubles and relax.

In Southern California, Huntington Beach will hold what it

has branded as "the largest Independence Day celebration west of

the Mississippi." The city, which began hosting 4th of July

events in 1904, now attracts more than 500,000 people, according

to organizers.

The festival begins in the morning with a 5K run, followed

by a parade and a nighttime fireworks show over the Pacific

Ocean. The fun continues on Friday with a block party and rodeo.

In Alaska, where the sun barely sets in summertime, the

holiday got off to an early start with a midnight fireworks show

in the port city of Seward. It was the first event in a

three-day Fourth of July Festival that also features a grueling

5K road race on Mount Marathon and a boat parade.