There was celebration across America on Saturday as the nation marked the Fourth of July. And leading the festivities were Michelle and Barack Obama, who hosted a barbecue and fireworks display at the White House.
The first couple invited almost 1,200 military families to their backyard party, for games of volleyball and mini-basketball, and a traditional July 4 menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, corn on the cob, ice cream, sodas and beer.
And the celebrations also marked the 11th birthday of the couple's elder daughter Malia, who had an American flag painted on her right cheek as she joined her seven-year-old sister Sasha and parents at the festivities.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country in Los Angeles, king of bling P Diddy threw one of his famous white parties to raise funds for an anti malaria charity. "It was important to do more than just to throw an event," said the millionaire rapper on the money-raising celebration.
Guests at the Independence Day bash included Hollywood couple Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher and British funnyman Russell Brand. And Russell wasn't the only Brit joining in with the celebrations to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
London-born pop singer Natasha Beddingfield entertained crowds at the US Capitol building in Washington DC at a special concert.
Other stars marking the holiday included Ben Affleck and his wife Jennifer Garner, who threw a huge party at their home in Brentwood. And Canadian actor Jim Carrey and his partner Jenny McCarthy celebrated with a bash at their Malibu beach home.
