The Ridiculous Amount Americans Are Spending on Fireworks This Fourth of July

A fragile economy doesn't seem to be stopping patriotic Americans from spending on festivities. The celebrations for this year's Fourth of July will probably not be far off from those of 2012, when Americans spent $645 million on consumer fireworks alone, dropping only slightly from a record high of $649 million in 2011.

According to recent data, compiled into a visualization by Coupon Cabin, the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) reports that firework spending has exploded in the last decade, doubling from the $425 million spent in 1998 to the $967 million spent in 2011.

However, there is still hope for budget-conscious Americans who don't feel it necessary to take the reigns in showing off their patriotic spirit. Boston, New York, and Atlantic City are only a handful of the U.S. cities are booking some of the largest firework shows and parades, that also require no admission fee.

Here are some of the best places to celebrate this year's Fourth of July, without breaking the bank: