Fans gather at DBAP for a night of American traditions

The Durham Bulls got the fireworks started early, rallying from a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Norfolk Tides, 6-5.

Spectators said they prefer baseball to mark the holiday.

"There's nothing more American than baseball and beer, right?" said Suchita Sata, who came to the ballpark from Cary with her family.

Basabe delivers 9th inning fireworks with walk off double as Bulls win 6-5 over Norfolk

Among her family was her 10-month-old daughter, who was experiencing Fourth of July and American traditions for the first time.

"She enjoyed listening to the national anthem for the first time," Sata said.

Many residents were there to see the fireworks show after the game, including Durham resident Tyaisha Troy, who said the shows keep her family coming back to the DBAP.

"[The] fireworks show is really amazing, [it] brings out [the] spirit of freedom," Troy said. "It's a tradition for our family, we love to come here."

DBAP was just one of many places to hold fireworks Tuesday, as Dorothea Dix Park held a festival with a fireworks show in Raleigh.

Aside from the food, fun and family, the day also brings a moment of reflection for what people feel Independence Day means for them.

"It mean's everything to me," Lauren Starkenberg of Durham said. "This is my favorite holiday and I attribute that to all the people serving our country."

For Andrew Hill, it means feeling good with all the locals in the area.

"[It's] not often you get to celebrate the country, so it feels good to be with all the locals," Hill said. "It means a lot."

For Sata, it's about making a country her children can be proud of.

"Our country has a lot to offer," Sata said. "We've got three little ones here. We've got to make it better for all of them."