Summer in the United States comes with a whole calendar of beloved traditions. Here are ten fun facts about the rituals that define the season.

1. Americans eat billions of hot dogs in summer

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day — the unofficial bounds of summer — Americans consume an estimated several billion hot dogs.

2. The Fourth of July is the biggest grilling day

Independence Day is consistently the most popular day of the year for cooking out.

3. Fireworks have lit up July 4th since the beginning

The first organized Independence Day fireworks took place in 1777, just one year after the Declaration of Independence.

4. Baseball earns its “national pastime” nickname in summer

The long Major League Baseball season runs through the heart of summer, with the All-Star Game as its midsummer centerpiece.

5. The road trip is a summer institution

Summer is peak season for the great American road trip, a tradition fueled by the interstate highway system and a love of the open road.

6. Ice cream consumption peaks in July

July is one of the biggest months for ice cream, and the U.S. is among the world’s top consumers.

7. Drive-in movies are a nostalgic summer favorite

Once numbering in the thousands, drive-in theaters remain a cherished warm-weather tradition in many towns.

8. State fairs crown the late-summer calendar

Many of the country’s largest state fairs run in August, blending agriculture, food and carnival rides.

9. Lemonade stands are a rite of passage

The kid-run lemonade stand is a classic summer introduction to entrepreneurship.

10. Labor Day unofficially ends the season

Though summer officially runs later, Labor Day weekend marks the traditional close of the summer season and the return to school.

From backyard grills to ballparks, these traditions turn a few warm months into the most celebrated season of the American year.