Fourth of July Fireworks (Any Major US City)

This event’s 20-minute fireworks display loses its magic after you endure 3 hours of hunting for parking and staking out a spot. Worse, the post-show traffic adds 90 minutes to your drive home, making the entire evening a logistical nightmare. This ordeal is even less efficient than the Lunar New Year Parade (#10), which at least offers a full procession of colorful floats to distract from the congestion. With an average of 500,000 attendees per major city show, you’re 35% more likely to miss the finale due to blocked sightlines than at a smaller, ticketed event. The brief spectacle simply cannot justify the 12-to-1 prep-to-enjoyment ratio.