The Fourth of July celebration is always the biggest party in DC, and this year’s event is no exception. Plan a trip to the National Mall for a festive display of our nation’s patriotism. The Independence Day Parade runs right down Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets, starting at 11:45AM. This always draws a big crowd, so stake your claim on the curb early or you might miss it.
After the parade, there’s plenty of entertainment to be found at the Folklife Festival on the Mall until 5:00PM. Afterwards, you can take in a concert on the Washington Monument grounds, and listen to the US Navy Concert band.
Of course, the big event is the Capitol Fourth Concert on the West lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and contemporary artists perform patriotic music, while the fireworks light up the sky. You don’t need tickets to attend this event but the “doors” open at 3:00PM and the best seats go fast, so get there early. Jimmy Smits will host this year’s event, and the performers include Reba McIntire, Gladys Knight, Darius Rucker, David Archuleta, and John Schneider. Plan for intense heat by dressing appropriately and drinking lots of fluids.
The grand fireworks show begins at dark, usually around 9:30PM. The fireworks are set off around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool but can be seen from miles around. There really are no “bad” seats (unless you’re sitting under a tree). Some of the favorite fireworks viewing spots for locals are the grounds of the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. The traffic at these locations is not nearly as chaotic as heading to the Mall, and you still have a great vantage point for all the ooohs and ahhhs.
Have a fun and safe 4th of July celebration in DC!
For more travel information and tips on visting the July 4 celebration in Washington, DC, visit: http://www.thedistrict.com/a_capitol_fourth_4th_of_july.cfm
