The Fourth of July fireworks display at the National Mall is one of the largest in the country/NPS
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, a parade, a star-studded concert, and, of course, a fireworks show highlight the National Park Service’s annual celebration of Independence Day on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Keep in mind that some of the memorials and a number of roads will be closed due to the festivities.
Complete information and updates on the Independence Day celebration can be found at the Park Service’s website.
Schedule of Events
Smithsonian Folklife Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., National Mall, between 4th Street and 7th Street
The 2016 annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, co-sponsored by the National Park Service, highlights the innovative culture of the Basque country and diverse music of California. The festival will be open on the National Mall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. between 4th and 7th Streets.
National Independence Day Parade, 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m., Constitution Avenue NW from 7th Street to 17th Street NW
Marching bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military units, giant balloons, equestrian, drill teams and more celebrate Independence Day in this patriotic, flag-waving, red, white, and blue celebration of America's birthday.
United States Army Band Downrange, 6-9:09 p.m., Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument Grounds
Downrange, the United States Army Band’s popular music ensemble, performs a variety of up-to-date rock, pop, country, R&B, and inspirational signature patriotic arrangements.
A Capitol Fourth Concert, 8-9:30 p.m., West Lawn the U.S. Capitol
Co-sponsored by the National Park Service and the National Symphony Orchestra, join pop superstars Smokey Robinson and Kenny Loggins, soprano Jackie Evancho, host Tom Bergeron, and many more as they honor our country’s 240th birthday and the centennial of the National Park Service. Gates open at 3 p.m., and the event will air on PBS.
Fireworks Display, 9:09-9:27 p.m.
Independence Day culminates with a spectacular fireworks display over the National Mall. The fireworks will be launched from the area of the Reflecting Pool, and will be visible from many locations throughout D.C. and Northern Virginia. The fireworks will only be postponed in case of heavy rain, thunderstorms or high winds; the rain date for the fireworks is July 5.
Public Access
National Mall - The following public entry points for the National Mall will open at 10 a.m. unless otherwise indicated, and will remain open until 9 p.m. Visitors will be screened at all access points.
- South side of Memorial Bridge
- Constitution Avenue NW between 23rd Street NW and Henry Bacon Drive NW
- Constitution Avenue NW and 17th Street NW (opens at 2 p.m.)
- West side of 14th Street NW at Madison Drive NW (opens at 2 p.m.)
- West side of 14th Street SW at Jefferson Drive SW
- Maine Avenue SW and Raoul Wallenberg Place SW (15th Street SW)
- East Basin Drive just south of the Jefferson Memorial (visitors will not be able to access the National Mall from here)
- East Basin Drive at Inlet Bridge SW
U.S. Capitol grounds – Public access begins at 3 p.m. to view A Capitol Fourth, with a security check required of all visitors. Seating on the lawn is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- 3rd Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 3rd Street SW and Maryland Avenue SW
George Washington Memorial Parkway – Fireworks can be viewed from the following locations along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. There is no access to the National Mall from these locations:
- U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and Netherlands Carillon
- Columbia Island/Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove (Access to the Potomac Riverfront is now possible via the new bike/pedestrian tunnel that runs underneath the Boundary Channel Bridge (a.k.a. the “Humpback Bridge”))
- Gravelly Point, north of National Airport
- Washington Sailing Marina/Indigo Landing Restaurant at Daingerfield Island
Getting There
Visitors are strongly advised to use public transportation. Metrorail riders should try using stations other than the Smithsonian or Federal Triangle, which have the heaviest use on the Fourth of July. Additionally, the National Mall area immediately around the Smithsonian station is closed due to turf restoration and not available to as a viewing venue for the fireworks. Up-to-date information on Metro can be found at www.wmata.com.
Closures
- The Washington Monument will close at 5 p.m. July 3 and be closed all day July 4.
- The World War II Memorial will close at 4 p.m. July 4 as part of the fireworks safety zone. Cleanup of the World War II Memorial will begin immediately following the fireworks show, and the site will open as soon as the cleanup is complete.
- Access to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial will be limited after 8 p.m. July 4. The memorial will remain open, but the public will not be able to access the memorial from Independence Avenue after 8 p.m. Access will be available from West Basin and Ohio Drives.
- Paddle boats at the Tidal Basin will not operate on July 4.
- Big Bus Tours will not operate on the Mall on July 4.
- The D.C. Circulator’s National Mall route will not operate on July 4.
- East Potomac Golf Course will close at 3:30 p.m. (Last 18-hole tee time will be 11 a.m., last 9-hole tee time will be 1 p.m.)
- East Potomac Tennis Center will close at 3 p.m.
- Potomac Riverboat Company water taxi service to the National Mall will not operate.
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Comments
“Independence Day culminates with a spectacular fireworks display over the National Mall. The fireworks will be launched from the area of the Reflecting Pool, and will be visible from many locations throughout D.C. and Northern Virginia.”
A NPT story earlier this year reported on fireworks pollution at Mt. Rushmore:
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2016/05/mount-rushmore-fireworks-di...
I wonder how many other NPS units have annual fireworks shows?
“…the fall-out from these exhibitions includes a variety of toxic pollution that rain down on neighborhoods from coast to coast, often in violation of federal Clean Air Act standards.
Depending on the effect sought, fireworks produce smoke and dust that contain various heavy metals, sulfur-coal compounds and other noxious chemicals. Barium, for instance, is used to produce brilliant green colors in fireworks displays, despite being poisonous and radioactive. Copper compounds are used to produce blue colors, even though they contain dioxin, which has been linked to cancer.
Cadmium, lithium, antimony, rubidium, strontium, lead and potassium nitrate are also commonly used to produce different effects, even though they can cause a host of respiratory and other health problems.
The chemicals and heavy metals used in fireworks also take their toll on the environment, sometimes contributing to water supply contamination and even acid rain. Their use also deposits physical litter on the ground and into water bodies for miles around.”
http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/toxicfireworks.htm
Fire away!