Photo by mosley.brian.

Last week, we reported that District residents would be the first to officially get to visit the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. But now, Washingtonians will have to share that honor with suburbanites and anyone else who shows up — Mayor Vince Gray announced this morning that, due to incredible demand for tickets, the city will completely open up the planned “D.C. Residents” Day.

Anybody who comes to the Memorial site on August 23rd between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. will be allowed an up-close look at the King memorial. Gray said that organizers won’t “turn anybody away” that day. The “Residents” Day is but one part of a week-long celebration which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to the District — including a street naming ceremony on the 25th which might not actually involve any signage, and a autonomy rally and march on the 27th.

WMATA is also preparing for the massive crowds expected to attend the official dedication, which begins at 11 a.m. on August 28. On that day, the transit agency will open at 5 a.m., provide free parking, prohibit bicycles on trains, detour some Metrobuses and likely shut down escalators for safety reasons. Metro is asking riders to get to stations early and purchase farecards in advance in order to help keep things moving.