The evening skies over the Washington area were thick with haze last night, the gift of a brutal heatwave featuring stifling humidity. Not that the weather could stop people from gathering on their balconies and rooftops, walking to public spaces with downtown vistas or assembling on the National Mall to take in annual Fourth of July fireworks show.

Of course, there were plenty of sideshows. Pyrotechnic displays lit up Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax in Virginia, and Prince George’s County in Maryland. Montgomery County, still recovering from last week’s derecho storm, had to cancel its fireworks show. Besides the official displays, people in neighborhoods throughout D.C. lit their own private stocks of colorful explosives, keeping the streets abuzz with flashes and bangs into the wee hours.

And for those who watched PBS’ annual broadcast of A Capitol Fourth, WETA’s follow-up program, D.C. Fireworks Extravaganza, once again featured its normal soundtrack of minstrel songs.

But don’t let a public television station’s stodgy ways get you down. It might have been steamy and uncomfortable outside last night, but in your air-conditioned office today, enjoy reliving all the colorful explosions.