Brian Allen

Today is July 3rd, which means that — if all goes well — tomorrow is the Fourth of July. The federal and D.C. governments will be shut down for the patriotic holiday, leaving you available for day drinking, parade watching and fireworks spot claiming. Below we cover everything from where to find fireworks to road closures to drinking on roofs.

Fireworks

  • Should you attempt to watch fireworks from the National Mall? I’d argue that it’s something every D.C. resident should do once. The display features more than 6,000 shells set off over 17 minutes, according to the National Park Service, which is pretty spectacular sight to be under. But! Security is tight, as NPS has installed “18,000 linear feet of chain link fence.” That means there are only nine ways to enter the National Mall:

    >>South side of Memorial Bridge
    >>Constitution Avenue between 23rd Street and Henry Bacon Drive NE
    >>Constitution Avenue and 17th Street NW
    >>Constitution Avenue and 15th Street NW
    >>West side of 14th Street at Madison Drive
    >>West side of 14th Street at Jefferson Drive
    >>Maine Avenue and Raoul Wallenberg Place, (also known as 15th Street)
    >>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.

  • Do not attempt to drive. Metro trains will run on a Saturday scheduled until 2 p.m. then ramp up toward the evening. “Parking will be free at all Metro-operated facilities. Rush+ will not be in effect. Due to large crowds, bicycles and large coolers are not permitted.”

  • Our suggestions last year for watching the Mall display away from the Mall included the National Cathedral, Meridian Hill Park, McKinley Technology High School, and Holy Rood Cemetery.

  • The National Park Service also recommends the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, The White House Ellipse, West Potomac Park, East Potomac Park, and Anacostia Park.

  • No matter where you watch, you should know about the many road closures, which begin at 6 a.m. and end around 11 p.m.

    >>Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington Memorial Circle on the Virginia end to and including Lincoln Memorial Circle in the District;
    >>Rock Creek Parkway south of Virginia Avenue, NW to Lincoln Memorial Circle, including all approaches and ramps;
    >>Parkway Drive from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Memorial Circle;
    >>Lincoln Memorial Circle and all approaches and ramps into and out of Lincoln Memorial Circle, including Henry Bacon Drive, NW and Daniel Chester French Drive, SW;
    >>Ramp from Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge to Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW and Ohio Drive, SW; Inbound traffic on I-66 will be directed to the “E” Street Expressway;
    >>Constitution Avenue, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 14th Street, NW;
    19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Streets, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and C Street, NW;
    >>18th Street, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and Virginia Avenue, NW;
    >>Virginia Avenue, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and 18th Street, NW;
    >>17th Street, NW from E Street, NW south to Independence Avenue, SW;
    >>C and D Streets, NW from 17th to 18th Streets, NW;
    >>15th Street, NW from E Street, NW south to Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW;
    >>Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW to Maine Avenue, SW;
    >>Independence Avenue, SW west of 14th Street, SW to 23rd Street, SW, including merge with Rock Creek Parkway;
    >>Madison Drive, NW from 15th Street, NW to 3rd Street. NW;
    >>Jefferson Drive, SW from 15th Street, SW to 3rd Street, SW;
    >>7th Street, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW;
    >>4th Street, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW;
    >>Ohio Drive, SW from the Inlet Bridge to Independence Avenue, SW;
    >>West Basin Drive, SW from Ohio Drive, SW to Independence Avenue, SW;
    >>East Basin Drive, SW, east of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial to Ohio Drive, SW.

  • Create your own display with legal (see: boring) fireworks. Here’s where to purchase them.

    DC FireWorks Sales Locations 02 by Tony Walton

    Parades

  • The National Independence Day Parade kicks off Friday at 11:45 a.m. and runs along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th streets: “The Parade consists of invited bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military and specialty units, giant balloons, equestrian, drill teams, VIP’s, national dignitaries, and celebrity participants.”

  • The 48th annual Palisades Parade begins at 11 a.m. on Whitehaven Parkway: “The parade ends at the Palisades Rec Center where there is a free picnic for all including hot dogs, watermelon, pony rides, moon bounces and live music!” Also: Politicians.

  • Capitol Hill hosts it own parade, which travels down Barracks Row at 10 a.m. There will be dogs.

    Events

  • The Capitol Fourth concert, like the National Mall, will be packed. Hosted by Tom Bergeron, the event will feature performances by Frankie Valli, Patti LaBelle, Jordin Sparks, Michael McDonald, Sara Evans, Kendall Schmidt and Kelli O’Hara. Composer John Williams will “debut a special arrangement for orchestra and chorus of the “Star Spangled Banner” with the National Symphony Orchestra, The Joint Armed Forces Chorus, the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.” Gates at 3 p.m., concert at 8 p.m.

  • The U.S. Navy Band will perform at the Sylvan Theater on the Washington Monument grounds from 6 to 9:10 p.m.

  • The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage hosts Listen Local First D.C.’s Capital City Independence Bash with Jonny Grave, Gordon Daniels of Lucky Dub, Candice Mills of Future, and Mike Ounallah and Kristen Long of Black Masala. 6 p.m.

  • The U.S. Air Force Band’s “Max Impact” will play at the top of the hour, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at the Air and Space Museum.

  • The National Building Museum’s maze opens tomorrow, and tickets are first-come, first-served. Our preview will be up this afternoon.

    Parties

  • Avery’s on H Street NE is charging $10 for access to their roof. Drink specials include $5 Fireball shots. Doors at 3 p.m.

  • The Brixton will host a hot dog eating contest at 5 p.m. The prize? A $100 bar tab. Miller Lite and Bud Light will be $4 all night.

  • DC Brau and DC9 host a rooftop picnic at 2 p.m.. For $11 you’ll get a choice of meat (or fake meat), two sides and a slice of watermelon. DC Braus $4 all night, no cover.

  • Jack Rose Dining Saloon and Flying Dog Brewery are hosting a canned beer celebration on the saloon’s rough: “They’ll have cans of Snake Dog IPA and Easy IPA at $4 from 12 to 5 p.m. (and $5 from 5 p.m. until the fireworks end), $5-$6 drafts, and other food and drink specials all day.”
  • Here are the bars that have permission to stay open until 4 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. God bless America.

    2014 Independence Day Weekend by SAEHughes

    Homepage photo by Brian Allen

    • Filed Under: fourth of july,