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President Trump’s plans to change the traditional July 4 celebration in the District are coming into focus. He’ll make a national address in the early evening as part of a salute to the military. There will be flyovers. And tanks. And there will be not one, but two fireworks displays. Here’s everything we know about the Independence Day celebration.

How Will Trump’s Event Affect Activity On The National Mall?

The event, called “Salute to America,” will take place at the Lincoln Memorial from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. President Trump will “lead” the celebration, which will include music, military demonstrations and flyovers.

Last year, President Trump spent the Fourth of July at the White House. This year, he plans to speak from the Lincoln Memorial.

The White House says the event will include a ticketed area around the Lincoln Memorial for VIPs, friends and family, and members of the military. A spokesperson for the White House says everything else will be open to the general public, and that the general public area does not require tickets.

Trump is set to give a speech, but it’s unclear what time that will exactly happen. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. For the first time in recent memory, the World War II Memorial and areas around the Reflecting Pool will be open to the public for the speech and fireworks viewing.

Will There Be Tanks?

President Trump told reporters Monday there will be tanks as part of his Fourth of July celebration. According to the Associated Press, Trump said that they will “have some tanks stationed outside.” On Wednesday morning, some M2 Bradley tanks were parked near the Lincoln Memorial. The president had wanted tanks to be part of a military parade on Veteran’s Day that never happened.

Local officials have railed against having tanks over concern about what they could do the District’s streets. On Monday, Council of D.C. tweeted: “We have said it before, and we’ll say it again: Tanks, but no tanks.”

Where Will The Fireworks Display Be?

There will be two back-to-back fireworks shows starting at 9:07 p.m. In total, the display will last 35 minutes. That’s because two private companies donated fireworks worth $750,000, the National Park Service said. The first batch of fireworks will be launched behind the Lincoln Memorial, and the second show will be in West Potomac Park.

In years past, the fireworks were launched from near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but this year, that area has been open to the public for the president’s speech. The change of location also means that the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial will be open to the public.

The FAA also announced that air traffic at Reagan National Airport will be suspended at various times throughout the evening.

 

Who’s Going To Perform At Trump’s Event?

Since this is an event to honor the military, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the U.S. Army Band, the Armed Forces Chorus, the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team will perform. The event will also include a flight demonstration by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. 

How Will Trump’s Plans Affect “A Capitol Fourth”?

The annual free concert, “A Capitol Fourth,” will go on as planned on the Capitol’s West Lawn from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Event organizers say it’s “unaffiliated with any other July 4 event.” The concert, hosted by John Stamos, will include performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, Vanessa Carlton, Carole King and more. Characters from “Sesame Street” will also make an appearance. Gates open at 3 p.m.

Another annual event, the National Independence Day Parade, will go on as usual as well. It will take place from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Constitution Avenue Northwest.

Will There Be Protestors?

Code Pink will have a “Baby Trump” balloon near the Washington Monument on July 4, but it won’t be flying.

At least a couple of groups have filed permit requests to hold on the Fourth of July.

The group Code Pink has gotten a permit to have the “Baby Trump” balloon near the Washington Monument, but it won’t be flying. It will instead be inflated with “cold air” and will be tethered.

Who Will Pay For Trump’s Celebration?

It’s unclear how much President Trump’s “Salute to America” event will cost. The military parade he requested last year (but didn’t get), had an estimated price tag of $92 million.

The National Park Service is committing nearly $2.5 million to pay for the event, according to the Washington Post.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said the city will do whatever it takes to keep people safe, and it will ask for reimbursement from the federal government. The Washington Post reported that President Trump still owes D.C. $7.3 million for costs related to his 2017 inauguration.

Meanwhile, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen are urging Congress for money for D.C.’s Emergency Planning and Security Fund, which pays for security costs related to being in the nation’s capital. That fund, which doesn’t include the costs for Trump’s Fourth of July event, is slated to run out next month, the lawmakers say. They plan to ask for funding for the fiscal year 2020 to cover costs related to Trump’s celebration.

How will Metro stations be affected?

Metro will run extended rush-hour services. Because of the addition of President Trump’s event, Metro says it will run rush-hour service several hours earlier than it did in years past (rush-hour service usually started around 5 or 6 p.m. in time for people to get to the Mall for fireworks). Metro didn’t say exactly when rush-hour service will start, but said more details will be released as they become available. The transit system will open at 7 a.m. and close at 11:30 p.m. Parking will be free at all Metro lots and garages, and off-peak fares will be in effect all day. Because the Memorial Bridge will be closed off to both vehicles and pedestrians this year, people who used Arlington Cemetery Station in the past to walk to the Mall will need to find another option. 

This story originally appeared at WAMU.

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