D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a special event ahead of Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water festival on June 17, shutting down a portion of the mall starting as early as next week.

According to the Mayor’s order issued earlier this week, parts of Independence Avenue will start to close on  Monday, June 13, before the festival kicks off on Friday at 2:00 p.m. It will take place on Independence Avenue between 3rd Street SW and 9th Street SW. (As always, some closures may be subject to change, so up-to-date traffic information can be found on the D.C. Police Traffice website.)

Monday June 13, 6:00 a.m. 

Westbound lanes of C Street, SW, between 4th Street SW, and 6th Street, SW,  will be closed to vehicular traffic.
Eastbound curb lane of C Street SW, between 4th Street SW, and 6th Street SW, will be closed to vehicular parking.

Monday, June 13, 8:00 p.m. 

Independence Avenue, SW, between 3rd Street, SW, and 4th Street, SW, will be closed to vehicular traffic.
Maryland Avenue, SW, between 3rd Street, SW, and Independence Avenue, SW, will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Tuesday, June 14, 8:00 p.m. 

Independence Avenue, SW, between 7th Street, SW, and 9th Street, SW will be closed to vehicular traffic
4th Street SW between C Street CW and Jefferson Drive SW will be closed to vehicular traffic.
Independence Avenue SW, between 4th Street and 9th Street SW will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Thursday June 16, 8:00 p.m. 

6th Street SW between Independence Avenue SW and C Street SW will be closed to vehicular traffic
Maryland Avenue SW between 6th Street and 7th STreet SW will be closed to vehicular traffic.

The Smithsonian will also close the National Museum of the American Indian and the Hishhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden on Friday through Sunday, according to an announcement on Friday, but all other Smithsonians will remain open throughout the festival.

The festival, featuring names like Tyler The Creator, Calvin Harris, Usher, and Pusha T,  is expected to draw at least 40,000 people down to the mall over the course of the weekend, with performances taking place at three different stages. Williams pulled the festival out of Virginia Beach in fall 2021, after he said city leaders refused to value his solutions to unifying the region. In March 2021, Virginia Beach police shot and killed Donovon Lynch, Williams’ cousin, and Lynch’s family have demanded answers about his death and disputed police accounts.

While D.C. is no stranger to large, crowded events occurring on or around the National Mall, Metro is suggesting that if possible, concert-goers avoid the L’Enfant Metro stop — the station closest to the stages. According to FOX 5, WMATA has expanded service on the Red Line, will extend Orange Line service to Federal Center SW, and add additional train cars to prevent overcrowding.

With ticket prices starting at $350 (and those quickly sold out), local organizers have planned a potential alternative event on the Mall that weekend, claiming that Pharrell’s festival — supported in part by the mayor’s office and Events DC — was unaffordable and didn’t cater to local residents. A National Park Service spokesperson did not immediately return DCist/WAMU’s request for comment on the status of the permit request submitted by organizers for an event in Freedom Plaza, and an organizer of the event did not return DCist/WAMU’s inquiry earlier this week.

This post has been updated with information on Smithsonian closures.