What to Expect for Independence Day Weekend on Capitol Hill

Fireworks shows, concerts and a parade on Barracks Row are a few of the ways locals can celebrate Independence Day in the Capitol Hill area.

On Friday, fireworks are slated to light up the sky near Nationals Park before they shoot up Saturday near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and RFK Stadium.

Independence Day also will include a Foo Fighters concert at RFK and a free “Capitol Fourth” show with Barry Manilow, country music band Alabama and KC and the Sunshine Band on the U.S. Capitol grounds.

On Barracks Row, the area’s annual July 4 parade will kick off at 10 a.m. The parade is slated to feature the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, the Eastern High School marching band, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilman Charles Allen of Ward 6, who will serve as grand marshal.

If you take photos this weekend, be sure to send them our way. We may feature some reader photos in a post next week. Photos can be shared with [email protected] or sent to us on Twitter.

Here is some other information for the holiday weekend:

• City Services: D.C. and federal government offices will be closed Friday. Trash collection will follow normal schedules and parking meters and restrictions only will be enforced in the neighborhoods surrounding RFK on Saturday, the National Mall on Friday and Saturday and Nationals Park throughout the holiday weekend.
• Road Closures: Roads around the National Mall will close in two phases, one of which starts at 6 a.m. Saturday. The other phase starts at 11:15 a.m. The roads will reopen at 11 p.m.
• Riding Metro: Trains will run a weekend schedule Friday and trains will ramp up to near rush-hour service starting at 2 p.m. Saturday until after the fireworks. Standard service will resume Sunday.
• Where to Buy Fireworks: Locals looking to purchase legal fireworks might have to look outside of the Capitol Hill area. A stand at 1400 Maryland Ave. NE, Ward 6’s only authorized fireworks stand, didn’t appear to be operational today. For other locations, check this map.
• Pools: The Randall Pool at 25 I St. SW, the Rosedale Pool at 1701 Gales St. NE and other public pools will be open from noon to 6 p.m. throughout the holiday weekend.

Photo via Flickr/Tim Kelley