A Capitol Fourth - 4th of July

What more patriotic way to celebrate American independence than to stand on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and watch fireworks explode over the Washington Monument? No other city celebrates the Fourth of July with as much fervor and pageantry as Washington, D.C. And with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture"--complete with cannon fire--in the background.

The West Lawn of the Capitol is the site of "A Capitol Fourth," the free hour-and-a-half concert put on each year by PBS. The National Symphony Orchestra and the Choral Arts Society of Washington back up a lineup of stars. 

It all leads up to a spectacular fireworks show, which usually kicks off shortly after 9:00 p.m. On the West Lawn, you'll have the best seat in the house--and the best seat in the country.

Travel Tips

Don't even think about driving. About 700,000 people flock to the National Mall each year for the fireworks, making parking close to impossible, and police close many of the streets around the Capitol for security reasons. The concert fills up so you probably want to come early--gates open as early as 3 p.m.--and bring a blanket or folding chairs and a picnic dinner. Be sure to bring plenty of water (no glass bottles or alcohol, though), because Washington, D.C. gets hot and sticky during the summer, and you don’t want to risk heat exhaustion. Bring sunscreen too.

You can get some of the same effect with smaller crowds, minus the fireworks of course, if you come a day early. The organizers stage a full dress rehearsal on July 3, and that, too, is open to the public.

Whenever you come, expect to pass through a metal detector and have police search through all of your bags, picnic baskets, and coolers.

For more information on A Capitol Fourth, visit www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/.

For information on the National Independence Day Parade, visit http://july4thparade.com/.

Find all the information you need about Washington, D.C. at http://www.thedistrict.com