US Capitol Police Information for the Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks in Washington DC

The US Capitol Police have issued the following press release to help visitors to the National Mall for the Fourth of July events in Washington D.C.:

June 21, 2019 Press Release

Know Before You Go: Information on the Concert, Rehearsal, Prohibited Items & Street Closures

“On Thursday, July 4, 2019, the 39th annual “A Capitol Fourth” Concert, celebrating America’s Independence Day, will air live from the West Front of the United States Capitol.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, and gates will open to the public at 3 p.m.

There will also be a full concert dress rehearsal on Wednesday, July 3, 2019, beginning at 8 p.m.  Gates will open to the public at 3 p.m.  

Both events are open to the public and no tickets are required.

Public and Accessible Entrances, Parking, and Travel Tips

All public entrances are wheelchair accessible.  Mobility impaired guests and their parties will be accommodated at any public entrance.  Limited parking on a first come, first serve basis will be available to mobility-impaired guests and their parties along the south curb of Constitution Avenue between First and Third Streets, NW.

Public entrances to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol are as follows:

• North (Senate) Side of Capitol Square: Third Street, NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• South (House) Side of Capitol Square:  Third Street, SW, and Maryland Avenue, SW

There is no public parking in the immediate area of the U.S. Capitol. Use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.  Please visit www.wmata.com to help plan your trip.

Prohibited Items, Security Measures, and Inclement Weather

The U.S. Capitol Police and concert event staff closely monitor weather conditions. Any changes to the schedule of events based on adverse weather conditions will be announced to the general public. If an evacuation is necessitated by inclement weather, please follow U.S. Capitol Police direction.

Additional security measures will be in place to ensure the safety and security of those in attendance.  Anyone attending events on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol must adhere to security screening procedures before entering the event site.  This will include an administrative search of all bags, coolers, backpacks, and closed containers.

For this event, food items and beach/camp chairs that sit low to the ground are permitted.  Guests are encouraged to bring their own supply of water.

The following items are prohibited.  (Other items also may be prohibited at discretion of security screeners.)

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Glass Bottles
• Animals (other than service animals)
• Bicycles and Motorized Scooters of any kind (Devices required for accessibility (ADA) will be accommodated.)
• Firearms and Ammunitions (either real or simulated)
• Explosives of any kind, including Fireworks
• Knives, Blades or Sharp Objects of any length
• Laser Pointers, Signs, Posters
• Mace, Pepper Spray,
• Sticks, Poles
• Electric Stun Guns
• Martial Arts Weapons or devices
• Umbrellas larger 36” in diameter (Umbrellas smaller than 36” will be allowed.)
• Pocket or Hand Tools such as a “Leatherman”
• Sealed Packages, Large boxes, Duffle bags, Suitcases
• Drones, Model rockets, Remote or Manually-controlled Model Gliders,
• Model Airplanes or Unmanned Aircrafts, Model Boats and/or Cars, and other unmanned ground or aircraft systems

Tour Bus Rerouting

Tour buses will be rerouted to Third Street NW/SW, for passenger drop-off and pick-up on July 2 and 3.  On Thursday, July 4, tour buses will drop-off passengers at Washington and Independence Avenues, SW, or Louisiana Avenue and First Street, NW.

Street Closures and Parking Restrictions

Temporary street closures and parking restrictions will take effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2 through Friday, July 5 at 4 a.m.

• First Street between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW
• Maryland Avenue, SW, between First Street, SW, and Third Street, SW
• Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between First Street, NW, and Third Street, NW
• The area between Peace Circle and Garfield Circle will remain closed until 4 a.m. on July 5.

From Wednesday, June 26 through Sunday, June 30, the traffic pattern on First Street, NW/SW between Garfield Circle and Peace Circle will be impacted. Two southbound lanes will be open but they will be coned on the white line dividing them allowing for two-lane traffic – one lane northbound and one lane southbound. The two northbound lanes will be closed.

For additional information about the July 4th Concert, please visit www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth.

For questions about this event, please contact the U.S. Capitol Police Public Information Office at 202-224-1677.“

——————————————-

For more information on the Fourth of July in Washington DC, Visit our A Capitol Fourth – 4th of July events page.

To view this press release, click here.