Beltway Bambinos

Fourth of July Celebrations in Washington, DC

Have a safe and fun Independence Day celebrating in the most perfect place; the Nation’s Capital if you are in town!

Root, NPS photo by Chalice Keith

Washington Nationals are in town Tuesday-Monday. There will be Freedom Fireworks on Wednesday & the Patriotic Series on Thursday.

9:00am-5:00pm: An American Celebration at Mount Vernon
Celebrate our nation’s independence at the home of the father of our country. During this patriotic event: Watch made-for-daytime fireworks and observe a moving ceremony in which people from across the world become U.S. citizens. Concessions will be available all day from: Mount Vernon Inn Food Truck on 12-acre Field and Half Crown Bakehouse on 12-acre Field.

9:30am-1:00pm: Family Day: Summer Party at the Capital Jewish Museum
Join us at CJM before the fireworks for specialty crafts, music, food, and fun. Learn about Jewish Revolutionary War history from our friends at National Museum of American Jewish Military History. Connect and celebrate a tradition for your home with mezuzah activities brought to you by MyZuzah. We’ll also have themed crafts and activities in the Community Action Lab, and classic outdoor games and music on our newly opened 3rd floor terrace. Plus, build a goodie bag to enjoy during the fireworks!

9:45am-11:00am: Kensington’s 29th Annual Bike Parade
Decorate your bikes, scooters, wagons, anything & join the parade or watch it go by.

10:00am-7:00pm: National Archives Family Event
The National Archives will hold its annual Fourth of July program featuring prominent speakers, musical performances, and family activities to celebrate the 248th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. This family event is free and open to the public. Seating on the Constitution Avenue steps is available on a first-come, first-seated basis.Ceremony: 10 a.m.–11 a.m. Family activities: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. & Exhibits (including the original Declaration of Independence): 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

10:00am: The 21st annual Capitol Hill Community 4th of July Parade
This is a local tradition that is considered one of Washington, DC’s best events. We are pleased to announce that we’ll be able to hold our traditional parade on Capitol Hill’s Barracks Row this year. Get your groups together and join in on the fun!

10:00am: Takoma Park July 4th Parade
Head to Takoma Park for another parade that has become a tradition. The parade will begin at Ethan Allen & Carroll Aves, travel down Carroll Ave (becoming Carroll St NW), turn right at Maple St NW (becoming Maple Ave), and travel down Maple Ave to end at Ritchie Ave.

11:00am: 58th Annual Palisades Parade
Your kids will bring home tons of candy, bring a bag! The parade starts at the intersection of Whitehaven Pkwy and MacArthur Blvd at 11:00am sharp. The parade turns right onto MacArthur, continues past Dana Place, then takes a left on Edmunds, a left on Sherier, and ends at the Palisades Rec Center.

11:45am: The National Independence Day Parade
Held annually in Washington, DC. Invited bands and participants come together every year for this patriotic, flag-waving, red white and blue celebration of America’s birthday! Along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Street before a street audience of hundreds of thousands of spectators. The Parade consists of invited bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military and specialty units, giant balloons, equestrian, drill teams, VIP’s, national dignitaries, and celebrity participants. The Parade is a major national event which seeks to draw the attention of Americans to the real meaning for the holiday. It is a patriotic, flag-waving, red white and blue celebration of America’s birthday!

12:00pm-Dusk: Frederick’s 4th
Celebrate the largest Independence Day celebration in Frederick County with two stages of entertainment alongside family-friendly rides, activities, food, and fireworks from noon to dusk.

3:00pm-10:00pm: Historic Manassas Celebrates America
Ring in the 4th of July with a vibrant celebration in the heart of Historic Downtown Manassas. Enjoy family-friendly activities and the best firework display in Northern Virginia! It’s an all-American party celebrating the spirit of our nation in this charming city. Starting at 3 p.m., there will be games and rides for kids, face painting, 4th of July memorabilia, plus food and craft vendors. Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty will be visiting as well. Bring lawn chairs or blankets to get your best seats on the Manassas Museum Lawn and beyond! Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.

4:00pm-9:30pm: Celebration at the Armed Forces Retirement Home
In it’s thirteenth year, the annual gathering hosts food trucks, children’s games, and a perfect view from the golf course to watch the National Mall fireworks display. FOSH provides a bounce house and obstacle course for children, and a contest for most patriotic outfit at the Bike Parade. Adults mingle and enjoy food and drink while listening to the Home’s resident DJ, Billy White, spin top tunes. Best of all, a record number of residents of the Soldiers Home join in the celebration!

5:00pm-10:00pm: Fourth at the Wharf
The Wharf is going country for the Fourth of July! Celebrate the Fourth at The Wharf with free live country music from 5-9pm throughout our outdoor stages. Grab food to-go from a Wharf restaurant then head to District Pier where you can play games, sip on ice cold drinks from the bar and enjoy spectacular views of the National Park Service fireworks launched from the Lincoln Memorial.

5:00pm-10:30pm: Fourth of July in the District Concert
Join Mayor Muriel Bowser, the United States Air Force Band, Events DC, and the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment for the second annual 4th of July in the District Concert featuring performances by the United States Air Force Band with Gavin Degraw and more acts to follow with live broadcast nationally on CNN. There will be family friendly activites , food trucks and more. The concert is free and seating is first come, first serve.

6:00pm-9:00pm: Takoma Park Evening Street Party
Join your friends and neighbors for an evening of Live Music, Food Trucks, Beer & Wine Garden (Takoma Bev Co.), Kids’ Activities with Let’s Play America and more!

8:00pm-9:30: A Capital Fourth Concert
This star-studded salute to Independence Day is broadcast live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol and is free and open to the public. Gates open at 3 p.m.

9:09pm-9:27pm: Fireworks on the National Mall
The National Park Service will once again host the annual Independence Day fireworks celebration on the National Mall, the nation’s most important civic space and home to more than a dozen memorials that commemorate great Americans and significant events in our nation’s history. The display will be held on Thursday, July 4, starting at 9:09 p.m. and will be launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Other viewing areas for the Mall fireworks–
U.S. Capitol
Lincoln Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The White House Ellipse
West Potomac Park
East Potomac Park
Anacostia Park
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Watch from the water on a cruise: Embark DC Boat Tours, City Cruises and Monumental Boat Tours
Grab a rooftop reservation at The Pendry Wharf, VUE Rooftop at the W Hotel or at Top of the Gate at the Watergate Hotel are a few!
Hop on a bike and head to Mt. Vernon Trail, Hains Point or Cardoza High School.