Independence Day Expected to Draw Major Crowds to National Mall

If you are tempted to head downtown Monday to watch the country's most spectacular fireworks light up the National Mall, plan to take the metro. Or better yet, walk.

Forget about driving. Parking will be all-but-impossible in downtown D.C. on July 4 when hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country will descend on our city to celebrate the most patriotic day of the year.

Metrorail service will run from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday. Ridership levels will peak between 6 p.m. and midnight. According to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the Smithsonian Station will not be open during the day. That station will re-open after the fireworks show is over.

Georgetown residents who want to metro to the Mall should plan to hop on an Orange or Blue line train at the Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station. Those trains will be making stops downtown at Farragut West, Metro Center, Federal Triangle, L'Enfant Plaza, Federal Center SW and Capitol South.

On its website, WMATA said bikes will not permitted on the metro system and no peak fares will be in effect on Monday.

To avoid the afternoon commuting crowd, plan to come early and peruse the Smithsonian's annual Folklife Festival. This year's festival features outdoor exhibits on Colombia, the Peace Corps and Rhythm and Blues. The museums will be open, too.

"A Capitol Fourth" concert, featuring stars like Steve Martin, Josh Groban and Matthew Morrison, will start on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol at 8 p.m. No tickets are required and it is free to attend. General admission gates open at 3 p.m. The concert will be capped off by the national fireworks show.

The program is expected to be complete by 9:30 p.m. The concert and fireworks will be broadcast on PBS stations.