Community Corner
Fourth of July 2013 Guide to DC's 'A Capitol Fourth' and More
Tips on how to get there, what to bring (and what not to bring), how to get the most out of the day.
by Mary Ann Barton
Planning to celebrate Independence Day Thursday by heading into to the Mall for the annual Fourth of July concert and other activities? Patch has you covered with plenty of tips to make your holiday run as smoothly as possible.
Although the annual "A Capitol Fourth" concert doesn't start until 8 p.m., there are plenty of activities planned throughout the day in DC, including the National Archives Declaration of Independence reading at 10 a.m., the National Independence Day Parade at 11:45 a.m., kicking off at Constitution Avenue and Seventh Street in DC and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Getting there: Metro estimates it will see half a million riders on the Fourth of July. Metrorail service will operate from 7 a.m. to midnight, with near rush-hour service levels from 6 p.m. to midnight. There is no scheduled track work anywhere on the system on the holiday.
Metro encourages riders to use stations other than Smithsonian or Federal Triangle, which often see the heaviest ridership for National Mall events. Smithsonian Station will be “entry-only” after the fireworks show. Smithsonian Metro is the closest metro stop to the fireworks area.
Due to the possibility of overcrowding at Smithsonian, travelers are encouraged to use other nearby Metro stations such as Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom, L'Enfant Plaza, Archives/Navy Memorial, or Metro Center.
Driving is not suggested as vehicles will not be allowed on or around the National Mall. Numerous road closures will affect your ability to navigate areas of Washington, D.C. and along the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
'A Capitol Fourth' concert: All visitors are required to enter via an official event entrance, where entrants will be subject to security screening (prohibited items include weapons, fireworks, alcohol and grills). Public access to the National Mall begins at 10 a.m. The U.S. Capitol grounds open at 3 p.m. Seating space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.Here's a list of the official National Mall entrances:
- West entrance, or George Washington Memorial Parkway side of Arlington Memorial Bridge;
- Constitution Avenue and Henry Bacon Drive, NW;
- Constitution Avenue and 17th Street, NW;
- Constitution Avenue and 15th Streets, NW;
- West side of 14th Street, at Madison Drive NW;
- West side of 14th Street, at Jefferson Drive, SW;
- Maine Avenue and Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW (i.e. formerly 15th Street);
- East Basin Drive, SW, at Inlet Bridge.
- East Basin Drive, SW, just south of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial (Access to Jefferson Memorial ONLY)
Check this National Park Service map to find bike parking, concession stands and First Aid stations. (There will be 350 portable bathrooms on site at the Mall.) The National Park Service recommends bringing your own water and food if possible, since concession stand lines will be long.
Watching the fireworks from Northern Virginia:
You can always cross over the Francis Scott Key Bridge to Virginia to watch the fireworks. There are spots along George Washington Parkway where you can get a great view, including from:
- the Netherlands Carillon
- the US Marine Corps War Memorial
- Memorial Circle (access to National Mall via Arlington Memorial Bridge limited to pedestrians only)
- Lady Bird Johnson Park
- Gravelly Point north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (no access to National Mall);
- Columbia Island/Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove (no access to Potomac Riverfront or National Mall)
- Washington Sailing Marina at Daingerfield Island (no access to National Mall).
Fireworks, grills and alcohol are prohibited at all parkway sites. For a complete list of rules, read the Laws & Policies.
Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- Memorial Circle and Bridge will be closed to vehicles at 6:30 am.
- Parking lots at Theodore Roosevelt Island and Roaches Run Waterfowl Santuary will be closed to vehicles at 6:30 am.
- The right northbound lane of the George Washington Memorial Parkway will be closed from I-395 (the 14th Street Bridge) to Theodore Roosevelt Island to all traffic except emergency vehicles at 6:30 am.
- The ramp from I-395 south (the 14th Street Bridge) to the northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway will be closed at 8:30 pm.
- The parking lot at the Columbia Island Marina will be open to slip-holders only.
- Meade Street and Marshall Drive (near the US Marine Corps War Memorial and Netherlands Carillon) will be closed to vehicle traffic at 3 pm.
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