Guide to the Fourth of July in the Washington area

FIREWORKS IN THE WASHINGTON AREA: (View a larger map)

WASHINGTON-AREA FIREWORKS OFF THE MALL
(events are July 4 unless otherwise noted):

Alexandria:
    – July 7 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St.
–  There will be children’s activities and pre-show entertainment, exhibits by community groups and food sales; followed by awards presentation, birthday cake distribution, musical performances; and fireworks at the end.

Annapolis:
    – 9:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at Annapolis Harbor
– People can watch at Susan Campbell park, where the United States Naval Academy Band will perform from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. following a parade. People can also watch from other places, including any of the street-end city parks facing Spa Creek and public places northeast of the Severn River.

Bowie:
    – Allen Pond Park, 3330 Northview Drive
    – Entertainment from the United States Air Force Band Airmen of Note starts at 8 p.m.
– Mayor’s welcome at 9 p.m., followed by a short flag ceremony and the singing of the National Anthem
– Fireworks begin about 9:15 p.m.
– Food and drinks will be on sale throughout the park beginning at 3 p.m.  Grills permitted in designated areas only. No pets will be allowed in the park on July 4th.
– Rain date for fireworks only is July 5.

Boyds/Germantown – Canceled due to storm:
    – Germantown Soccerplex 18041 Central Park Circle
– Family concert at 7 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.

College Park:
    – Lot 1 at the University of Maryland, adjacent to Campus Drive off Adelphi Road
    – Event starts at 7 p.m. The entertainment is The Fabulous Hubcaps.
– Fireworks start at about 9 p.m. and will last about 30 to 40 minutes.

Fairfax City:
    – Event starts at 7 p.m. at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run
– Program includes performances by the City of Fairfax band and Leggz (favorites from Motown to classic Rock & Roll to 70s and 80s)
– Fireworks display starts at 9:20 p.m.
    – Rain date for fireworks only is July 5
-Lawn chairs, smoking, alcohol and animals (with the exception of service animals) are not permitted on the football field.
http://www.fairfaxva.gov/specialevents/IDC/EE.asp

Falls Church:
– George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA
– Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. with fireworks at 9:20 p.m.
– Rain date: July 5
– No alcohol, personal fireworks or smoking are permitted on school grounds.
    
Fort Meade:
    – Fort Meade Parade Field
    – Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
– Event starts at Noon and runs until the conclusion of the fireworks and includes music and children’s inflatable rides. Food vendors will be at the field.
– People can bring blankets, chairs and other seating, but any devices requiring stakes are prohibited.
– In the event of severe, inclement weather, the fireworks only will take place on July 5 at 9:30 p.m.

 Gaithersburg – Canceled due to storm:
    – Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St.
    – Gates open at 5 p.m., entertainment begins at 7 p.m. and fireworks are at dusk

Greenbelt:
    – Buddy Attick Park
–  The Greenbelt Concert Band plays from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the bandstand. A Drum Circle will take place from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the bandstand, in which members of the public can participate. They may bring their own percussion instruments, or use those provided by the facilitator.
– Fireworks will take place at about 9 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the public should call the Recreation Department hotline for recorded information: 301-474-0646.
– People are encouraged to leave their pets at home.

Herndon:
    – Event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Bready Park, 814 Ferndale Avenue
    – Fireworks will occur when it gets dark

Kensington/Wheaton – Canceled due to storm:
    – Albert Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Road
– Entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks show will begin approximately
at 9:15 p.m.
-Since there will be no on-site parking at the school or at adjacent properties, except for handicapped parking, free shuttle bus service will pick up passengers beginning at 6:15 p.m. at Westfield Wheaton and the Wheaton Metro Station.

Laurel:
   – July 7
– Fireworks start at about 9:15 p.m. Other events are occurring throughout the day, including a parade that starts at 11 a.m. by Montgomery and 6th streets and travels down 4th street to the intersection with Cherry Lane.

Leesburg:
    – Festivities begin at 6 p.m. at Ida Lee Park, 60 Ida Lee Dr.
    – The Landshark Band will perform
    – Fireworks are at 9:30 p.m.

Manassas:
– Fireworks are at 9:15 p.m. on the Manassas Museum Lawn. People should bring lawn chairs and blankets and come early
– Rides for children are available starting at 2 p.m. in the area of the streets surrounding the Old Town train depot, the Harris Pavilion and the Manassas Museum
– Other parts of the event — including food concessions, novelty vendors, and live entertainment — start at 4 p.m.
– Shake It Up will play Motown, oldies, and classic rock starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Harris Pavilion.

McLean:
    – 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Langley High School stadium, 6520 Georgetown Pike
    – The grounds open at 8 p.m. and fireworks are at 9:15 p.m.
– Seating arrangements are restricted to the stadium bleachers and adjacent practice fields

National Harbor:
    – June 30 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
– Event includes fireworks and music on three outdoor stages. Food and alcoholic beverages will be available
– Main event tickets are $39.99 and VIP tickets are $69.99. Ticket holders must be 21 and over.

Poolesville:
    – Poolesville Polo Grounds, 14660 Hughes Road
    – Maryland. Live music begins at 6 p.m., Fireworks at 9 p.m. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

Reston:
    – Lake Fairfax Park
    – Fireworks start at about 9:15 p.m.
– The park grounds open at 7 a.m. and the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    – Vendors near the park main office will sell food
– The carousel and marina will also be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
– There will be pony rides and a small petting zoo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
– A field day event with family games will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. near the picnic area.
– There will be a puppet show from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. near the carousel

Rockville – Canceled due to storm:
– Montgomery College-Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee St., from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
– The event features live concerts, food vendors and a 20-minute fireworks display. The fireworks start at about 9:15 p.m. Attendees should bring chairs and blankets

Six Flags America:
    – The fireworks will be shot off over the Hurricane Bay Wavepool

Takoma Park:
    – Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Road
– Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Vienna:
    – FIreworks are 9:15 p.m. at Southside Park, 1315 Ross Drive Southwest
    – Music by Fat Chance will be at nearby Yeonas Park at 7 p.m.
– Rain date for fireworks only is July 5.

NON-FIREWORKS EVENTS (July 4 unless otherwise noted):
Annapolis
– Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade
– Parade is from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in downtown Annapolis. The route goes from West St. to Church Circle to Main St. to City Dock.

Washington, D.C.
– National Independence Day Parade
    – 11:45 a.m. on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th streets NW

– Smithsonian Folklife Festival
– June 27 to July 1 and July 4 to July 8 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the Mall, with special evening events

– A Capitol Fourth
    – July 4, Gates open to the public at 3 p.m., The National Symphony Orchestra, FREE. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and features artists including recent American Idol winner Phillip Phillips, country star Josh Turner, and R&B group Kool & the Gang. Eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will host a tribute to Team USA accompanied by five-time Academy Award winner John Williams performing his “Olympic Fanfare.”

– Annual Independence Day Organ Recital
    – July 4 at the Washington National Cathedral starting at 11 a.m. Cathedral Organist Scott Dettra and Artist-in-Residence Jeremy Filsell headline.

– The National Archives Patriotic Program
    – The free event hosts a reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from 10 to 11 a.m. Visitors can also sign a facsimile of the Declaration from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Family activities will be hosted from 11 to 2 p.m.

– White House Visitor Center Family Events
    – Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., the White House Visitor Center hosts Independence Day themed games and activities for the whole family.

– Concert at the Washington Monument
    – The U.S. Navy Band performs from 6 to 9 p.m. The U.S. Air Force Band and country music artist Jo Dee Messina will also perform.

– National FreedomFest at Yards Park
    – D.C.’s largest Independence Day music festival spans July 3 and 4 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day. 40 bands and DJ’s will perform. There will also be food and craft vendors. Tickets are $24.99 for one day and $34.99 for two days.

Leesburg
– Parade
-Starts at 10 a.m. at Ida Lee Park and moves south on King Street, finishing at the Safeway parking lot

Mount Vernon
– An American Celebration at Mount Vernon
    – July 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will enjoy reenactments, live music, daytime fireworks, free “Happy Birthday America” cake, and a new demonstration of how the Washington’s made homemade ice cream. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for children ages 6-11 and free for children five and under.

Reston
– July 4th Celebration
    – 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Newport Pool, 11601 Lake Newport Road
    – There will be a DJ, contests and prizes, and people can buy pizza
    – Will be cancelled if it rains

Takoma Park
–   Independence Day Celebration
– In addition to fireworks (see above), a parade will start at 10 a.m. The parade starts at the intersection of Carroll and Ethan Allen Avenues, will travel South on Carroll Avenue, will turn right on Maple Avenue and continue to Ritchie Avenue where it will disband.

Vienna
– July 4th Festival
    – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street Southeast
– Activities include arts and crafts, chili cookoff, antique and classic car show, family games and inflatables
    – Ron Moody and the Centaurs will be performing  oldies from 12:15 p.m. to  4 p.m.
    – Childtime Magic Presents Louis the Magician will perform at 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.

FUN FACTS:
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
– In July 1776 there were an estimated 2.5 million people living in the new country; the United States will have an estimated population of 313,900,000 this July 4.
– The value of U.S. imports of American flags in 2011 was $3.6 million. $3.3 million of this was for flags made in China.
– The value of exports of U.S. flags in 2011 was $663,071. The leading customer, Mexico, bought $80,348 worth of flags.
– In 2007, shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers had a value of $302.7 million.
– Fireworks imported to the United States in 2011 were worth $223.4 million. U.S. exports of fireworks had a value of $15.8 million. Australia was the leading purchaser of U.S. exports of fireworks, buying $4.5 million.
– The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics in 2007 was $231.8 million.

SAFETY TIPS:
  The National Fire Protection Agency urges people planning to grill this Fourth of July to adhere to a few grilling safety tips as July is the peak month for grill fires, accounting for 18 percent of all home fires involving grills:
– Propane and charcoal grills should only be used outdoors
– The grill should be placed away from the home and deck and out from under eaves and overhanging branches
– Keep children and pets away from the grill area
– Keep the grill clean of fat and grease buildup
– Never leave the grill unattended