Every Fourth of July, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the National Mall to watch Washington’s annual fireworks display. This year’s show is expected to be “one of the most spectacular in recent memory,” according to the National Park Service’s website. Fireworks will be launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool beginning at 9:09 p.m. and will go on for a total of 18 minutes.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of this iconic Independence Day celebration in Washington on Thursday:

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