There’s no better place to celebrate the United States’ Independence Day than Washington, D.C. While there are plenty of events and places to explore, from new markets to world-famous museums, we suggest these five great ways to commemorate the holiday in patriotic (and mostly family-friendly) style.
An American Celebration
The home of America’s first president is a fitting spot to mark the Fourth of July. George Washington’s Mount Vernon rolls out the birthday cake for a daylong party that includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence, the naturalization of 100 citizens and daytime fireworks along the Potomac. The day’s festivities are included with standard admission.
A Patriotic Sporting Event
The Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team draws fans from all over the city who enjoy the opportunity to turn out in their red and white for a beer, a hot dog and some good old-fashioned fun on the diamond. The Nats take on the Milwaukee Brewers for the four-game Patriotic Series, July 1 to 4. The first pitch on Independence Day will be thrown at 11:05 a.m. And as a bonus, singer-songwriter legend Neil Diamond will perform his new single “Freedom Song (They’ll Never Take Us Down)” live for the first time during the contest.
Boom With A View
There are few hotels in Washington, D.C. that can boast a better view of the day’s festivities than the W Washington D.C. The property’s Point of View (P.O.V.) lounge overlooks the White House lawn, and a spot on the rooftop for its annual Boom with a View party is one of the area’s most coveted celebrations. Individual tickets and room packages are sold out, but private tables are still available for the bash (starting at $1,000). All guests will enjoy special Independence Day-themed cocktails (Patriotic Punch and Star-Spangled Sip) and a performance by one of the area’s most popular cover bands, Burnt Sienna. For a room with a view, book the Star-Spangled MOment package at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel is offering fireworks-facing accommodations and a patriotic-themed amenity to sweeten the spectacular vantage point.
A Capitol Fourth
The 90-minute music extravaganza, broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, will feature host Tom Bergeron (of Dancing With The Stars fame) and performers such as Barry Manilow, Scotty McCreery, Darren Criss (Glee) and Megan Hilty (Smash). The show culminates at 9:30 p.m. in a fireworks display set to the “1812 Overture” by the National Symphony Orchestra. Don’t love crowds? We prefer the much less-cluttered dress rehearsal on July 3 — it’s a local’s secret.
Smithsonian Folklife Fest
Running July 3 to 7, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an annual free event on the National Mall that focuses on preserving and celebrating unique and distinct cultures through arts, crafts, games, food and more. This year, the festival’s three themes are Hungarian heritage, the many languages spoken around the world and African-American diversity, style and identity.
Photo Courtesy of iStock/NitinSanil
