Thousands of area residents and tourists are gearing up for the main event in the nation’s Independence Day celebrations.

“You can’t say there’s any better place in America to be on the Fourth of July than Washington, D.C.,” said Bill Hanbury, president of the city’s tourism bureau, Destination D.C. About 500,000 out-of-town visitors agree with him; that’s how many are expected to descend on the District during the holiday weekend.

The city will be jam-packed with events during the holiday. The fireworks on the National Mall are a national tradition, shown across the country on broadcast television. The accompanying free concert, A Capitol Fourth, this year stars American Idol alum Taylor Hicks, Broadway great Brian Stokes Mitchell, and ‘80s rockers Huey Lewis and The News, among others. The weekend also coincides with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which celebrates Bhutan, Texas and NASA this year.

Dan Ross and his wife decided to make the trek from Columbus, Ohio, because they could extend a business trip into a vacation.

This story continues below
Advertisement

“I think the Fourth has an enhanced significance when you are here in D.C.,” Ross said. “We just walked through three war monuments; I don’t know how you can go through that without a tear.”

Visiting the National Archives really made the experience special for Susan Kenney of Chapel Hill, N.C.

“Seeing the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence — that really brought it home for me, that the Fourth of July is celebrating our Declaration of Independence,” she said.

As gas prices soar, D.C. benefits from the fact that about 25 percent of America’s population can make a one-tank trip to the city, Hanbury said.

“It’s a great time for D.C. because we’ve always had monuments, memorials and museums, but what travelers are finding this year is a hip, trendy cosmopolitan city added on top of what we’ve always known and loved,” Hanbury said.

Mount Vernon is hoping to benefit from those D.C. residents who elect to save on gas and stay closer to home. The estate is expecting several thousand visitors to take advantage of military re-enactments, appearances by “George Washington,” free birthday cake and concerts.

“We front-load the activities in the morning and early afternoon so people can come and head on to fireworks,” said Emily Coleman Dibella, spokesperson for Mount Vernon.

D.C. residents have their own traditions. Many watch the fireworks from the rooftops of apartments offering a view, like Rosslyn’s RiverPlace, or stake out a restaurant or hotel with a good deal.

A tradition for some government workers was to watch from atop One Judiciary Square. But this year, according to a memo from the city’s Office of Property Management, the building will be closed except to those who pre-register to be there on business.

“OPM just wants to maintain suitable security and make sure that all activities are appropriate,” said city spokeswoman Leslie Kershaw.

Joy Pavelski contributed to this report

melissa.frederick@dcexaminer.com