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'A Capitol Fourth' free concert on the lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC
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Flickr by Laura Padgett: The Capitol Building
Every year for the past 29 years, PBS has put on a concert celebrating America’s independence. This year is no exception. If you’re looking for an iconic setting to watch a patriotic concert followed by fireworks, this event would be a great way to spend the fourth of July with your family.
This year, Jimmy Smits will be hosting. The list of performers is a long, star-filled one. Barry Manilow will be performing patriotic favorites with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Choral Arts Society of Washington. Some other performers include Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, classical pianist Andrew Von Oeyen, and the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, Drum Corps, and Herald Trumpets. Big Bird and the Sesame Street gang will be present at the event as well. See the full list of performers here.
The concert takes place on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building. The closest metro stations are Capitol South, Federal Center, and Union Station. The doors to the concert open to the public at 3pm in the afternoon and admission is free. Security will be tight and there is usually a long line to get through the check points. Leave plenty of time to get through the line and find a good seat for the concert. Don’t worry if you can’t see the stage very well. They always have large screen televisions held by cranes so that the whole audience can see the show.
The concert always ends with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" put to fireworks. The fireworks display is amazing. Read this article about the best places to watch the fireworks display on the National Mall. After the concert and fireworks are over, be prepared for large crowds on the metro system. Be patient with your fellow traveler as we’re all just trying to get home after a long, fun day celebrating our nation’s birthday.
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