The 4th of July is this weekend and there are lots of local celebrations in stark contrast to last summer. Here are the details on the 4th of July festivities in Washington DC, Fairfax City, and Alexandria.
4th of July parade and celebration in Fairfax City
The 55th annual Independence Day parade will be celebrated this year on July 3rd. A favorite hometown event, the parade steps off at 10:00 am at 4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, rain or shine. The parade loops around downtown Fairfax, along Chain Bridge Road, Main Street, University Drive and Armstrong Street. Among the entries in this year’s parade are nine high school marching bands as well as many large inflatable parade balloons, floats and clowns.
This year the Evening Show will be on a separate day July 4. Enjoy music and dancing during the Evening Show at 6:30 pm at Fairfax High School (3501 Lion Run). Due to COVID restrictions, no children’s activities will be held this year. On-stage entertainment begins at 6:30 pm with a spectacular fireworks display that follows. The rain date for the fireworks only is July 5.
July 4th Fireworks on the National Mall
The National Park Service will once again host the annual Independence Day fireworks celebration on the National Mall. This year the celebration will be held Sunday, July 4, starting at 9:09 p.m. and will be launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The 17-minute display will be held on Sunday, July 4 starting at 9:09 p.m.
41st Annual Capitol Fourth Concert
This year, the Capitol Fourth concert on PBS will be pre-recorded, with singer and actress Vanessa Williams serving as host of the event from D.C. The concert will include pre-recorded performances across the country by Jimmy Buffett, Gladys Knight, Alan Jackson, Jennifer Nettles, Renée Fleming and many other artists. Capping off the concert broadcast on PBS will be live coverage of the fireworks display on the National Mall captured by multiple cameras stationed around the city.
City of Alexandria 4th of July Celebration
The City of Alexandria festivities will be held a week later on Saturday, July 10, with a performance by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra ending with a Grand Finale fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. This year’s fireworks display has been re-positioned to be visible from multiple vantage Please note the later than usual start time of 8:45 p.m.
The fireworks can be seen from the following vantage points:
Canal Center Plaza (Center Canal Plaza)
Rivergate Park (2 Montgomery St.)
Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)
Founders Park (351 North Union St.)
Waterfront Park (1A Prince St.)
Windmill Hill Park (501 South Union St.)
Fords Landing boardwalk (99 Franklin St.)
Jones Point Park (Jones Point Dr.)
George Washington Masonic Temple (101 Callahan Dr.)
In case of inclement weather, fireworks only will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 11, at 9:30 p.m.
