Happy Monday, DC!
This week the DC area celebrates the country’s 250th birthday with a massive fireworks show on the National Mall, the annual Independence Day Parade, block parties, DJ dances, and more excitement.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
June 29–July 5
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- Salute to America 250 Celebration and Fireworks. This year’s Salute to America 250 is aiming to be the largest-ever fireworks display with 850,000 fireworks being launched from 10 sites around DC. The festivities begin at 1 PM with musical performances and military flyovers, followed by a broadcast of keynote speeches and tunes from the Joint Armed Forces Orchestra at 7 PM. The main event is scheduled to sparkle at 11 PM. Guests heading down to the National Mall should plan to enter the viewing area from 14th Street, NW between Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue (Sat, free, registration encouraged, National Mall).
- National Independence Day Parade. Don your red, white, and blue and head to Constitution Avenue for the National Independence Day Parade celebrating the country’s 250th birthday. Beginning at 10:30 AM, the patriotic morning stroll will take place along Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street, NW, to Independence Avenue at 12th Street, SW. Expect to see parade floats, military units, fife and drum corps, marching bands, and drill teams. To skip the parade crowds, you can catch a virtual replay of the parade (Sat, free, Downtown).
- “The Playground” at National Building Museum. New York design team Snarkitecture installs a new immersive play space for kids of all ages at the National Building Museum. “The Playground” utilizes everyday construction materials such as plywood and scaffolding to create a fun area where families can participate in movement, climbing, digging, and more (Fri through August 30, $19 for adults, $16 for ages 1 to 17, free for infants, Penn Quarter).
- Gallery reopenings at the National Air and Space Museum. The National Air and Space Museum marks its 50th anniversary with the reopening of the final galleries in its multi-year renovation project. Exhibits include the display of 1,400 new objects, plus flight and art exhibitions such as “The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing the Art of Flight” (opens Wed, free but timed-entry passes required, National Mall).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- Car history buffs can browse Ford’s last Model T ever built and other iconic classic cars at Union Station (Wed through July 14, free, Union Station).
- Collage, color, and craft together your own zine at Merry Pin (Wed, $10, Georgia Avenue).
- Make piñatas, decorate maracas, and learn how to salsa after hours at the Phillips Collection (Thurs, $20, Dupont Circle).
- Sip coffee and enjoy a conversation on American history at Tudor Place (Thurs, $12, Georgetown).
- “The Declaration’s Promise” exhibit at the Library of Congress unpacks the principles of the country’s founding document (opens Fri, free, but timed-entry passes required, Library of Congress).
Community and heritage:
- Museum-goers get to listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Founding Father reenactors as well as live musical performances at the National Archives (July 4, free, Downtown).
- Sing along to anthems of the civil rights movement and American folk tunes with DC’s Nolan Williams Jr. at Franklin Park (July 4, free, Downtown).
Theater and shows:
- Attend an outdoor performance of As You Like It as part of Shakespeare In the Garden (Tues, free, Wheaton).
- The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Ashley Darby brings together local stars Nova Payton and Mumu Fresh for a musical tribute to DC’s Black Broadway (Wed, $87+, Howard Theatre).
- Comedian and actor DeRay Davis does standup (Fri, $40+, National Harbor).
Music and concerts:
- Live from the Lawn outdoor jam sessions are back at Strathmore for adults and kids (Wed, pay-what-you-can, Bethesda).
- Party with your crew at The Bullpen’s foam fest (Thurs, $23, Navy Yard).
- Join an interfaith spiritual gathering and listen to readings, live music, and more at Washington National Cathedral (Fri, free, virtual, Northwest DC).
- Concert ensembles such as Patrick Lundy and the Ministers of Music, The Choral Arts Society of Washington, and others ring in a Capitol Fourth Concert (Fri, free, virtual, US Capitol).
- Emerging local artists crank their music at Pie Shop (Sun, $18+, H Street Corridor).
Bites and beverages:
- Attend a BBQ block party in style at Willard Intercontinental (Sat, free entry, Downtown).
- Toast Black-owned wines at this afrobeats drink fest (Sun, $12, Union Market).
Things to do with kids:
- Get a sneak peek of Independence Day sparkles at Nats Park as the home team takes on the Pittsburgh Pirates (Fri, $26+, Nationals Park).
- Build vintage Legos, go on a Jewish history scavenger hunt, and find more educational fun at Capital Jewish Museum’s Family Day (Sun, free, Downtown).
Plan ahead:
- Taste food from more than 65 local eateries and sip unlimited cocktails at Washingtonian’s Best of Washington bash; tickets are on sale now (July 23, $195+, Wharf).
- Kiddos get a rare chance to sleepover or explore after hours at the Smithsonian American History Museum. Tickets are selling out, but here’s a few dates still available (July 24, August 5, $100+, Smithsonian American History Museum).
If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
