Fourth of July in the Nation's Capital Filled with Fireworks, Parades and Concerts

Spend the 4^th of July in the Nation's Capitol to celebrate America's Birthday. Washington, D.C will be booming this Fourth of July. There will be plenty to do here in the Nation's Capitol. From parades to concerts to the big boom of fireworks your day will be filled with fun.

Begin your day in the late morning watching the National 4^th of July parade down Constitution Avenue. From 7^th to 17^th Streets you can watch over 20 marching bands, 15 floats, 15 celebrities participants, and more than 20 additional entries of military and other special units. This parade is a diverse mixture from all around the nation.

After you have gotten your start at the parade, head down to the Mall and catch the National Folklife Festival. This is a celebration of the diversity and culture of America. Admission is free. You will be able to experience the different cultures across America and the World. The 41^st annual National Folklife Festival is the largest culture event in the U.S. Capital. Here you will be able to learn the cultures of different regions of the U.S. Taste the foods, learn the crafts and listen to the sounds of the different regions. This is a great way to celebrate the U.S as a nation and to teach your children about diversity and U.S. folklore.

Finally you can end your busy Fourth of July with the Nation's Capital Firework display. Catch the fireworks from one of many locations that they can be viewed from. Here is a list of the top locations to catch the show in the sky over the Nation's Capital:

U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, National Mall between 14th Street and the U.S. Capitol, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, The White House Ellipse, West Potomac Park, East Potomac Park, Anacostia Park, Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial, George Washington Memorial Parkway across the Potomac River in Virginia. The Lincoln Memorial at the Reflecting Pool is not a good location if you have small children. This is the location that the fireworks are set off at and the sound is extremely loud and there is a possibility of debris. This list is courtesy of NSP.gov

The best place to check out D.C's fireworks is the West Lawn of Capital Hill. Get here early though as it is also the site of the live concert preceding the fireworks. At 8pm you will be able to catch the National Symphony and pop artist perform just before the fireworks show begins. There are no admission fees, but do plan on getting here early in the day since it is sure to fill up quickly.

The Nation's Capital is a great place to celebrate Independence Day. Do remember that it will be hot so drink lots of water and be prepared to go through many metal detectors and have backpacks searched. Weather looks good for the Fourth of July but the rain date is scheduled for the Fifth of July. Enjoy your celebrations and if crowds aren't for you then you can watch the fireworks from the comfort of your home on PBS.

www.NSP.GOV, www.natioalfolklifefestival.com, NBC4, URL: http://www.nbc4.com/community/13487594/detail.html?dl=trayclick,