WASHINGTON — The annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration on the National Mall is expected to be bigger and better than ever this year, says the National Park Service.
As the most popular place to watch the fireworks display in the District, attendees are encouraged to arrive early in order to scope out a spot.
The display will be held on Tuesday starting at 9:09 p.m. and will be launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Where to watch:
- National Mall. Anywhere on the Mall is a great place to catch the show. Arrive early to claim your viewing spot.
- Washington National Cathedral. As one of the highest points in D.C., the Cathedral in NW offers the perfect view of the fireworks show. Bring a blanket or chairs to sit on and head to the grassy slope for the show.
- Cardozo High School. The school's grassy slopes and hilltop location makes it a great place to watch the fireworks show.
- U.S. Supreme Court Plaza. The U.S. Supreme Court's spacious plaza offers an unobstructed view of the fireworks show.
- The Wharf. Only four blocks from the Mall, the Wharf has plenty of vantage points from which to watch the 4th of July fireworks.
- Lady Bird Johnson Park. Located on an island in the Potomac near the Pentagon, this island provides unobstructed views of the D.C. fireworks show. You can get to the park via the southbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
- Meridian Hill Park (aka Malcolm X Park). Head to this park designed on a slope for an unobstructed view of the show.
- Georgetown's Francis Scott Key Bridge. Enjoy the show from the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Afterward, take in the waterfront view and take on Georgetown nightlife.
- The Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center Terrace undoubtedly offers some of the best views of the District, so expect fantastic view of the fireworks show if you head here.
- The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial. Watch from across the Potomac River at this memorial in Virginia.
- Mount Vernon Trail. Find a spot along the trail near the Pentagon to catch the show.
- Fort Washington Park. The historic fort in Maryland will open to the public at 6 p.m. until 9:45 p.m. to allow visitors to view the fireworks along the D.C. and Virginia shoreline.
- Cruise. Avoid traffic and book a river cruise to watch the D.C. fireworks show from the water. Potomac Riverboat Company is offering a Fireworks Cruise from Alexandria, Virginia, and City Cruises Washington, DC is holding several dinner-cruise options on the 4th of July. Private boats are available for rent through Embark DC.
- Online. The firework display can also be viewed live online via the Trust for the National Mall’s Monument Cam, in partnership with Earth Cam and the National Park Service.
Be sure to check out what items are prohibited on the National Parks Service website.
Ahead of the annual fireworks display on the National Mall will be the National Independence Day Parade from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Marching bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military units, giant balloons, equestrian, drill teams and more will take part in the parade going down Constitution Avenue Northwest from 7th Street to 17th Street Northwest.
To watch the National Independence Day Parade on Facebook, click here.
Note: A previous version of this story listed the U.S. Air Force Memorial as a place to watch fireworks. The area is under construction and not available this year.