Adventure-Crew.com

National Park Service, NPS.gov

Here’s the standard info on the scheduled fireworks display on the Mall in D.C. for 2009.

- 9:10 p.m. – 9:27 p.m., Saturday, July 4, 2009

- The optimum viewing areas for the fireworks will be at a distance from the launch site (Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool). These areas include:
U.S. Capitol
Lincoln Memorial
National Mall between 14th Street and 3rd Street
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The White House Ellipse
West Potomac Park
East Potomac Park
Anacostia Park
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima)
George Washington Memorial Parkway across the Potomac River in Virginia.

- If you view the fireworks near the launch site (Reflecting Pool) during the fireworks display:
Consider wearing eye protection and ear plugs.
Do not enter the fenced safety zones around the launch site.

Following the fireworks, do not walk along Independence Avenue, SW between Daniel Chester French Drive, SW and 17th Street, SW, until safety teams clear the area of potentially harmful fireworks debris.

Arrive early in the day to claim your viewing spot and avoid the last minute rush!

Confiscated Fireworks

If you’re middle-aged like me, you probably grew up playing with bottle rockets, sparklers, firecrackers and even some custom made contraptions, on or near the Fourth of July.

Things have changed. Fire isn’t any hotter, or human flesh any less fire resistant, but things have changed in the associations between neighbors, friends and local authorities.

Like most reasonable people, I realize that fireworks themselves are not anymore dangerous than a standard book of matches. It’s dangerous behaviour that causes injuries.

We would like to offer some warnings and a video to watch that might help you plan a safe Fourth of July holiday where fireworks are involved. 

• In 2006, fireworks caused an estimated 32,600 reported fires, including 1,700 total structure fires, 600 vehicle fires, and 30,300 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in an estimated 6 civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $34 million in direct property damage.
• In 2007, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks related injuries; 56% of 2007 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head.
• The risk of fireworks injury was two-and-a-half times as high for children ages 5-9 or 10-14 as for the general population.
• On Independence Day in a typical year, more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day, and fireworks account for half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires. 

Source: NFPA’s Fireworks report, by John R. Hall, Jr., June 2009

Yes, it is sad that we can’t enjoy the great fun this Fourth of July that we traditionally enjoyed in years gone by, but the greatly increased population, as well as the propensity for litigation from bystanders, friends, neighbors and yes, even family requires us to display different behavior than we did back when parents watched over their children more closely.

Many of today’s children practically raise themselves: between watching TV and traveling all over the neighborhood unsupervised, there is a real danger that you may be inadvertantly involved in injuring a child. Some possible scenarios include one of your airborn incendiary fireworks landing in an unplanned yard where small children are playing. Or maybe an uninvited child runs into your yard while you are lighting some fireworks.

Back when judges used reasonable processes for making judgements and parents knew where their children were, we were all much safer from both injury and prossecution. But in today’s litigous society, if one doesn’t take care deliberatly to have fun in an environment of safety, it’s not too far fetched to imagine being sued for damages for something as harmless as your annual neighborhood pic nic.

Watch the following video on fireworks produced by The National Council on Fireworks Safety. And then make yourself aware of your local laws. They may have changed since you last checked.

Watch Video

Fireworks at The Capitol 2008.

Washington DC is a spectacular place to celebrate July 4th! The National Mall, with Washington DC’s monuments and the U. S. Capitol in the background, forms a beautiful and patriotic backdrop to America’s Independence Day celebrations. This is an all-day event in the nation’s capital, beginning with a parade along Constitution Avenue and ending with a spectacular display of fireworks over the Washington Monument. Following is a guide to all of the 4th of July events on the National Mall.

The 4th of July celebrations in Washington, DC are among the most attended events of the year and many people arrive early to stake out a seat on the lawn. There are plenty of activities scheduled throughout the day to keep the whole family busy.

Getting to the National Mall

The best way to get to the National Mall is to take the Metro. Stations nearby include Metro Center, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Judiciary Square, Federal Triangle and L’Enfant Plaza.The Smithsonian Metro station will be closed on the Fourth.

Public access to the National Mall begins at 10:00 a.m., with all visitors required to enter via a security checkpoint. Read more about getting to the National Mall, public transportation, parking, security and road closures.

Washington, DC’s Independence Day Parade
Parade Start Time: 11:45 a.m.
Parade Route: Constitution Avenue and 7th to 17th Sts.
See a map of the parade route

Washington, DC’s 4th of July Parade features marching bands, military and specialty units, floats, and VIP’s. The parade draws a large crowd, so plan to arrive early to stake out a good viewing spot. Read more about the National Independence Day Parade

Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The annual event includes daily and evening music and dance performances, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cultural issues. The themes of the 2009 program will be: Giving Voice: The Power of Words (African American Culture), The Americas and Wales. The hours on the 4th of July are 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Read more about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

4th of July at the National Archives
The National Archives celebrates the 4th of July with special family programming celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Visit the National Archives Building for this special birthday party from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. See the schedule of events.

White House Visitor Center Family Events
Between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., stop at the White House Visitor Center and enjoy games, crafts and other activities celebrating America’s Birthday. National Park Service rangers and volunteers will give you the opportunity to sample the sights, sounds, activities and personages that helped finalize the Declaration of Independence and create the United States of America on July 4, 1776.

Concert on the Washington Monument Grounds
Beginning at 6:00 p.m. the U.S. Army Concert Band and the U.S. Army Band Downrange plays on the Southwest corner of the grounds of the Washington Monument.

A Capitol Fourth Concert
Time: 8 – 9:30 p.m. (Admittance begins at 3 p.m.)
Location: West Lawn of the U. S. Capitol

A 4th of July tradition in the nation’s capital includes a live concert by the National Symphony Orchestra and several pop artists performing patriotic music on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building. The concert and show is followed by a spectacular display of fireworks over the Washington Monument. The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets are necessary. The annual event is broadcast live on PBS with a repeat airing at 9:30-11:00 p.m. The concert will also be broadcast over National Public Radio on WAMU – 88.5 FM. See photos of A Capitol Fourth and performers for the 2009 concert.

4th of July Fireworks on the National Mall
Fireworks Time: At dark, usually around 9:15 p.m. Rain Date: July 5th
Launch Location: The fireworks are launched from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and light up the sky over the Washington Monument. See Photos of the Fireworks

Best Places to View the National Mall Fireworks

• U. S. Capitol
• Lincoln Memorial
• Jefferson Memorial
• FDR Memorial
• East Potomac Park
• Anywhere along the National Mall between 14th Street and the Capitol
• Aboard a cruise along the Potomac River

Spectacular views of the fireworks can also be seen from the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) in Arlington, Virginia near the Rosslyn Metro station and areas along the Virginia side of the Potomac River that can be reached from George Washington Memorial Parkway. You may park at the Gravely Point parking lot, which is about a quarter mile from the 14th Street Bridge.

If you’d prefer to avoid the crowds of the city, there are plenty of alternative places to watch fireworks. See suggestions on pages 2 and 3.

For Fireworks in Maryland, See Page 2
For Fireworks in Virginia, See Page 3

See also, 4th of July Parades in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia