4th of July on the National Mall

Everyone warned me not to go to the National Mall for Independence Day. The crowds will be overwhelming, they said. You won't get home until after midnight. That baby will hate it. This is where being stubborn really pays off because they were wrong on all accounts.

I wasn't about to miss my chance to see our capital celebrate its birthday. Alison and I arrived downtown at 11:30am, just in time to snag a sweet parade-watching spot from the National Museum of Art's Sculpture Garden lawn.

 7-4-11 - National Archives

OK, so we couldn't see everything from there, but the view of the balloons, floats, and tops of the bands' heads was worth it to have some space for Alison to run around, taste leaves, and meet some other babies.  There actually seemed to be just as many foreigners downtown as US citizens.  Probably because we throw a good party.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival was underway, celebrating Colombia, Rhythm & Blues, and the Peace Corps this year.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but the festival turned out to be a real DC gem.  There were three stages with world music complete with dance floors (have I mentioned yet that Alison dances?), a bunch of tents describing worldwide culture, crafts, music, you name it, and also delicious foods.  We sat in the Home Cooking tent for a long time, hoping to get a taste of the fish stew a Malian was teaching us to make.  I had to leave right at the end because Alison got angry.  Maybe she doesn't like fish.

 7-4-11 - Kenyan women basket-weaving

At 6pm we were admitted to the NPS VIP fireworks area.  That's right, it appears we are now true Washington Insiders since only those on the list can watch the fireworks from within a special fenced area next to the Park Ranger National Mall Offices!  The view was great, actually, except that I didn't get my coveted shot of fireworks over the Lincoln Memorial.  Trees were blocking our view of the monuments.  We could have easily snagged a spot closer to the middle of the mall and next year, I think we will.  From where we were at, however, we could clearly hear the stage and the special announcement from "Park Ranger Nathan King", as he was introduced.  Nathan was the 4th of July Public Information Officer, so he got to address thousands in the crowd and MC a skit about American freedoms (or lack thereof) throughout our history.

 7-4-11 - National Mall not super-crowded.  I can still see grass.

The fireworks display was, well, worthy of a nation that can still (for a couple more years anyway) say it's the strongest nation in the world.  Nathan was told by the director of the National Mall fireworks display that the finale would include roughly 45 fireworks shot off every second.  Check it out:

 

People cleared out quickly.  We waited to leave until 10pm and were home by 11pm.  Alison stayed awake in awe through the fireworks, then fell asleep on the way home.  We're going back next year.  Would you like to come?