The semiquincentennial is here, and it comes with its share of spectacle and strain. Washington is in for a record-setting night of fireworks, there will be a ball drop in Times Square at the stroke of midnight, and schedules are being upended by the weather. Add to that a campaign-like effort from Donald Trump to rework some time-honored civic customs. For those in the market for a good view, the equation now has to factor in the political, the meteorological and the security side of things.
A holiday reimagined: new rituals and rival organisers
You can tell this Fourth of July is going to be something else before the first one goes off. On one side you have America250, the commission put in place by Congress, which is behind the ball drops in New York and other towns, as well as a Saturday concert in L.A.
Then there is Freedom 250, the White House’s answer to it, and the force behind much of what is happening in Washington. The Great American State Fair has been making headlines for its Ferris wheel and exhibits, if not for the size of the crowds.
Washington’s high-voltage moment, and the pressure behind it
Those running the show in the capital are touting a pyrotechnic event like no other. To make it happen, Freedom 250 has put in with Pyrotecnico of Pennsylvania to set off some 850,000 shells in 10 spots around the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac. It is a 40-minute affair that gets under way at 10:30 pm.
Put in perspective, that is about 40,000 over and above the 2016 Guinness World Record put in the books in the Philippines, and 50 times what you would see in a typical year in D.C. And before any of that, the administration has a speech for Trump on the National Mall.
Of course, the heat has put a crimp in some of the planning. In Washington, the public was told to stay away from a Thursday rehearsal for the Capitol Fourth due to the temperature. The Friday concert is still on, but the gates won’t open until 7 p.m. EDT, right up against the start of the show.
From Mount Rushmore to the Mall: politics at the heart of celebration
Trump is making a trip to South Dakota for a few words and to see the fireworks at Mount Rushmore, then back to the National Mall in Washington for another address ahead of what is being called a once-in-a-lifetime display.
Saturday finds him front and center at a rally on the Mall, which he has put out as ‘the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.’ Expect some military flyovers and a bit more than the usual in the way of fireworks over the monuments.
It is a point of contention between the two sides. Some states with Democratic leadership have opted out of the Freedom 250 calendar, and a number of performers have bailed, saying the tone has become too political.
Turnout has been a mixed bag. A few of the Freedom 250 draws have been on the small side, but the opening rally on June 24 pulled in the thousands. There is a lot on the docket: a faith-based gathering with conservative voices, some sports, and even an IndyCar in the city come summer. The White House has also put down for some mixed martial arts on the occasion of the president’s 80th.
And there is the matter of the mobile exhibits put on by Freedom 250, which some say put a religious spin on history while not giving enough room for the hard truths of slavery and racial injustice. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, most Americans see the 250th as having been over-politicised. The sentiment is particularly strong among Democrats, with roughly 75 per cent in that camp, and runs about 50-50 with Republicans.
Heat, security and crowds put a new spin on things
There are some of the usual Fourth of Day hiccups in store for officials, but with a few extra variables. Washington’s events will be drawing in their normal share of visitors, but there is more to it this time: you can expect tighter security, the odd thunderstorm and heat in excess of 38C.
You will see the same kind of rethinking in other parts of the country. In places like Boston, Gettysburg and Norristown, Pennsylvania, plans have been altered for the sake of the weather. Most big venues are putting out the same advice: get in early, take the train or bus and keep an eye on what local authorities are saying.
Where to be: the big cities make room
New York is making sure to be seen. There is the ball drop in Times Square at midnight, of course, but the city’s headline act is the fireworks over the East River, complete with pyrotechnics and some rousing music to pull in the waterfront. For a bit of peace of mind, the word from officials is to use public transit and not be late.
Then there is the Charles River in Boston. The Pops Fireworks Spectacular is still the place to be for an evening of live orchestra and a light show. Those in attendance are well-served to check on transport and any event notes before heading out for a good spot.
Over in Philadelphia, the stretch of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Museum of Art is where the action is. With road work and crowd control in the mix, a little forethought is called for.
Some key times and changes to note
– 10:30 pm: 40 minutes of fireworks in Washington
– 7 p.m. EDT, Friday: the Capitol Fourth lets people in
– Midnight: the Times Square ball makes its way down
– A speech by Trump at Mount Rushmore
– A concert in L.A. on Saturday
Not just on the coasts
Las Vegas is in for some lively evenings; the Strip’s resorts are putting on shows with food and music to go with them. It is best to plan ahead and check with the venue.
Down in the South, Stone Mountain in Atlanta is the hub of the metro area’s doings, with a display of lights and sound. In Houston, Freedom Over Texas has the works: family fun, some tunes and a send-off over the Tinsley and Sam Houston parks.
St. Louis will have the Gateway Arch as a fine setting for the evening. After a day of vendors and entertainment, the fireworks will put a cap on it. Expect the grounds and surrounding roads to be full.
What comes after
The administration has put some work into the capital for the occasion. Some fountains and monuments have been put right, though the redo of the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial has been met with some side-eye for the delays and upkeep issues. Security is in evidence there.
When the sky is lit up, it is not so much a matter of if the fireworks will be any good, but how the rest of the nation will come to it. Between the politics, the pageantry and whatever the weather brings, one has to see if this 250th will be a unifying one or not. Until then, the programme is on.
