WASHINGTON — A massive Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall hit a major snag Saturday when severe storms rolled in near Washington, forcing organizers to clear out the crowd that had gathered to hear President Donald Trump speak in honor of America’s 250th anniversary of independence.
Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez issued a statement directing attendees to take cover inside nearby museums and federal buildings. “Freedom 250 will share updates on programming and doors reopening,” Alvarez said, signaling that the event was not canceled but temporarily halted.
Despite the chaos in Washington, fireworks plans in other cities remained on track. In New York, a fleet of 43 tall ships sailed past the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River earlier in the day, drawing comparisons to the grand celebrations that marked America’s 200th birthday in 1976. Chicago also pressed ahead with its own festivities.
The sweltering heat gripping much of the East Coast had already complicated celebrations well before the storms arrived. Temperatures approached or exceeded triple digits in many locations, forcing some events to be scaled back or called off entirely. At the National Mall, signs at the Great American State Fair posted an alert just after 7 p.m. urging people to leave the area.
As evacuation instructions played over loudspeakers, the response from the crowd was mixed — some people remained where they stood, chatting with those nearby, while others made their way toward exits. National Guard troops directed people to leave the exposed park, which is surrounded by museums and other buildings that could offer shelter.
Hours before the storm threat materialized, the National Mall had been buzzing with excitement. Tina Hale, 58, of Cohoes, New York, watched three of her grandchildren splash their hands in a pool of water near one of the museums. When three military jets thundered overhead, she pointed skyward and urged the children to look up. “If that doesn’t make you proud to be an American,” she said.
David Koshko, 42, and his wife Jennifer Koshko of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, had originally come to Washington for a baseball game — staying to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Washington Nationals — but planned to stick around for the city’s fireworks. They ducked into the shade beneath an overpass near the National Mall to cool off and figure out their next move. “Just to be a part of the 250 years (anniversary) is an amazing thing,” said David Koshko, a commercial driver and Marine Corps reserves veteran.
In Philadelphia, the birthplace of the nation, fireworks were already going off as early as midday near the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Hundreds of visitors packed Independence Hall despite the brutal heat. The festivities there coincided with a France-Paraguay World Cup knockout match at Philadelphia Stadium, which opened with holiday commemorations. “It’s one big party in here,” said Carlos Alban, who traveled from Chicago to watch the match. He noted that he spotted a fan in the parking lot dressed as one of the Founding Fathers.
In Houston, about 45 minutes before another World Cup match kicked off, a message from astronauts aboard the International Space Station honoring the holiday was broadcast inside the stadium.
New York’s waterways put on a spectacular show as the tall ships — their masts, rigging, and white sails set against a clear blue sky — made their procession. They were followed by a military air display featuring a stealth bomber and the Navy’s Blue Angels. France’s Patrouille de France aerobatic team also flew over New York Harbor, trailing red, white, and blue smoke in a nod to the American flag. “We got up early and just rode our bikes about a mile down here to come see the scene,” said Oona Moore, a Jersey City, New Jersey resident. “We saw the tall ships and we saw the planes, you know, all different manner of military aircraft. I’ve never seen it so close and in the sky at the same time.”
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia, the day carried deep personal meaning for some. A U.S. Marine originally from Guinea was among those who took the Oath of Allegiance to become a new American citizen, standing in his dress uniform with a quiet smile. Participants stood with eyes closed and hands over their hearts as the national anthem played.
Across the country, Americans found their own ways to mark the occasion. In Brattleboro, Vermont, a 7-year-old dashed onto a parade route to grab a Tootsie Roll, while in Louisville, Kentucky, people used a Sharpie fitted with a feather to sign their names on a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
