Independence Week

The beginning of July in D.C. is obviously known for the Independence Day celebrations, but there is also the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and this year a march for the Poor People’s Campaign. Here’s what we saw at all of these events:

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

This year the Folklife Festival celebrated indigenous artists and multigenerational traditions.

Poor People’s Campaign

The Poor People’s Campaign began out of Martin Luther King’s 1968 call for a moral revival to make life better for all people in need. Since then, there have been periodic marches and large events in D.C. to continue this movement. Last Saturday, civil rights leader Reverend William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, led a march and rally.

Independence Day celebrations

Capitol Concert

The Capitol Concert is held during the fireworks, but it is also great to go the night before for the dress rehearsal.

Giant flags

Union Station and the White House bring out their largest flags.

Parade

The traditional parade is down Constitution Avenue

Fireworks

Part of the fun of the fireworks is picking out a place to view them and waiting with anticipation:

Choosing a location

The fireworks are visible from so many places. This year we were at two locations:

The Kennedy Center REACH plaza, where the fireworks look like they are being shot out of Roy Lichtenstein’s sculpture, and a lucky chance to see them from the White House South Lawn.