A First-rate Fourth

It's worth the hassle. It will be crowded, for sure. And hot, too. Forecasts call for a high in the 80s. But if you can stand the drive to the Metro and the ride into Washington, the National Mall is some kind of place to be on Independence Day.

Or, as the Web site for the National Independence Day Parade says, "There is no greater location displaying greater excitement on America's birthday than in our nation's capital!"

The big July Fourth events in the nation's capital Saturday will be put on by the National Park Service.

Most important, of course, is the fireworks. They'll start about 9:10 p.m. and end just before 9:30. Pyro Shows Inc. of LaFollette, Tenn., will do the blasting.

While those lights are streaming through the sky above the Washington Monument, the "A Capital Fourth" concert will be in full swing.

It starts at 8 p.m. on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol and will be hosted by actor Jimmy Smits.

The acts? They're kinda well known. They include Barry Manilow, the National Symphony Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield and the Tony and Grammy Award-winning cast of "Jersey Boys."

For the kids, there's Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and more of the Sesame Street crowd.

Perhaps the most important music, though, is Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," which will feature the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and live cannon fire provided by the Army's Presidential Salute Battery.

Before "A Capital Fourth" begins, the Park Service will hold a concert on the southwest corner of the Washington Monument grounds.

The entertainers there will be the U.S. Army Band and country singer Mark Wills. That concert lasts from 6 to 9 p.m.

Earlier in the day, beginning at 11:45 a.m., there's the Park Service's parade. It lasts about two hours on Constitution Avenue.

The parade moves westward from 7th Street to 17th Street NW, and viewing areas will be available along Constitution.

All branches of the Armed Forces will participate along with marching bands, floats, balloons, and specialty units.

There's also the 43rd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall between 7th and 14th streets. It runs from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Public access to the Mall begins at 10 a.m. The Capitol grounds open at 3 p.m. for those who want to view "A Capitol Fourth."

How to get there? It's got to be Metrorail. You don't want to drive into D.C.

Stations near the Mall include Federal Triangle, Metro Center, and Gallery Place-Chinatown.  Additional convenient stations include Smithsonian, Capitol South, L'Enfant Plaza, Union Station, Federal Center S.W., and Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter.

You'll want to make sure to bring plenty of water with you if you stay for most of the day, and you may want to bring food, too, though there will be vendors.

You can't bring glass bottles or alcohol.

The lack of the latter may prevent you from wanting to wade in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Regardless, the Park Service won't let you. So don't plan on it.

"The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool contains stagnant, non-circulating water which is not filtered or treated," a Park Service Web site said. "The bacteria in the water may cause infection or illness."

Oh, well. At least there's free admission to all these events.

Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.