Tomorrow’s military parade in D.C. will bring road closures, protests, flight disruptions and views of fireworks in Arlington — but the weather remains a wildcard.
With hundreds of thousands of people expected on the National Mall for the parade in honor of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, which coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, here’s what to expect on this side of the Potomac.
Road closures
Beginning at 6 p.m. this evening, stretches of both the GW Parkway and Washington Blvd will be closed in both directions.
The GW Parkway will be closed between Arlington Blvd and I-395, while Washington Blvd will be shut down between Arlington Blvd and the Pentagon’s north parking lot, according to a traffic advisory.
Additionally, Arlington Memorial Bridge closed to vehicle traffic starting at midnight today.
Washington Blvd is expected to reopen at 10 p.m. tomorrow, followed by the GW Parkway at 6 a.m. on Sunday. Arlington Memorial Bridge will remain closed through 6 a.m. on Monday.
Pedestrian traffic is also restricted on the bridge, in Lady Bird Johnson Park and adjacent to the Pentagon’s north parking lot.
Fireworks viewing
While all U.S. Army celebrations are happening in D.C., Arlington residents will be able to catch some great views of fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m.
Some of the best viewing areas will be at Long Bridge Park (475 Long Bridge Drive) and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, according to an Arlington County Police Department advisory.
Police remind drivers that stopping in the middle of the road to watch fireworks is illegal. Parking on the shoulders of Richmond Highway and Arlington Blvd is also prohibited.
“Unattended vehicles found in violation will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense,” police warn.
Protests
Large protests are also expected in Arlington as part of mass “No Kings” rallies happening across the nation.
We of Action Virginia is planning demonstrations from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on numerous overpasses above I-66, as well as on Arlington Blvd and near the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial. A sizeable “Hands Across Arlington” rally is also planned along all 5.2 miles of Langston Blvd from 4-6 p.m.
As of this afternoon, over 3,800 people had signed up for the demonstrations. Notable attendees will include Bill Nye (the Science Guy) and U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Los Angeles).
Two protest events are also scheduled in Falls Church. “No Kings” protests are expected to attract millions of people at over 2,000 locations around the country, but none are officially planned in D.C.
The weather
A chance of rain and heavy thunderstorms will add an element of uncertainty tomorrow.
While tonight’s flood watch is only expected to last through 2 a.m., the National Weather Service currently calls for “areas of drizzle” before 11 a.m. tomorrow followed by a slight chance of showers from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
After that, forecasters predict showers and possibly a thunderstorm.
Overall, the day is expected to be mostly cloudy with a high near 83.
Flight disruptions
Fireworks and flyovers at the parade will disrupt flights at Reagan National Airport for at least a few hours tomorrow night.
All arrivals and departures will be on hold from 6-9:30 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration announced this week. Customers with flight reservations tomorrow evening should contact their airlines about their flight status.
Because of all the road closures, the airport is asking travelers to consider taking Metro to catch their flights. Since parking at the airport is already limited right now, people are strongly discouraged from using DCA for event parking or viewing fireworks.
