Missed the fireworks on the National Mall last night? Or just want to relive the Fourth of July grandeur?

ARLnow staff photographer Jay Westcott brought his cameras to the Marine Corps War Memorial near Rosslyn to capture the show and some of those watching the show.

Unlike past years when weather resulted in extra haze that obscured the fireworks, the 2023 edition benefited from clear skies and relatively pleasant temperatures.

The fireworks viewing was not the only Independence Day celebration of note in Arlington. Neighborhood events were held throughout the county, including the annual parades and block parties in places like Barcroft and Douglas Park.

Celebrating #4thofJuly in Barcroft #ColumbiaPike. Everybody was out on the parade – Great reminder btw. how awesome a car-free street can be! -taken over by ‘rebellious’ walking/cycling neighbors. A little rebellion now and then sure is a good thing! pic.twitter.com/p8H0UQOmJ8

— Takis Karantonis (@TakisKarantonis) July 4, 2023

pic.twitter.com/xvFPmgVQU6

— Alfonso Lopez (@Lopez4VA) July 4, 2023

Happy 4th of July, Arlington! Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you at community parades across the County! ACPD wishes you a fun and safe holiday! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/f84Jv3xDpW

— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) July 4, 2023

Have your own photos to share? Show them off in the comments.

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) The Fourth of July is next week, which means now is the time to plan how to watch the fireworks spectacle without leaving Arlington.

The 17-minute National Mall show put on by the National Parks Service will begin at 9:09 p.m. There are several places to see it without braving the crowds set to descend on D.C.

• Gateway Park in Rosslyn and Key Bridge, though the latter does not have seating
• Mount Vernon Trail, along the Potomac River, which offers a clear view of the D.C. skyline and is accessible by bike
• Gravelly Point Park, north of Reagan National Airport, which is better known for its views of airplanes taking off
• The Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), located near Rosslyn, which provides a panoramic view of the fireworks against the backdrop of the National Mall
• Long Bridge Park in Crystal City, which has three athletic fields and plenty of space to picnic

Those looking for family-friendly ways to celebrate Independence Day during daylight hours have a couple options in local neighborhoods.

The annual July 4 Parade and Potluck at Woodlawn Park will begin at 10:30 a.m. from a home on the 1200 block of N. Abingdon Street and the potluck will begin at 11 a.m. in Woodlawn Park (1325 N. Buchanan Street).

The event — which has been a county tradition for over 20 years — will include traditional cookout-style food and July 4 themed activities throughout the afternoon.

Douglas Park plans to host its annual free July 4 parade and potluck beginning at 10 a.m. and running through noon. The event will include a bike decorating contest for children with a cash prize, a water slide, a fire truck and more.

Bellevue Forest is also having a kids parade, according to an event posted earlier this month on Nextdoor. Families will meet at 8:45 a.m. at the intersection of N. Oxford Street and Roberts Lane.

“The Cherrydale Fire Department will lead the kids down the street starting at 9 a.m. to the Kenmore cul de sac,” per the event. “Please decorate your bikes, strollers, scooters and yourselves for the parade.”

Some other Independence Day events typically occur annually but have not been updated for 2023:

• The Barcroft Parade and Picnic, which has previously begun at 10 a.m.
• The Bluemont Bell Ringing, which allows those who visit to ring the bell located next to Fire Station 2 on N. George Mason Drive and Wilson Blvd.
• The Lyon Village Parade and Picnic, which commenced at the corner of Key Blvd and N. Highland Street.

Revelers looking to celebrate at a local park should note that alcoholic beverages, grills, fireworks and drones are not allowed on public parks in Arlington on Independence Day.

In connection to the fireworks, the following road closures are planned from 4:30-11 p.m. on July 4.

• Marshall Drive, from Route 110 to N. Meade Street
• N. Meade Street, from Marshall Drive to N. Fairfax Drive
• Exit ramp from westbound Route 50 to N. Lynn Street
• Exit ramp from eastbound Route 50 to N. Meade Street
• Eastbound N. Fairfax Drive, from N. Pierce Street to N. Fort Myer Drive

The following closures are planned from 9-10 p.m.

• Fort Myer Drive between 19th Street N. and Arlington Blvd will also be closed.
• Memorial Bridge/Memorial Circle

The Air Force Memorial will be closed to fireworks watcher as it was last year, due to the ongoing Arlington National Cemetery expansion project.

Two juvenile suspects are being charged with fire code violations after police say they set off fireworks at Washington-Liberty High School, prompting an active shooter panic.

Shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday, Arlington’s emergency communications center received multiple 911 calls about shots being fired in the school. W-L was locked down and police responded en masse, conducting an extensive search of the school which only yielded evidence of fireworks.

Arlington police say two people under the age of 18 are now facing misdemeanor charges, including one found to be in possession of fireworks on school grounds.

“This remains an active criminal investigation,” the police department added.

More from an ACPD press release, below.

The Arlington County Police and Fire Departments are conducting a joint investigation after fireworks were located during an incident at Washington-Liberty High School.

At approximately 7:50 a.m. on July 19, police were dispatched to the report of a possible person with a gun at Washington-Liberty High School located at 1301 N. Stafford Street. Initial information reported to the Emergency Communications Center indicated possible shots were heard coming from a bathroom within the school. Responding officers entered the school, began a search of the building and located evidence of discharged fireworks. In the interest of public safety, the school was placed on lockdown as officers completed a thorough search of the building. The search concluded with no evidence of a shooting located and no injuries reported.

During the course of the investigation, officers developed a possible suspect description based on evidence located at the scene and witness interviews. The suspect was located and detained. A second individual was determined to be in possession of fireworks on school grounds. Petitions for both juveniles for misdemeanor violations of the Statewide Fire Prevention Code are pending.

This remains an active criminal investigation and anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Last night was basically a perfect night, weatherwise, to watch the July 4 fireworks over the nation’s capital.

Still, with the Air Force Memorial closed, Metro warning of delays, and the usual traffic headaches, perhaps going to watch the fireworks in person was not ideal for everyone.

This morning we’re wondering: how did you watch the fireworks (if at all).

Flickr pool photo by Michael Coffman

The Arlington County Fire Department is sharing a few tips for those planning to using fireworks privately over the upcoming Independence Day weekend.

Only fireworks that emit flames or sparks within 12 feet and have a burning fuse of more than 1.5 inches long with a burning rate of more than four seconds are legal locally this year, according to the 2022 Consumer Fireworks Fact Sheet published by the county. The fireworks can not emit projectiles.

Fireworks that explode in any form or rise in the air, such as bottle rockets, are prohibited. Fireworks can not be used on public properties belonging to the county, state or the federal government.

Those who use, sell or distribute the illegal fireworks may receive a Class 1 misdemeanor charge, which carries a jail sentence of 12 months and $2,500 in fines, the fire department said.

A list of permissible consumer fireworks includes over 2,000 products which the public can purchase. The State Fire Marshal’s Office conducted field tests on the listed products to ensure their performance standards.

When using fireworks, the fire department cautioned folks to keep a minimum distance of 25 feet from other people and buildings, to only light one stick at a time and to move away after doing so. Fireworks users are also advised to only set them off in outdoor areas away from vehicles, according to the department.

Additionally, ACFD recommends only buying fireworks from local retail outlets that display a valid permit issued by the department’s Fire Prevention Office.

When the festivities are over, used fireworks should be submerged into a bucket of water to ensure they are extinguished before throwing them in the trash.

For the first time in a couple of years, Arlington is back to fully celebrating America’s Independence Day.

In both 2020 and 2021, the pandemic led to the canceling of a number of official July 4 events as well as many of the local holiday festivities.

But, for the most part, Independence Day events, parades, and firework shows are back this year in Arlington.

The fireworks on the National Mall are set to start shooting off at 9:09 p.m. on Monday, July 4 and there are plenty of local spots to watch them without heading to the District.

• Gateway Park and the Key Bridge in Rosslyn are both popular viewing spots for viewing and will be open to the public. There’s no seating on the bridge, however.
• Gravelly Point, just north of National Airport on the George Washington Parkway, is a National Park Service site and will also be open to the public. No “hard perimeter” or “physical security checkpoints” will be in place, a NPS spokesperson tells ARLnow, though certain areas may be roped off to help with crowd control.
• Long Bridge Park in Crystal City will be open to the public for firework viewing. Arlington County police will be on hand “conducting road closures and providing safety and security” on-site, a county spokesperson tells ARLnow.
• Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) near Rosslyn is one of the most popular spots to watch fireworks outside of the National Mall. No “hard perimeter” or security checkpoints will be in place, though it might get crowded and certain areas could be roped off.
• Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River near Roosevelt Island provides “uninterrupted views” of the District’s skyline. Though, the best views are on the trial which is only accessible for bikes and pedestrians.
• Prospect Hill Park near Pentagon City is a small county park from which one can view the fireworks, though it is only a half-acre and mostly used by nearby residents.

The Air Force Memorial, another popular viewing spot, will be closed this year due to “safety and security concerns” related to the ongoing Arlington National Cemetery expansion project.

The View of DC observation deck on top of the CEB Tower at 1201 Wilson Blvd also will not be open this year for fireworks viewing, closing at 5 p.m. on July 4, an employee confirmed to ARLnow. In years past, residents were able to enter their names into a lottery to watch the show 31 floors up, but that isn’t the case this year.

The Washington Golf and Country Club off of N. Glebe Road is again set to have its own fireworks show, though it’s only open to members and their guests, we’re told.

For those looking to head downtown for the fireworks, Metrorail will be operating until midnight, with trains every 20 minutes on the Blue and Orange lines and every 15 minutes on the Yellow Line. Trains will arrive every 7 minutes at the downtown stations serviced by several lines.

Several Arlington communities and neighborhoods are back to holding parades and festive events this year as well:

• Annual Fourth of July Barcroft Parade and Picnic begins at 10 a.m. It will feature a color guard, a marching band, a fire engine, and will conclude with a neighborhood cookout.
• Bluemont Bell Ringing gives a chance to “young and old” to ring the brass bell next to Fire Station 2 at the corner of N. George Mason Drive and Wilson Blvd.
• Fairlington Fourth of July Parade is back for its four rendition after a two-year hiatus. It begins at 10 a.m. next to the old fire station at 3116 S. Abingdon Street.
• Douglas Park Fourth of July Parade this year will be the 40th annual. Judging for best parade floats, costumes, and decorated bikes begins at 10 a.m. with the parade starting at 10:30 a.m.
• Lyon Village’s 4th of July Parade and Picnic is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at the corner of Key Blvd and Highland Street. There will be antique cars, police vehicles, and fire trucks.
• Waycroft-Woodlawn Annual Fourth of July Bike Parade starts at 10 a.m. with a bbq to follow.

With all of this going on, there will also be road closures including Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington Memorial Circle starting at 6 a.m. on July 4.

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One of the main fireworks viewing spots in Arlington will be closed on the Fourth of July this year.

The Air Force Memorial will be closed on July 4, then will reopen on July 5, due to “safety and security” concerns caused by the ongoing Arlington National Cemetery expansion project.

“While we recognize it has become an annual tradition for many visitors and local community members to view the fireworks and commemorate this patriotic day from the Air Force Memorial, this is an active construction site, which poses a significant safety and security risk,” said Karen Durham-Aguilera, Army National Military Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery Executive Director.

Those who usually go to the memorial may consider other Arlington fireworks viewing spots like Long Bridge Park, Rosslyn’s Gateway Park, the Marine Corps War Memorial or Gravelly Point.

The cemetery expansion project will add 38 acres of hallowed ground near the memorial, extending the life of the cemetery with 80,000 additional “burial opportunities.” The project will realign part of Columbia Pike, which is expected to be closed and rerouted early next year.

The full press release about the memorial closure is below.

Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), in collaboration with the Air Force District of Washington (AFDW), announced today they will close public access to the Southern Expansion portion of Arlington National Cemetery, which includes access to the Air Force Memorial, on July 4. The memorial will reopen to the public on July 5.

“While we recognize it has become an annual tradition for many visitors and local community members to view the fireworks and commemorate this patriotic day from the Air Force Memorial, this is an active construction site, which poses a significant safety and security risk. Our priority is to keep our visitors safe and allow them the time needed to make alternative plans this holiday,” said Karen Durham-Aguilera, Army National Military Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery Executive Director.

In past years, the grassy slopes around the land acquired by the cemetery from Arlington County and the Air Force Memorial have been a public gathering area for a few thousand people to view the 4th of July fireworks displays here in the National Capital Region.

“For years, the Air Force Memorial has offered an incredible backdrop to celebrate our Nation’s independence,” said Maj. Gen. Joel Jackson, Air Force District of Washington commander. “However, ongoing construction near the site in support of the Arlington National Cemetery’s Southern Expansion Project prevents us from safely hosting people during this year’s celebration.”

ANC and AFDW have been in close coordination with multiple agencies to include Arlington County Police, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBM-HH) Department of Emergency Services and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to conduct a thorough safety and security assessment before making the decision to close this area to the public.

ANC’s Southern Expansion Project is the cemetery’s largest expansion to date and will add 38 acres and more than 80,000 burial opportunities. This project is designed to expand the life of the cemetery and allow the nation to honor our future generations for their sacrifices.

Thought it was partially obscured by smoke near the end, Sunday’s Fourth of July fireworks on the National Mall dazzled.

In case you missed it, local photographers captured the scene from a number of angles, including from vistas in Arlington like the Iwo Jima memorial, Long Bridge Park, the Clarendon/Courthouse area, and the Crystal City/Pentagon City area.

For fireworks aficionados, the countdown to next year’s Independence Day show now begins. July 4 will fall on a Monday in 2022.

From Long Bridge Park, Arlington, VA. @ARLnowDOTcom @ArlingtonVA pic.twitter.com/haMXqJAfiz

— Michael Robbins (@VoyagerTres) July 5, 2021

Happy Independence Day! We had great visibility this year from Arlington…The smoke hung around towards the end, but couldn’t have asked for better weather otherwise. @ARLnowDOTcom @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/lRixf5tCCG

— Josh Wolfgram (@JoshWolfgram) July 5, 2021

July 4th: The view from Arlington. @WTOP @ARLnowDOTcom @NationalMallNPS pic.twitter.com/1PELFR6sL1

— Hillary Howard (@hhowardWTOP) July 5, 2021

The Finale! Happy Independence Day USA #dc #IndependenceDay2021 #fireworks #arlingtonva #restonva #Napoli #yesarlington pic.twitter.com/aqKTYtP2e5

— Pupatella Pizza (@PupatellaPizza) July 5, 2021

For those who did get to see the fireworks over DC last night, here's the finale. Great job by my friends at Garden State Fireworks @GSF_1890. @hhowardWTOP #fireworks #dcfireworks #4thofJuly pic.twitter.com/ENlPQrF3CT

— Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 5, 2021

Flickr pool photos by Kevin Wolf

It’s hard to believe, but the Fourth of July is just around the corner.

Fireworks viewing on the National Mall is a go this year. Like last year, there’s no formal viewing event in Arlington, but expect crowds to congregate at the usual spots, like the Iwo Jima memorial, Key Bridge, the Air Force Memorial, Rosslyn Gateway Park  and Long Bridge Park.

After more than a year of a pandemic, however, some folks may be more apt to stay closer to home.

What are your fireworks viewing plans?

Fireworks Safety Demonstration — From the Arlington County Fire Department: “We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July by following some of these safety tips.” [Twitter, Twitter]

Undefeated Yorktown in Lacrosse State Final — “Yorktown will play at Battlefield in Haymarket after the Bobcats beat Cosby, 6-4, in the other Class 6 semifinal Tuesday… For Yorktown, the first steps toward Saturday’s state final were laid before this year’s players were born, and over 21 years the Patriots toiled and waited until they could play in a state semifinal.” [Washington Post]

Streaming Show at Signature Theatre — “The Signature Theater in Arlington, Va., is presenting an energetic full production of the revue ‘After Midnight,’ which ran on Broadway in 2013. Christopher Jackson (“Hamilton”) leads the cast through a whirlwind of jazzy Cotton Club-era songs, held together by Langston Hughes texts. The show has many pleasures, like the heavenly vocal harmonies in ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ and a timely reminder that tap is exhilarating.” [New York Times]

Marymount Partnering With Netflix — “The world’s leading streaming entertainment service and a global leader in education technology are expanding their partnership and bringing Marymount University into the fold as they work to increase diversity in tech fields. Starting this August, Netflix and 2U, Inc., will offer three for-credit, fully online tech boot camps in Data Science, Java Engineering and UX/UI to Marymount undergraduates, all at no cost to accepted students.” [Press Release]

Ballston-Based AvalonBay Now Accepting Credit Cards — “AvalonBay residents will receive an invitation for the Bilt Mastercard, an extension of Bilt Rewards and the first credit card that allows users to pay their rent with no annual fee and without burdening the building owner with ongoing fees. With the card, AvalonBay residents can also earn points on non-rent purchases, enabling them to maximize rewards potential.” [BusinessWire]

Flickr pool photo by Bekah Richards