America Forges Ahead With 250th Birthday Celebrations Despite Record Heat in Washington DC

America’s 250th birthday party, already beset by competing organizing committees and a beleaguered Reflecting Pool renovation, had to contend on Saturday with one more obstacle — the hottest July 4 ever recorded in the nation’s capital.Among the casualties of a dangerous heat dome hovering over the region was the city’s annual Independence Day parade, which was canceled on Friday after the National Weather Service issued an “Extreme Heat Warning” for the area. The Great American State Fair, a centerpiece of the celebration, was closed for several hours on Friday and its Saturday opening was pushed back. Smaller parades in towns and cities surrounding Washington were also cancelled.The temperature in Washington had already hit 102 degrees by midday Saturday, with heat index values reaching between 110 and 115 degrees. That topped the previous record for the date of 101 degrees, set on July 4, 1898, according to Accuweather.Freedom 250, a President Trump-backed organizing committee that has worked alongside — and sometimes in conflict with — the congressionally established America250 committee said the decision to cancel the parade was made with “the safety of our participants, spectators, and staff as the top priority.”That came after 44 attendees required medical attention for heat-related illnesses. Eleven people were transported to the hospital, with seven cases considered serious. The fair reopened at 5 p.m. and Saturday’s start time was pushed back two hours, to noon, as a precaution.Despite the scorching conditions, the slate of nationwide celebrations remained largely intact.The Coast Guard’s historic tall ship, the USCGC Eagle, sails past the Statue of Liberty towards the Hudson River on July 4, 2026. Roy Rochlin/Getty ImagesIn New York Harbor, Sail 4th 250 kicked off the largest maritime and aerial gathering in American history, with ships from around the world uniting to mark the milestone. In Los Angeles, Queen Latifah was to host America’s Block Party at the Memorial Coliseum, featuring Chris Stapleton, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Chaka Khan. Philadelphia’s One Philly United Concert scheduled Will Smith, Christina Aguilera, The Roots, and DJ Jazzy Jeff to perform at Benjamin Franklin Parkway starting at 5 p.m. EDT. At various sites across the nation, the Great American Block Party 250 was to kick off at 8 p.m. EDT, featuring Jon Batiste, the Zac Brown Band, and Goo Goo Dolls, live from the Washington Monument.Back in D.C., the day’s centerpiece remained the Salute to America celebration — and Mr.Trump had made clear that not even record heat would keep him away. “By the way, on July 4th, it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I’m going to go, and I’m going to make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything,” Mr. Trump said earlier this week.Mr. Trump was scheduled to take the stage at 9:45 p.m., followed by what could be the largest fireworks display in history. More than 860,000 shells were to be launched from 10 sites across the National Mall over 40 minutes — surpassing the previous Guinness World Record of 810,754 fireworks, set during a 2016 New Year’s celebration in the Philippines.

America Forges Ahead With 250th Birthday Celebrations Despite Record Heat in Washington DC

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