Looking for fireworks in the DC Area?

Whether you're a new home or apartment buyer or renter, or if you're a long-time resident of the DC Area, most likely you'll be heading out to watch the fireworks this Monday night. I've lived in Montgomery County for most of my life, and a year hasn't gone by when I haven't enjoyed the tinny, patriotic tunes that are piped in over the outdoor loudspeakers; in high school, friends and I headed over to Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville (this was the "old" RMHS - before it was remodeled).
Since then, with my own kids, I've watched it at Montgomery College and at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. No matter where I've been, the bursting, colorful explosions overhead have always been met with the same satisfied reaction from the people below. 

Two experiences involving watching fireworks in my life stand out more vividly than any others, though. The first was the summer I was eight, when my parents took me downtown to the National Mall, unarguably one of the most famous and well-attended fireworks displays in the country. We took the Metro downtown, and the crowds in the train were rivaled only by the thousands of bodies that we encountered when we stepped off the escalator at the Smithsonian Metro station and onto the Mall. It was overwhelming for this little girl. I held my own, though, and we sat on the grass and watched the extended show to the bitter end. This isn't the part that sticks out in my mind, however. It was when we left, when the aforementioned thousands of bodies all began streaming purposefully toward the Metro station entrance all at once, when I began to cry. My father reached down and swooped me up onto his shoulders to safety - above the crowd, where I watched the now silent sky disappear as we rode down into the station and toward home. 

Years later, as an adult, I rode in my minivan with my three children and my husband, who was battling brain cancer. We didn't know it at the time, but this would be his last Fourth of July. We sat on the grass with my family and our friends, our 3-year-old daughter snuggled in his lap, and oohed and ahhed at the brilliant display that was put forth above us. It was a wonderful moment for our family to have together, and stays with me as one of my favorite memories of my husband. 

Now, more than ten years later, I'm looking forward to seeing the fireworks no less than ever! Here's a list of many of the fireworks displays that will be happening around the area. It doesn't matter where you're from, if you're a home owner, an apartment renter, if you go with friends or family or by yourself - you'll surely enjoy the show! 

MARYLAND

• National Harbor in Baltimore - Fireworks will be included in their Summer Festival on July 3, at 6:30 (tickets required), and on July 2, at their Uncle Sam Jam (for ages 21+). 
• Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg (16 Chestnut Street, 301-258-6350) - Gates open at 5:00 pm, live band performances at 7 pm and fireworks at dusk. 
• Montgomery College, Rockville Campus (51 Mannakee Street) - Live entertainment at 7 pm and fireworks at 9:30. 
• Germantown Soccerplex (18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds; 240-777-6820) - Patriotic concert at 7 pm and fireworks at 9:30. 
• Poolesville Polo Grounds (14660 Hughes Road; 301-972-8888) - Live music begins at 6 pm, fireworks at 9. Parking is $5/vehicle. 
• Albert Einstein High School (11135 Newport Road, Kensington) - Entertainment at 7:30 and fireworks at 9:15. 
• Takoma Park Middle School (7611 Piney Branch Road; 301-270-6876) - Parade at 10 am at the intersection fo Carroll and Ethan Allen Avenues, fireworks at 9:30 pm. 
• University of Maryland, College Park campus (parking lot 1; 301-864-8877) - Food and music at 7 pm, fireworks around 9.
• Six Flags America (Mitchellville; 301-249-1500) - Fireworks display after dark. 
• Allen Pond Park (Bowie; 301-809-3078) - Entertainment, food and fireworks from 3-10:30 pm.
• Prince George's County Stadium (4101 NE Crain Highway, Bowie) - Fireworks following the game. 
• Buddy Attick Park (555 Crescent Road, Greenbelt; 301-397-2200) - Entertainment begins at 4 pm, fireworks at dusk. 
• Granville Gude Park (Laurel Lake; 301-725-5300x44) - Parade at 11 am followed by a car show, fireworks at dusk. 
• Fort Meade - Celebration from noon-10:30 pm. Open to the public, free admission. DJ, band, food/beverage vendors, novelty vendors, karate demonstrations. Fireworks at dusk. 
• Baker Park (Frederick; 301-228-2844) - Music on four stages, fireworks at dusk. 
• Lake Kittamaquandi (10221 Wincopin Circle, Columbia; 410-740-4545) - Music, children's entertainment beginning at 5 pm, fireworks at 9:30. 
• Annapolis City Dock (410-263-1183) - Parade at 6:30 pm, fireworks at 9:15. 

WASHINGTON, DC

• National Mall - Best places to view: Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, East Potomac Park, Rooftop bars in DC, W Hotel rooftop (tickets required). Also, Potomac River cruises and the Iwo Jima Marine Cops War Memorial in Arlington.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA 

• George Mason High School (7124 Leesburg Pik, Falls Church) - Live music at 7 pm, fireworks at 9:30. 
• Fairfax City (703-385-7858) - Parade at 10 am, music entertainment at 7 pm, fireworks at Fairfax High School at dark.
• Langley High School (6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean; 703-790-0123) - Music performances, food, games, children's activities, starting at 6 pm, fireworks at dark. 
• Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street Southeast) - Arts and crafts, food, live music, vendors, games, starting at 11 am, fireworks at 9:15. 
• Herndon Community Center (814 Ferndale Avenue; 703-787-7300) - Rides open at 5; music, crafts, bingo, games at 6:30; fireworks at 9:30. 
• Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston; 703-471-5415) - Fireworks around 9:15. 
• Ida Lee Park (Leesburg; 703-777-1368) - Gates open at 6, fireworks around 9:30. 
• Manassas (9431 West Street; 703-335-8872) - Live music, children's activities, food starting a 4, fireworks at 9:15. 
• King's Dominion (16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell) 
• Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street, Alexandria) - 4-10 pm; concert by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra at 9 and fireworks at 9:30.