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PHOTOS: Fourth of July fireworks from the Mall and around the DC region

WTOP Staff

July 5, 2026, 12:21 AM

The United States had far more than 250 candles to blow out on its birthday.

For the semiquincentennial celebration on the National Mall alone, President Donald Trump promised a world-record fireworks display, and his Freedom 250 organization said its Fourth of July event would include the launch of 850,000 fireworks shells.

Dangerous heat led officials in some Maryland and Virginia communities to cancel parades and other daytime events, but others continued as scheduled.

And severe thunderstorms moving in later in the day, threatened to upstage the manmade fireworks on the National Mall and around the region. But the show marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence went on, for the most part.

Here are some images from the night.

1/15
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was fenced off in preparation for Independence Day fireworks on July 2, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
2/15
Workers installed fireworks along the edge of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of the America 250 July 4th celebration on the National Mall, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)
Fourth of July celebration in DC 3/15
Thousands walking along Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest D.C. on Saturday, July 4, 2026. (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
People of the Metro train 4/15
People traveling on Metrorail to D.C. to celebrate Fourth of July. (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
APTOPIX America 250 Independence Day Washington 5/15
People arrive for a Salute to America Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
People arrive for a Salute to America Independence Day event honoring the nation's 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
America 250 Independence Day Washington 6/15
The Salute to America stage is empty after the area was evacuated because of incoming storms at the Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Salute to America stage is empty after the area was evacuated because of incoming storms at the Independence Day event honoring the nation's 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Visitors refuse to leave the grounds of the "Salute to America 250" Fourth of July celebrations 7/15
Visitors refuse to leave the grounds of the “Salute to America 250” Fourth of July celebrations after officials instructed everyone to evacuate the area due to severe weather on the National Mall on July 04, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
Visitors gather at the security barriers to re-enter the National Mall for the "Salute to America 250" Fourth of July celebrations 8/15
Visitors gather at the security barriers to re-enter the National Mall for the “Salute to America 250” Fourth of July celebrations after officials instructed everyone to evacuate the area due to severe weather on July 04, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
APTOPIX America 250 Independence Day Trump 9/15
Guests dressed in American flag-themed clothes attend Salute to America, an Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Guests dressed in American flag-themed clothes attend Salute to America, an Independence Day event honoring the nation's 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
America 250 Independence Day Washington 10/15
People crowd Pennsylvania Avenue after they were evacuated from the National Mall ahead of severe weather at an Independence Day event and fireworks honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
People crowd Pennsylvania Avenue after they were evacuated from the National Mall ahead of severe weather at an Independence Day event and fireworks honoring the nation's 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Spectators watch fireworks 11/15
Spectators watch fireworks during “Salute to America 250” Fourth of July celebrations on the National Mall on July 4, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
Fireworks burst in the skies in DC 12/15
Fireworks burst in the skies during “Salute to America 250” Fourth of July celebrations on July 04, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Fireworks explode during Salute to America 13/15
Fireworks explode during Salute to America, an Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
People watch fireworks at Salute to America 14/15
People watch fireworks at Salute to America, an Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Fireworks display 15/15
A fireworks display is seen during the “Salute to America” Independence Day celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in the early morning hours of July 5, 2026. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

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