Dave Dildine and Amy Freedman, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Getting around downtown Annapolis will be very difficult this weekend, especially on Saturday. All routes into and through the city will likely be congested by mid-morning. Parking will be nearly impossible.
The United States Powerboat Show is expected to attract more than 40,000 spectators. Additionally, the sold-out Navy-Air Force showdown will take place at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The football game begins at 11:30 a.m.
Those headed to the power boat show will not be allowed to park at the stadium on Saturday because of the game. The parking lots will be open to boat show attendees on Sunday however.
VIP boat show parking is available at 2 Compromise Street, directly east of the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel.
The boat show’s hosts have consigned with Annapolis High School to allow attendees to park in the school’s lots for $10. Annapolis High School is located at 2700 Riva Road. Free shuttle buses will ferry people to and from the boat show. If the parking areas at the high school fill up, a few businesses along Riva Road have also opened up their parking lots to event-goers.
Other options for getting around include the Water Taxi and the City of Annapolis’ Circulator Trolley.
Other Events
The Redskins have a bye week so Beltway traffic should be held in check through Prince George’s County. Guardrail repair work has caused delays during the past few weekends near Largo and crews may return again this weekend.
The Maryland Renaissance Festival continues into October. The event has caused delays on Interstate 97 near Exit 5 and on Route 450 and Route 178 in Crownsville.
The Children’s National Medical Center Race for Every Child 5K is from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The race course begins at Freedom Plaza and goes east on Pennsylvania Avenue to 3rd Street NW, onto D Street SW toward Independence Avenue, then back to 3rd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue toward Freedom Plaza.
In Northwest Washington, the Adams Morgan Porch Festival Saturday afternoon features musical performances throughout the neighborhood. Columbia Heights Day at Harriet Tubman Elementary, located at 11th Street NW and Kenyon Street NW, will draw crowds as well. Saturday drivers should keep an eye on the crosswalks.
Other events that could tie up traffic on local streets include:
- The Takoma Park Street Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Old Takoma on Carroll Avenue.
- The Annual Fall for Fairfax Festival in front of the Fairfax County Government Center is this weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Art on the Avenue is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday along Mt. Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria.
- Manassas Fall Jubilee from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in historic Manassas. Booths will stretch from East Street to Grant Avenue and from Church Street to Prince William Street.
Metro Track Work
The Orange and Green lines will operate at regular weekend intervals (every 12 minutes) except out of the Greenbelt station where trains will arrive and depart every 20 to 25 minutes. On the Blue and Yellow lines, trains will run every 16 minutes. The Red line stations will be closed between Dupont Circle and and NoMa-Gallaudet with buses replacing trains. Daytime trains will run every 10 minutes outside of the work zone.
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