WASHINGTON, July 4 (DC Times Online) — Visitors headed to Washington for the Fourth of July weekend faced a mix of semiquincentennial celebrations and dangerous heat, with the Great American State Fair on the National Mall briefly shutting down and a planned Independence Day parade canceled.
President Donald Trump was expected to address crowds on the National Mall as part of the 250th anniversary of American independence, and organizers planned a fireworks display over the capital. The holiday events were unfolding against a politically polarized national backdrop.
The heat wave forced organizers to close the fair for several hours Friday afternoon as temperatures neared 100 degrees Fahrenheit, according to officials and event organizers. Local officials also canceled a parade planned for the holiday.
The National Weather Service urged people to drink water, take shade or air-conditioning breaks, check on seniors and other vulnerable people, and seek medical attention quickly for signs of heat illness.
Other cities also altered holiday plans. Philadelphia canceled its Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade, and New York City opened cooling centers and sent workers and volunteers to check on homeless residents.
