WASHINGTON—While tourists from all over the country flocked to the nation’s capital this week to experience the concerts, parades and celebrations marking July 4, many Washingtonians did their best to escape the festivities.
With Congress in recess, many politicians returned to their home states to celebrate the holiday and spend time with their families. Other are residents who managed to take time off work traveled to beach and summer homes.
But since the holiday fell in the middle of the week this year, some local inhabitants forced to stay in the city found another way to watch the fireworks and avoid the tourists at the National Mall.
“I don’t know many people that go anywhere near the tourist destinations,” said Tom McCaughtry, a D.C. resident who watched the fireworks at Meridian Hill Park on Wednesday evening.
“It’s crazy down there, like trying to get home from there takes you a long time just because you are surrounded by a mob of people,” he said. “It’s kind of a hassle.”
While many residents expressed the need to experience the festivities by the mall at least once, they said the best place to catch the fireworks is from afar, from neighborhood parks or their own private roof decks.
“I think you need to have done it a few times because it really is pretty special,” said Ken Niles, who has lived in Washington since 1991. Niles and his wife, Ethel, beat the heat in the shade of the trees outside the National Cathedral.
“So, after you’ve done it a few times you say I can do this on TV or I can do it from our observation deck in the building we live in and without the fuss.”
Especially with the intense heat and huge crowds downtown, residents said nothing beats the comfort of your own home to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Having access to a good rooftop is “hugely important,” according to Owen Bergwall, a D.C. resident of six years who watched the fireworks with friends.
“You can be home, comfortable. It’s always 100 degrees, no matter what,” he said.
“You get pizza, wine, get up on the rooftop, chill out, invite some friends over, and watch this without everybody from the rest of the country.”