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Smiling Shelves

Saturday Snapshot - Fourth of July in Washington, D.C.

7/18/2015

10 Comments

 
My husband and I typically go on vacation for a couple of weeks every summer. We try to avoid being gone on the Fourth of July. There are lots of fun family things to do at home that we don't want to miss. However, this year, the Fourth of July fell smack in the middle of our time away. So we decided, since we had to be gone for the Fourth of July, that we would do it up right. We celebrated Independence Day in Washington, D.C.!
The day started with a parade that lasted almost two hours. There were marching bands galore, a few floats, some large balloons, and the occasional unexpected thing - like people doing tricks on old bicycles or the Kissmobile.
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The parade finished around 2:00, so we wandered around to find some food and see the sights. Then around 6:00, we headed to the Capitol building. I don't know if you've ever watched PBS on the evening of the Fourth of July, but they broadcast a concert from the lawn of the Capitol building. This year, I was at that concert! (Although our view wasn't the greatest. The stage is behind that clump of trees in the middle. You can sort of see the white of the bandshell peeking through. The Capitol was directly behind us, though!)
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The concert finished with the National Symphony Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture - complete with cannons! And then the fireworks started behind the Washington Monument. It was such an awesome experience!
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Saturday Snapshot was hosted by West Metro Mommy.
10 Comments
Kate @ Mom's Radius link
7/18/2015 02:20:48 am

Wow. What a cool experience!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/19/2015 10:11:51 am

It was a lot of fun!

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Laurel-Rain Snow link
7/18/2015 05:17:16 am

Fabulous shots! I can't even recall the last parade I watched, but now I want to find one...LOL

Thanks for sharing...and here's <a href=http://laurelrainsnow.wordpress.com/2015/07/17/shaking-up-my-interior-world-enjoying-the-changes//> MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST </a>

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/19/2015 10:14:31 am

Our tiny town in Michigan has a parade every August, but this one was a whole different experience! :)

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Emily link
7/18/2015 02:27:47 pm

I try to get to Michigan every 4th of July, so I completely understand why you like to be home for it! It looks like a wonderful time in DC as well though - great photos!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/19/2015 10:15:45 am

Thanks! All photo credit goes to my husband. (I probably should have said that in the post. . .) :)

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Lindsey link
7/18/2015 02:47:59 pm

We watched some of a Capitol Fourth on tv. How fun that you got to see it in person (even if you were behind some trees....)!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/19/2015 10:16:28 am

Yeah, it was really more like hear it in person, instead of see it. We went for the atmosphere. ;)

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Melinda link
7/24/2015 06:58:01 am

Oh, I have always wanted to spend the 4th in Washington, DC! I went to school only a few hours away, but I was always back on the west coast for the summer. I did spend a few 4th's in Boston, which was also fun (but not quite the same!)

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/26/2015 09:17:44 am

It was a great experience. I hope you get the chance to do it someday! :)

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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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