So, for the first time, our family went downtown to view the Independence Day celebrations on the Mall in Wahington, DC...
We went down an hour early to get space on the west lawn of the Capitol building for watching the concert that was to start at 8pm. When we got there, though, it was already full up, and we ended up getting a seat waaaaaay out on the north edge of the west lawn. Thankfully there was a huge screen above the stage (held by a crane), so we could see what was going on. I could just barely see the stage from our vantage point, and Dolly Parton was this big: [holds fingers out at arm's length, and about 1/4" apart].
Then, as the concert drew to a close with the 1812 Overture and Stars and Stripes Forever, we packed up and headed out behind the stage where we could get a good view of the Washington Monument at the other end of the Mall, and the fireworks behind it. Unfurtunately, the way the wind was drifting ("blowing" would be too strong a term), there was a lot of smoke obscuring our view, but it was pretty fun just the same.
The kids report that they had fun, and Reb and I resolved to go again, but go much earlier so we could get naked-eye viewing distance seats, and bring some board games or something to distract us during the wait.