No need to put a big dent in your wallet while you celebrating the Fourth of July. We put together a list of some options for you to have a fun holiday while keeping your spending in check.
FREE
Smithsonian Museums: If you're waiting for the fireworks and concert on the National Mall, enjoy extended summer hours and free tours at several Smithsonian museums. You can also learn about Basque country at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Applebee's: Is your last name Woodson or Firestone? On July 1, Applebee's will give anyone with "wood" or "fire" in their name a free steak. Guests with the last name "Woodfire" will get free steak for the year. Find participating locations here.
National Archives: Take a peek at the Declaration of Independence on the anniversary of its signing. The National Archives will perform a dramatic reading of the Declaration by actors portraying founding fathers at 10 a.m. You can also listen to live music, sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence and check out other activities.
Capitol Fourth: Find a spot on the National Mall to check out the free Capitol Fourth Concert. This year's performers include Smokey Robinson, Kenny Loggins, Gavin DeGraw, Sutton Foster and others. The concert will take place on the West Lawn of the Capitol and lasts from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., but gates open at 3.
Fireworks, Fireworks, Fireworks! Many local cities and towns, not just D.C., offer Fourth of July fireworks fests for free. Find them all, plus an interactive map, here.
The Scene
The most fun things to do and places to be in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Long Bridge Park: Play on a moon bounce, listen to live music, compete in a kickball game and take part in other activities for free at Long Bridge Park's July 4 celebration in Arlington. The event offers a view of the Capitol Fourth fireworks, and you can choose from an assortment of food trucks to buy your meal.
Palisades: Stop by the Palisades Rec Center on July 3 for Hoedown on the Green. You can listen to live music and square dance while snacking on some free ice cream. Return the next day for an Independence Day parade that starts at 11 a.m. Once the parade is over, you can enjoy hot dogs, watermelon, drinks, music and a moon bounce for free. You can also march in the parade -- no need to register beforehand.
Capitol Hill: If you don't want the big crowds of the Independence Day Parade, you can also check out the nearby Capitol Hill Community 4th of July Parade. Head to Barracks Row on Capitol Hill at 10 a.m. to catch the fun.
Jefferson Memorial: Learn about the man who helped write the Declaration of Independence and what the Declaration meant to him at In Depth: The Only Birthday Thomas Jefferson Ever Celebrated, held at the Jefferson Memorial. A ranger will give 30-minute talks on the founding father at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Fort Hunt Concert Series: Kick off your Independence Day celebration with a free concert at Fort Hunt off of George Washington Memorial Parkway. Fort Hunt started their concert series in early June; you can catch their July 3 show as part of your Fourth of July weekend. The Fort Washington Community Chorus will sing from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
National Cathedral: Check out some organ music and symphonic brass at the National Cathedral's Annual Independence Day Concert from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The performance by organists Benjamin Straley and Peter Conte, Washington Symphonic Brass and U.S. Navy Sea Chanters will feature popular hymns and patriotic tunes. You can also come back to the cathedral at night for a view of the Capitol Fourth fireworks.
LESS THAN $25
ICEBERGS: Ever wonder what it would be like to go inside an iceberg? The National Building Museum will try to answer that question with its new ICEBERGS exhibit, opening July 2. Tickets to the exhibit are $16 for adults and $13 for kids, students and seniors.
Newseum: The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first paper to publish the Declaration of Independence in print. The Newseum features one of the 19 remaining copies of the paper in its 1776 -- Breaking News: Independence exhibit, starting July 1. You can see how the Declaration of Independence was first presented to the public and learn about what drew delegates from the colonies to adopt it. Tickets to the Newseum are $22.95 for adults, $18.95 for seniors, $13.95 for kids 18 to 7 years old and free for kids ages 6 and under.
Nationals Game: Take some time out of Independence Day to watch the Nationals take on the Brewers. The game kicks off at 11:05 a.m., leaving you plenty of time to pick up the celebration in the evening. The cheapest tickets to the game are $23, but you can also take advantage of some special discounts.
Society Fair: You can pre-order to-go bags of food at Society Fair on July 4 -- perfect for families. Meal options include barbecue, pecan pie, wine and other foods.
Red White Blue July 4th Pool Party: Cool off from the heat with a pool party at the Embassy Row Hotel from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., where you can lay in a cabana poolside, sip on cocktails and listen to DJ music. General admission is $30, but you can order your tickets early and pay $20. You must be 21 or older to attend.
Food Trucks: Looking for a quick bite to eat in between activities? You can head over to a food truck for a meal that isn't too pricey. While some food trucks will close for the Fourth, you can keep an eye on this food truck tracker to see which ones are open and close to you.
July 4th Rooftop Fireworks Soiree: The Embassy Row Hotel will be throwing a special July 4th party on the hotel rooftop, which has a panoramic view of D.C. The party runs from 7 to 11:00 p.m. and features live performances and guest DJs. General admission tickets are $30, and you must be 21 or older to attend.
Proud to Be Race: Go for a run in Arlington in the Proud to Be race, where you can choose to run a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon. Registration is $22, and gets you a custom medal and a racing bib. At least 20 percent of all registration fees go to Homes for Our Troops, an organization that provides houses for severely disabled veterans.
LESS THAN $40
4th of July Party at Lincoln: Relax indoors with a nice dinner before the fireworks at Lincolns fifth annual Fourth of July party. You can sample farm-to-table food and enjoy an all-you-can eat buffet with music from a live DJ at the restaurant located near Penn Quarter. The event starts at 2 p.m.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace: If you want to eat a picnic but you don't want to cook, you can feed the family with an Independence Day Chicken Bucket Picnic To-Go from Pearl Oyster Palace. The $35 meal includes six pieces of fried chicken, three jalapeño cornbread muffins, potato salad, coleslaw, blueberry hand pies, cookies -- and even a tablecloth and silverware. You can pre-order the food online.
