Kick off America's birthday celebration with the National Independence Day Parade (Constitution Ave. N.W., between 7th and 17th streets N.W.).
Beginning at 11:45 a.m., be ready to see pretty much only three colors for the next couple of hours: yeah, red, white and blue. The free event hosts bands representing each of the 50 states, fife and drum corps, patriotic floats, marching military units, giant balloons, national dignitaries and some celebrities. Wait -- celebrities? We're sold.
Come decked out in your best patriotic get-up and arrive early to get a good view of the action. Just sit back (OK, well, stand is probably more like it) among the expected thousands of spectators. Something about floats, flags and matching bands just makes us want to say PARTY.
