Capitol Fourth Concert 2019: Livestream, Performers, Fireworks

WASHINGTON, DC — The 39th annual PBS Capitol Fourth Concert on Thursday night, July 4, salutes the men and women in uniform, as well as their families, on Independence Day. The free concert will be held on the U.S. Capitol's west lawn, and the lineup this year includes singer-songwriter Carole King, Vanessa Williams, Lee Brice and Colbie Caillat, among others. The Sesame Street Muppets are expected to make a special appearance.

John Stamos returns as the host of A Capitol Fourth, which airs on PBS stations from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET, and then is re-run immediately afterwards on most PBS stations. No tickets are necessary and admittance begins at 3 p.m. Guests will be required to enter through a metal detector. The gates are located at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds.

Joining King is the Broadway cast of the musical Beautiful starring Vanessa Carlton; electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling; singer-songwriter and actress Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman); recording artist and actress Vanessa Williams; singer-songwriter Caillat with her new band Gone West; Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and R&B legends The O’Jays; gospel vocalist Yolanda Adams; 2019 American Idol winner Laine Hardy; singer Angelica Hale (America's Got Talent); Broadway star Laura Osnes; and this year’s winner of The Voice (Season 16), Maelyn Jarmon, performing the national anthem; with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jack Everly.'s>

PBS says the concert will feature Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, Rosita, Elmo, Grover, Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street to celebrate America’s birthday. The Sesame Street Muppets will perform a medley of patriotic favorites and iconic songs from the children’s television series.'s>

And, the concert will pay tribute to American men and women in uniform with a special performance by the MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band and Stamos. MusiCorps is a conservatory-level music rehabilitation program, formed in response to the needs of service members injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2007, the program has become a pioneer in the field of adaptive music and has helped countless wounded warriors in their recovery.
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Fireworks are set to begin behind the Lincoln Memorial at 9:07 p.m. ET and will be included in the broadcast. They are expected to last 35 minutes, twice as long as previous years, PBS said.

The Capitol Fourth Concert puts viewers front and center for the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation, says PBS. While the live concert audience is hundreds of thousands, it can also be heard live on NPR member stations nationwide and via the American Forces Network to troops serving around the world.

President Donald Trump is expected to speak at a separate event earlier in the day. His “Salute to America” includes military demonstrations and a flyover.

If You Go To The Concert

Best spots to watch are via the public entrances to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol:

• North (Senate) Side of Capitol Square: Third Street NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
• South (House) Side of Capitol Square: Third Street SW, and Maryland Avenue SW

You can also catch the concert on a PBS livestream, PBS.org, YouTube and Facebook:

See event maps from the NPS.

If you're viewing from the National Mall, here are tips:

• Plan to arrive early, and to protect yourself from heat-related illness. See Directions and Plan Your Visit.
• Viewing areas on the National Mall near the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool will be accessible only through secure access points.
• Consider wearing hearing protection. These fireworks are BIG and LOUD.
• Consider wearing eye protection to protect yourself from falling debris (ash).
• Consider not bringing pets (some get very scared of the loud booms).
• Immediately following the fireworks, areas along Independence Avenue between the Lincoln Memorial and World War II Memorial will be closed for safety related to the fireworks launch site. The road will re-open after cleanup crews have completed their inspection and removed any hazardous materials.

Other viewing areas include:

• Washington DC: U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, National Mall, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, The White House Ellipse, West Potomac Park, East Potomac Park, Anacostia Park
• Virginia: U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and the George Washington Memorial Parkway

What not to bring:

• Guns, knives, or ammunition
• Drones
• Alcohol
• Glass containers
• Explosives or fireworks

Recommendations:

• Leave pets at home
• Travel by Metro
• Bring plenty of water
• Recycle

Due to safety concerns and large crowds, no grills, alcohol, glass bottles, or personal fireworks are permitted on NPS property, as grilling and personal fireworks risk fires.

Fourth of July schedule (all times EDT)

National Independence Day Parade – along Constitution Avenue
11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Trump’s ‘Salute to America’ – Lincoln Memorial
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A Capitol Fourth Concert – West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Fireworks display
9:07 p.m. – 9:42 p.m.