All you need to know about this year’s A Capitol Fourth concert

The Capitol’s annual Fourth of July celebrations will see the 44th annual A Capitol Fourth concert, one of several planned events to commemorate the nation’s 248th birthday.

The annual concert held on the West Lawn of the Capitol will see numerous musicians performing, including the National Symphony Orchestra. This free concert will be open to the public and available to watch via television and online.

Other major events in Washington, D.C., include the National Independence Day parade and evening fireworks at the National Mall.

Who is performing at this year’s event?

In addition to the National Symphony Orchestra, performers at this year’s event include Alfonso Ribeiro, Smokey Robinson, Fantasia, Darren Criss, Sheila E., Fitz and the Tantrums, Chloe Flower, Sister Sledge and Slegendary, Loren Allred, Shawn Johnson East, and Britt Stewart. The U.S. Army Band Pershing's Own will also be present at this year’s concert.

Ribeiro, best known for his role as Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and current host of ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos, will also return as host for A Capitol Fourth this year.

When is the concert being held?

The concert itself will not start until 8 p.m. Eastern and will last through 9:30 p.m. However, the public is welcome to arrive early when the gates open at 3 p.m.

What items must be left at home when attending the concert?

The U.S. Capitol Police has provided a full list of items that attendees will not be able to bring with them to the concert, including alcoholic drinks, glass bottles, knives, laser pointers, firearms, and drones. Explosives, including fireworks, are also forbidden.

Attendees are also not allowed to bring any nonservice animals.

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How can the event be viewed virtually?

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be broadcast on PBS. The concert can also be streamed online via PBS’s YouTube page, the network’s app, or on A Capitol Fourth’s Facebook page.