THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF WEST VIRGINIA CONGRESSWOMAN SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO.

WASHINGTON – Hundreds of West Virginians often visit the nation’s capital over the Fourth of July to take part in the many events planned to coincide with the anniversary of the July 4th signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

For West Virginians traveling to Washington this year, Rep. Shelley Moor Capito, R-W.Va., and her staff have compiled a list of events taking place throughout the week of Independence Day.

“The history of our great nation truly seems to come alive in Washington over Independence Day,” said Capito. “Tourists come to Washington to take part in a national celebration and there are plenty of ways to keep busy throughout the week. Yet whether we’re Washington or in West Virginia, the most important point is that we all take time to remember our nation’s unique history and the many sacrifices of those who came before us.”

While Capito will spend the 4th of July in West Virginia, the following list represents a sample of events taking place in Washington that might be of interest to constituents who are visiting the city.

Multi-Day Events

Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival
July 1-5, 2009. The festival, hosted on the National Mall, celebrates cultural traditions of societies from around the world. This year’s festival will focus on the cultures of Wales and Latin America, with various artistic performances, demonstrations and discussions. More information about this year’s festival can be found at the Smithsonian Institution’s website.

AT&T National Golf Tournament
June 29 - July 5, 2009. Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD will hold the AT&T National Golf Tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods. The event will feature approximately 120 golf professionals from around the world. Further scheduling and ticket information can be found at www.attnational.org.

Artomatic
May 29-July 5, 2009. Artomatic brings together hundreds of artists and performers in the region for a month-long art festival that is free to the general public. The art festival, located at 55 M Street SE, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and it concludes on the weekend of July 4th and 5th. Festival hours are Wed. & Thurs., 5-10 PM; Fri.-Sat., noon-1 AM; Sun., noon-10 PM. More information is available at www.artomatic.org.

Single Day Events

Marine Barracks Washington – Evening Parade
July 2, 2009. The Evening Parade, which features the Marine Corps’ Silent Drill Platoon, along with the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps Co. and the US Marine Band, will take place during the evening on June 2nd at 8th and I Streets, SE in Washington. Marine Barracks Washington is the oldest active post in the Marine Corps. Tickets for the Evening Parade will be in high demand, but more information can be found at the Marine Barracks Washington website.

National 4th of July Parade
July 4, 2009. The National Independence Day Parade will take place at approximately 11:45 AM on Saturday July 4th down Constitution Avenue between 7th Street NW and 17th Street NW. Those planning to attend should prepare for large crowds and high temperatures. More information is available at the parade’s official website.

A Capitol Fourth – Concert on the West Front Lawn of the US Capitol
July 4, 2009 at 8:00 PM. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning film, theater and television actor Jimmy Smits hosts the 29th annual broadcast of the “Capitol Fourth” concert from the West Front of the US Capitol. Performers will include Barry Manilow, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Choral Arts Society of Washington, Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, the cast of Jersey Boys, the US Army Ceremonial Band and others. General admission for the concert opens at 3 PM and more information can found here.

Fourth of July Fireworks in the Washington, DC Area
July 4, 2009. The Washington, DC area will celebrate Independence Day with a fireworks display on the National Mall at approximately 9:15 PM on Saturday, July 4th. Fireworks will be launched near the reflecting pool (between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial) and can be viewed from many locations on the National Mall and beyond. Those planning to view the display from the Mall should prepare for large crowds and high temperatures. Note that the display is preceded b ay concert on the West Lawn of the US Capitol at 8 PM. Sunday July 5th will serve as a rain date.

Independence Day at Mount Vernon
July 4, 2009. Historic Mount Vernon – the home of President George Washington – will host its Independence Day Celebration from 8 AM to 5 PM on July 4th. The day’s activities will include reenactments, musical performances and other ceremonies. For more information about admissions and scheduling, visit Mount Vernon’s website.

Independence Day Organ Recital at the Washington National Cathedral
July 4th, 2009. Washington’s National Cathedral will host an Independence Day Organ Recital at 11 AM. Reserved tickets for the concert are $40. General admission is free. The Cathedral encourages all to RSVP, regardless of seating section, at http://tickets.cathedral.org.

4th of July at the National Archives
July 4, 2009. The National Archives will celebrate the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a series of events beginning at 10 AM. More information is available at the National Archives’ website.

Other Popular Washington Attractions

Tours of the United States Capitol
The US Capitol offers tours Monday thru Saturday from 8:50 until 3:20, with tours starting every ten minutes. They include a 12 minute video titled Out of Many, One and a guided tour of the Capitol Building by a member of my staff. Tours can be arranged by calling my office at (202)225-2711 or visiting the US Capito Visitors Center website.

Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is open to the public 7 days a week and offers an elevator ride to the top, where you can enjoy great views of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. Tickets to go to the top of the monument are available from the National Park Service website or can be picked up in person at the monument, http://www.nps.gov/wamo.

The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is made up of 19 museums and 9 research centers. Admission is free for all and the museums are open daily from 10 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Some of popular attraction includes the Museum of Natural History where you can find the Hope Diamond and Dinosaurs, the American History Museum which is home to the American flags from Fort McHenry, the American Indian Museum which feature many Native American artifacts, the Air and Space Museum (home to the original Wright brothers 1903 flyer and lunar rock samples you can touch). For more information, visit www.si.edu or call 202-633-1000.

The Holocaust Museum
The Holocaust Museum documents and portrays the terrible history of the Holocaust and the anti-Semitic actions of the Nazis during the 1930s and 40s. The museum is open from 10am – 5 pm. Same-day passes are available at the Wilf Pass Desk (First Floor). Advance passes are available from Tickets.com at www.tickets.com or 800.400.9373. Admission is free. For further information, visit the Holocaust Museum website.

The National Zoo
The National Zoo covers 163 acres and showcases dozens of animal exhibits. Zoo hours are 10 AM to 6 PM from April through October. Admission is free. More information can be found at the National Zoo’s website.

While the above list is a sample, it may not necessarily be exhaustive of all public events taking place throughout the week.