Annual National Parade in honor of America's Fourth of July Independence Day celebration, which this year would have coincided with the country's 250th anniversary, was canceled due to high temperatures, event organizers said. In Washington, D.C., it is forecast to reach 110 to 115°F (43 to 46°C).
The decision was made, according to administrators, for the safety of participants, spectators and staff. The march was originally scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. local time, starting at the intersection of 3rd Street NW and Constitution Avenue, traveling south on Independence Avenue and ending at 12th Street in the southwestern part of the city.
Typically, the march features guest bands, pipe and drum troupes, floats, military and special forces, balloons, mounted units, cheerleaders, and people dressed as national leaders and celebrities.
Organizers cited an extreme heat warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) as the reason for the cancellation. In total, due to weather anomalies, 250 million people across the country were at risk, as previously reported by RTVI.
“Long-lasting, dangerous heat will continue through the Independence Day weekend in the Ohio Valley, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Numerous temperature records are expected to be set,” the NWS said in a statement.
The high temperatures also caused the cancellation of celebrations in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. More than 50 marching bands and about 20 floats were to take part in one of the largest parades in the city's history, writes The New York Times (NYT).
Due to weather anomalies, the Great American State Fair on the National Mall was also temporarily closed. This happened amid reports that 44 visitors needed medical attention due to the heat, The Hill notes.
The 16-day event, which was opened by US President Donald Trump, was subsequently revived with cooling stations, free water stations and air-conditioned facilities installed on site, according to Freedom 250, which organized the fair.
“With hot weather expected, visitors should stay hydrated, wear light clothing, apply sunscreen, rest in the shade, use cooling areas and monitor the well-being of family and friends,” the July 4 announcement said.
At the same time, Trump himself announced on July 1 at the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota that, despite the heat, he intended to speak at the fair in Washington.
“By the way, on July 4th it's going to be about 107 degrees (40°C) and I'm going to give a very long speech just to show that I can do anything,” the president said.
Earlier, RTVI reported on the Republican’s speech for the anniversary of independence, in which the head of the White House called communism the biggest threat to the United States.
