A dangerous heat wave upended fourth of July celebrations across swaths of the central and eastern US on Friday, forcing officials in the nation’s capital and elsewhere to cancel or postpone dozens of parades, concerts and fireworks displays.
Among the events disrupted by the sweltering heat was the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s efforts to mark the nation’s 250th birthday.
The fair, designed to showcase all 50 states, was temporarily closed on Friday afternoon as temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius.
Visitors wait to enter after a temporary closure of The Great American State Fair due to heat on the National Mall in Washington, DC, US, July 3, 2026. —AFP
Late on Friday, organisers of the National Park Service’s Independence Day Parade in Washington announced they had canceled the annual event due to safety concerns. The parade had been scheduled to start on Saturday, with the Weather Service projecting heat index values to reach as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
