DC Cancels Its 250th Birthday Parade Due to Dangerous Heat

Washington's big Independence Day parade on July 4, 2026—celebrating America's 250 years—was canceled because of extreme heat warnings. Temperatures were forecast to feel like 110–115°F due to humidity. Officials decided to call it off late the evening before, less than twelve hours ahead. A state fair nearby had already closed the day before when 44 people needed medical help for heat sickness.