American Independence Day celebrations were disrupted due to extreme heat, many parades and events were cancelled.

Washington: This time the Independence Day celebrations in America have been hit by the scorching heat. In many states on the East Coast, temperatures and humidity rose so high that many public events had to be canceled or limited. Keeping people’s safety in mind, many organizers have made changes in their programs. The effect of heat is clearly visible from the capital Washington DC to Virginia and Maryland. Although some major events will take place as per schedule, additional safety and health arrangements have been made in them too.

The Great American State Fair, held on the National Mall in Washington DC, was closed for a few hours on Friday. Due to intense heat and high humidity, the temperature experienced there reached about 113 degrees Fahrenheit i.e. about 45 degrees Celsius. In such circumstances, the organizers, giving priority to the safety of the people, decided to keep the fair closed till 5 pm.

Giving information on social media platform X, the organization organizing the fair, ‘Freedom 250’ said that the safety of guests, employees and artists is of utmost importance to them. For this reason it was decided to stop the program temporarily.

Parades canceled in Virginia and Maryland

The effect of extreme heat was not limited to the capital only. Independence Day parades in Leesburg, Virginia, and Laurel and Takoma Park in Maryland were also canceled. The local administration believes that the presence of a large number of people in extreme heat could pose a health risk, hence this decision was taken.

Capital Fourth concert will be held on time

However, despite the heat, the Capitol Fourth Concert, one of America’s most popular Independence Day events, has not been canceled. US Capitol Police said that this program will start at its scheduled time at 8 pm. However, keeping in mind the convenience of the spectators, the gates will be opened one hour earlier i.e. at 7 pm.

The police have also appealed to all the people to carry adequate amount of water and adopt necessary measures to protect themselves from the heat. Famous artists like Patti LaBelle, Alan Jackson, Chicago and Kool & the Gang will perform in this concert. During the rehearsal held on Thursday, common people were not allowed to enter because the heat level was very high at that time.

President Trump’s program will remain fixed

US President Donald Trump’s Independence Day program will take place as per the already planned plan. He will reach South Dakota in the evening and address the people at Mount Rushmore and will also participate in the fireworks program organized there. After this, the next day he will also give a speech in Washington, where grand fireworks will be organized after his address.

Rail services and electricity system also affected

The extreme heat has also affected the transport system. Amtrak has canceled some trains in the northeastern region due to the possibility of railway tracks being affected due to hot weather. Whereas in New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appealed to the people to reduce electricity consumption and save energy. However, Republican leaders criticized him for this appeal and a political debate started on this issue.