The annual “A Capitol Fourth” festivities will go on as planned in Washington, D.C. this weekend; just a day earlier with well established list of performers.
The executive producer of “A Capitol Fourth” Michael Colbert spoke on the date change to July 3 saying “not only only are there tons of things going on in Washington, there’s tons of things going on all over the country. We’ve heard already from so many public television stations how excited they are that we’re kicking off this year a day early. Next year, we’ll go back to the Fourth, as we’ve always been.”
The annual patriotic concert airs commercial free on PBS stations across the nation beginning at 8pm.
“Dancing with the Stars” host and former champion Afonso Ribeiro is hosting the gala event for the fourth time with the rock band Chicago, Trace Adkins, Patti Labelle, Kool & the Gang, Carly Pearce, Alan Jackson, Loren Allred, Angel Blue, the cast from the hit Broadway musical “Just in Time”, and Washington, D.C.’s own National Symphony Orchestra performing. Actors Gary Sinese and Joe Mantegna, , the Artemis II crew, members of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will also be on hand.
Colbert noted, “we really try to have something for everybody. You start out with a blank sheet of paper, and you end up with just an unbelievable group of artists from so many wonderful genres.”
He added, “given the nature of the holiday, the focus is on American performers, but in past years we have been blessed here and there to have friends from other parts of the world to come and celebrate with us.”
Speaking on the current political situation, Colbert noted, “since day one, these have been completely nonpartisan, and they’re always going to be. There’s no other way to do it. Left, right or center, everybody is for celebrating our birthday.”
The date of the performance isn’t the only change this year, to commemorate the 250th birthday of America, the fireworks show will be launching from the Mount Vernon, Virginia home of the nation’s First President – George Washington. Loren Allred is scheduled to perform “God Bless America” as the fireworks light up the sky.
Michael Colbert noted, “what a perfect connection to 250 years ago. We wouldn’t be a country if it weren’t for George Washington.”
The annual “A Capitol Fourth” event began 46 years ago by Michael Colbert’s father – Michael was 12 at the time. “I was there, holding his script and a Diet Coke for him,” Colbert recalls. Michael and his wife Jill are now the executive producers of the event.
In the meantime, the two week event known as the Great American State Fair continues to have problems with the last remaining performer originally scheduled – Vanilla Ice – has his performance cancelled after a rains storm brought events to a halt last week. The event meant to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States has seen numerous issues from power outages, melted ice cream, states not participating in the event, and sparse crowds.
And while the White House has yet to book a power house performer, son, Don Jr doesn’t seem to have any trouble booking talent for his very exclusive and private Fourth of July celebration.
Leading the lineup is rapper 50 Cent; with Timberland, and Ja Rule.