Searching for a Bright Spot

Some shelter was offered by the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which featured tent-covered performances and demonstrations by musicians, dancers, crafters, storytellers and artists focusing on this year's festival themes -- music in Latino culture, Haiti and mid-Atlantic maritime communities.

But other visitors had to improvise to stay dry. The Frasure family from Columbus, Ohio, huddled in a blue portable toilet for handicapped users, the only one big enough for Terri and her children Sara, 10, Joshua, 26, and Isaiah, 15. They had set up their coolers and chairs for fireworks viewing nearby, but by 2 p.m. they had left other family members to take refuge in the outhouse.

They hoped to stay for the fireworks. It was their first Independence Day in Washington, and they had driven from Ohio on Friday. "It's always been important to us to have our freedom," Terri Frasure said.

People braving the downpour also stimulated rain-gear sales. Guy Foster, 43, wore one of the red, white and blue umbrella hats he was selling as he wished passersby a happy Fourth. "Last year, I was just selling flags, but a homeless woman was selling these," said the D.C. resident, pointing to the hat. "I'm doing excellent."

At the Mall, many visitors vowed to stay for the fireworks, rain or not. "What's our option? Going back to the hotel?" asked Yamuna Fiorentino, 25, a teacher from Hillsborough, N.C. "That's boring."

Rob McGee, 38, a teacher from Mount Holly, N.J., stuck a U.S. flag next to his beach chair between Seventh and Ninth streets. "It's a chance to shut out politics for half an hour," he said after the fireworks.

Rex Ryan, 41, and his son, Peyton, 12, had to wait to board the Metro at Federal Triangle for the ride home, but the fireworks show "was definitely worth it," Peyton said. "It was really cool. I've never seen any fireworks any bigger. It was neat. The fireworks were really humongous. It was amazing."

Elsewhere in the city late last night, some residents set off fireworks that resulted in a bang of a different sort. Desk officers at police stations in several neighborhoods reported a surge in complaints, many from elderly people about illegal fireworks. Only sparklers are legal for personal use in the city, said Alan Etter, a spokesman for D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

But neighborhood revelers at least avoided some of the crowds at the far larger celebration on the Mall. At an elevator leading to the Federal Triangle Metro station, it was shoulder-to-shoulder traffic, and those pushing baby carriages weren't necessarily guaranteed a spot in the elevator. "The people walk right over you. This is insane -- we have a baby in a stroller," said Michelle Ward, a mother of three from Williamsburg.

Her eldest daughter, 8-year-old Cyndal, said she was prepared to stay up late.

"Mommy and Daddy were telling us we were going to get home very, very late," Cyndal said. "I think I am going to be very worn out and very tired tomorrow."