A Capitol Fourth at the U.S. Capitol

It’s not something you want to do every year – too many tourists – but everybody should, at least once, head down to the U.S. Capitol to hear the National Symphony Orchestra’s annual A Capitol Fourth concert. This year, Erich Kunzel conducts the orchestra in a performance of patriotic favorites and classical masterworks, most notably Tchaikvosky’s 1812 Overture, during which a cannon is usually fired, shortly before the fireworks display at 9:10 p.m. Also performing this year: Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, Michael Feinstein and the Jersey Boys cast. Saturday, July 4, at 8 p.m. West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org/nso/ for more information.