This year’s July 4 celebration in Washington, D.C., promises the largest fireworks display the capital has ever seen, but residents hoping to watch will have to stay up late. President Donald Trump has reshaped the Independence Day program into a campaign-style rally, pushing the pyrotechnics back by roughly two hours to nearly midnight.

A Show Built to Break Records

The numbers behind the display are staggering. More than 850,000 pyrotechnic effects are set to light up the sky above the National Mall, according to Freedom 250, the White House-backed public-private group organizing events for the 250th anniversary of American independence.

This won’t just be the biggest show the city has hosted, it will also be the longest. Organizers say the display will run about 40 minutes, roughly double the usual length. Shells will launch from eight barges floating on the Potomac River, from West Potomac Park, and along the banks of the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

That reflecting pool has had a rough stretch. After Trump’s multimillion-dollar renovation wrapped up, it drew unwanted attention when the water turned green from algae and the fresh blue paint began chipping within days. The pool has since been fenced off for the celebration, with a bright orange sign on the barrier reading, “Coming to you on July 4th.”

The Rally That Delayed the Fireworks

The reason for the late start comes down to politics. Trump has rebranded the evening around what he described on Truth Social as the “most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all,” billing it as a “TRIBUTE TO AMERICA” staged at the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

The rally is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern. Trump’s remarks will likely cover his familiar themes, from boasts about his renovation projects around the capital to his criticisms of predecessor Joe Biden. He framed the night as an honor to the country’s people, spirit, strength, and triumphs.

To cap the program, Trump promised to launch what he called the largest fireworks show in history, urging the public not to miss it.

A Late Night for Families

For all the spectacle, the timing creates real headaches for many D.C. households. The fireworks usually kick off around 9 p.m. This year, Freedom 250 initially placed the start near 10:30 p.m., but D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters that local officials expect it closer to 11 p.m.

Bowser predicted that families with young children would skip the National Mall altogether and watch from home on television instead.

The dilemma reaches even into the White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt admitted she and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, hadn’t decided whether to keep their young son and newborn daughter awake for the show. She framed it as a genuine family debate, weighing the spectacle against the risk of ruining July 5, but said she expected it would be worth it.

Fox News’ Peter Doocy pointed out the obvious, joking that the children would wake up regardless. Leavitt agreed, noting that the noise would be impossible to escape. The entire city, she said, would hear it no matter what.

Performers Walk Away

The shift toward a political tone hasn’t been smooth. Nearly every artist scheduled to perform in Freedom 250’s concert series dropped out over concerns the events had grown too partisan and divisive. The departures included Martina McBride, The Commodores, and Bret Michaels.

Trump nonetheless used a rally last week, which opened the weeks-long Great American State Fair on the National Mall, to drum up attendance for the Fourth. He claimed the fireworks would be ten times larger than anything Washington had ever produced and pressed his supporters to show up in force.

He warned the crowd that empty seats would hand critics an easy story. If even two seats sat vacant, he said, the press would claim he failed to fill the venue.

Military Bands Take the Stage

The nighttime program beginning at 7 p.m. will also feature the Joint Armed Forces Orchestra. According to Trump’s post, more than 300 members of military bands, orchestras, and ceremonial units will perform patriotic standards and American classics, along with selections from his own playlist.

In characteristically combative fashion, Trump promised the lineup would avoid anyone who might bore the audience or complain, framing the evening as both a celebration of the nation and a launch into its next 250 years.

Whether the late start dampens the turnout or simply adds to the drama, one thing seems certain: between the rally, the orchestra, and a record-shattering barrage of fireworks, the capital is in for a long and loud night.