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Annual Labor Day Concert at U.S. Capitol is Sunday, September 3

August 28, 2017

Know Before You Go: Gates Open at 3 p.m., Prohibited Items, Street Closures

On Sunday, September 3, 2017, the annual Labor Day Capitol Concert, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra, will be held on the West Front of the United States Capitol beginning at 8 p.m. The gates will open to the public at 3 p.m.

There also will be a concert dress rehearsal on Sunday beginning at 3:30 p.m. Both concerts are open to the public and no tickets are required.

Public and Accessible Entrances, Parking, and Travel Tips

All public entrances are wheelchair accessible. Mobility impaired guests and their parties will be accommodated at any public entrance. Limited parking on a first come, first serve basis will be available to mobility-impaired guests and their parties along the south curb of Constitution Avenue between First and Third Streets, NW.

Public entrances to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol are as follows:

  • North (Senate) Side of Capitol Square: Third Street, NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  • South (House) Side of Capitol Square: Third Street, SW, and Maryland Avenue, SW

Parking in the immediate area of the U.S. Capitol is extremely limited. Use of public transportation is strongly encouraged. Please visit www.wmata.com to help plan your trip.

Prohibited Items, Security Measures, and Inclement Weather

The U.S. Capitol Police and concert event staff closely monitor weather conditions. Any changes to the schedule of events based on adverse weather conditions will be announced to the general public. If an evacuation of the West Front is necessitated by inclement weather, the concert will be held at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall at 8 p.m.

Please call the NSO Summer Concert Hotline at 202-416-8114 after 2:30 p.m. for information in the event of inclement weather.

Additional security measures will be in place to ensure the safety and security of those in attendance. Everyone attending events on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol must adhere to security screening procedures before entering the event site. This will include an administrative search of all bags, coolers, backpacks, and closed containers. For this event, food items are permitted. Guests are encouraged to bring their own supply of water.

Alcoholic beverages of any kind and glass bottles are strictly prohibited. In addition to any other items at the discretion of U.S. Capitol Police security screeners, the following items are prohibited.

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • E-cigarettes
  • Glass bottles
  • Animals (other than Service Animals)
  • Bicycles
  • Firearms and Ammunitions (either real or simulated)
  • Explosives of any kind (Including fireworks)
  • Knives, Blades or Sharp Objects (of any length)
  • Laser Pointers, Signs, Posters
  • Selfie Sticks
  • Mace, Pepper Spray, Sticks, Poles
  • Electric Stun Guns
  • Martial Arts Weapons or Devices
  • Personal Umbrellas Larger Than 36" inches in diameter (those smaller than 36" will be allowed)
  • Outdoor Umbrellas/Umbrella Poles
  • Pocket or Hand Tools such as a "Leatherman"
  • Sealed Packages, Large Boxes, Duffle Bags, Suitcases
  • Drones, Model Rockets, Remote or Manually-controlled Model Gliders, Model Airplanes or Unmanned Aircrafts, Model Boats and/or Cars and other Unmanned Ground or Aircraft Systems

Tour Bus Rerouting

On September 2 and 3, tour buses will be rerouted from First Street between Constitution Avenue, NW, and Independence Avenue, SW, to Third Street, between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW, for passenger drop-off and pick-up. ADA shuttle service will be available from Third Street via the north curb of Maryland Avenue, SW.

Street Closures and Parking Restrictions

Temporary street closures and parking restrictions will take effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, September 2 through Monday, September 4 at 4 a.m. at the following locations

  • First Street, SW/NW from Independence Avenue to Constitution Avenue
  • Maryland Avenue, SW, between First Street to Third Street
  • Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between First Street to Third Street

On Sunday, September 3, from 7 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. no parking will be allowed on New Jersey Avenue, NW, between C Street and Constitution Avenue.

From 7 a.m. on Friday, September 1 through 2 p.m. on Monday, September 4, the traffic pattern on First Street, NW/SW between Garfield Circle and Peace Circle will change.

  • One southbound lane will remain open. One southbound lane will close.
  • Two northbound lanes will close.

For additional information about the Labor Day Capitol Concert, please visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/NRLAB.

If there are questions about this event, security procedures, or prohibited items please contact the U.S. Capitol Police Public Information Office at 202-224-1677.

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