Freedom 250’s Fourth of July Stage Comes Apart During Rehearsal as Falling Chunk Nearly Crushes Dancers
Performers were rehearsing on the stage on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall when the frightening incident occurred
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/stage-accident-070326-1-3023c00bf3a643bc85ffcbb760674a37.jpg "The stage is falling apart at the rehearsal for Freedom 250's July 4th celebration.")
Credit: Aaron Parnas/X
NEED TO KNOW
- A large stage piece fell during a July 2 rehearsal on the Salute to America stage in Washington, D.C., but no injuries were reported
- Freedom 250 organizers implemented additional safety measures and technical oversight following the incident, a spokesperson tells PEOPLE, in preparation for the Fourth of July ceremony
- The Trump-backed Freedom 250 events have been pushed to later in the evening on Saturday, July 4, to account for the heat wave in Washington, D.C.
Dancers rehearsing for the Trump-backed Freedom 250 celebration experienced a scary incident on the National Mall on Thursday, July 2.
In a video shared by independent journalist Aaron Parnas and later verified by CNN and NBC News, a large piece of the stage is seen crashing from up high onto the stage floor directly behind dancers mid-rehearsal. The jarring moment caused several dancers to jump aside to avoid being hit.
A Freedom 250 representative released a statement to PEOPLE following the incident, confirming that the accident occurred on the Salute to America stage and sharing that all involved are safe.
The stage is falling apart at the rehearsal for Freedom 250’s July 4th celebration. pic.twitter.com/bPbg94hp6X
— Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) July 2, 2026
Per the official, work was underway on a different part of the stage from where the dancers were rehearsing when the crash took place.
“We’re grateful to report that everyone is safe,” the Freedom 250 representative shared. “We take the safety of our performers, crew, volunteers, and guests extremely seriously.”
Detailing what went down during the rehearsal, the statement continued, “The work underway was taking place on the backside of the stage, separate from the front thrust where performers were rehearsing. Additional safeguards and senior technical oversight are now in place as preparations continue.”
Credit: Al Drago/Getty
The Freedom 250 organizers stated that the performers “remain fully focused on delivering an unforgettable celebration for the American people” on the Fourth of July.
Amid the heat wave looming over Washington, D.C., the Salute to America Celebration and Fireworks adjusted its time table so crowds wouldn’t be outside in the worst of the heat.
“The safety and well-being of every guest remains our top priority as we celebrate this historic 250th Independence Day,” Freedom 250 shared on their site. “In light of current heat conditions, Freedom 250, United States Park Police, National Park Service, the United States Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have coordinated closely to adjust event timing and expand cooling resources, water stations and medical support across the grounds.”
While military flyovers at the National Mall will take place hourly from 1:15 p.m. till sunset on Saturday, July 4, the Washington Monument Grounds won’t open until 5 p.m. to reduce exposure to the heat. The Salute to America program is expected to begin at 7 p.m. ET and President Donald Trump will deliver his speech at 9:45 p.m.
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According to Weather.com, the temperature in D.C. at 5 p.m. will be 101 degrees and between 91 and 89 degrees for the president’s speech. The fireworks display is scheduled to take place at 10:30 p.m. local time.