As America's 250th birthday celebrations ramp up, alternative events are growing in D.C., with several happening this weekend.

Why it matters: Some 250 events organized by Freedom 250 have drawn backlash because of the group's ties to President Trump and concerns that the programming is partisan.

• Plus, many Washingtonians are simply dreading the hubbub that comes with these large-scale events.

Driving the news: The group Next250 is hosting a series of countrywide events Saturday in contrast to the "increasingly narrow and exclusionary narrative from the MAGA regime," per a release — and its flagship gathering will be in D.C.

• The event kicks off at 11am at McPherson Square with art installations, live music, performances, and family activities like a bounce house.
• After, there will be a march toward the White House.

Meanwhile, FreedomFest — an event celebrating D.C.'s culture and fight for statehood — will take place Saturday at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial just off the National Mall.

• Expect performances by local comedians and go-go groups, as well as canvassing for D.C. statehood.
• It's part of the monthlong D.C. Summer of Freedom event, which aims to showcase what organizers see as a disparity between America's 250th celebration of democracy and the District's lack of representation.

And on July 4, the group We the People 250 will host a D.C. march to protest "against authoritarianism and political violence."

• The group will meet at noon by the George Gordon Meade Memorial and carry a 700-foot banner sporting signatures gathered from across the country.

What they're saying: "Many of the official [250] celebrations are focused on commemorating the past," the Next250 co-founders told Axios in a statement, while their gathering will center on shaping "what America can become."

Keep reading.

July 4 fireworks will look very different this year, with a ton more fireworks plus security and an extra-late program.

Why it matters: Freedom 250 is trying to set a world record for the largest fireworks show.

The run of show: Daytime events include concerts and military flyovers beginning at 1pm, per Freedom 250's plans.

• At 7pm, the Joint Armed Forces Orchestra will perform and speeches will be made. (A speaker lineup hasn't yet been released.)
• Fireworks get going at 10:30pm, lasting about 40 minutes, more than twice as long as last year's show.
• Organizers plan to launch 850,000 fireworks from 10 sites, including eight barges on the Potomac River.

Between the lines: Trump is expected to play a part in the evening's programming — though Freedom 250 didn't tell us details.

• The fireworks vendor, Pennsylvania-based Pyrotecnico, had previously planned for fireworks to start at 9:40pm, but Freedom 250's latest announcement puts it 50 minutes later.

What to know: Going in person won't be as easy as in previous years.

• A viewing area on the Mall will be fenced off, with metal detector security checkpoints opening at 1pm.
• You can't bring folding chairs, balls, frisbees, bicycles, coolers or the like.
• Guests are allowed one "clear, see-through bag" that's approximately the size of a gallon-size freezer bag, Freedom 250 says, or one small clutch or purse.
• Taking the Metro is encouraged. A large vehicle restriction zone will radiate outside the Mall.
• Boaters/paddlers should take note of the waterway closures, which touch the Potomac and Anacostia.

Keep reading.

Dîner en Blanc will return to Washington for the 11th time on Aug. 29, the group has shared exclusively with Axios.

Why it matters: It's a chance to gather with thousands of strangers sporting their finest white 'fits at an outdoor dinner party set at a unique D.C. site.

How it works: The party's location is only revealed right before it kicks off.

• Past dinners have taken place at spots like the Kennedy Center, the Fields at the former RFK Stadium, and the base of the Capitol.
• Guests bring their own meals, tablescapes, tables and chairs.
• And, of course, attendees are asked to deck themselves — and their table settings — out in their chicest all-white everything.

State of play: Tickets go on sale July 8, and past attendees get first dibs, then it opens to friends of prior guests, the group tells Axios.

• If you're a hopeful first-timer, you'll have to join the D.C. fan list.

Keep reading.

🎡 President Trump kicked off the Great American State Fair last night on the National Mall with a rally featuring the musician Lee Greenwood, military bands and flyovers from stealth bombers. (AP)

❌ There are now fences surrounding the reflecting pool amid President Trump's claims that it had been vandalized. (The Hill)

🦎 See ya, Salamander? The D.C. location of the Salamander Hotel could soon be rebranded as part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, although it would stay open during the transition. (WBJ)

• Also in hospitality news: A hotel could be included in the Bridge District's forthcoming expansion, which would be one of the first hotels situated east of the Anacostia River, per the developer. (WBJ)

The Wizards got a versatile rising star in AJ Dybantsa.

• "I can just fit in as like an off-ball guy that can score in different ways," he told ESPN. "Score in transition, score off the catch, score off the dribble.

Why it matters: The team could build the future around the 19 year-old.

Here are some fast facts about him:

1. Dybantsa grew up south of Boston in Brockton, Massachusetts and attends BYU in Utah, where he ended his freshman season last year leading the nation in scoring (25.5 points per game).
2. The Wizards considered two other picks, but at six-foot-nine and 219 lbs, "Dybantsa's size and skill were ultimately too hard to turn down," the Post writes.
3. You would need roughly 82 Dybantsas to reach the height of the Washington Monument, or 37 Dybantsas to reach the proposed height of the Arc de Trump.