Independence Day

Today was a public holiday here although shops were open and buses and trains running an enhanced service to enable people to move about and attend events and activities.

We started our day at Leesburg Outlet Shopping Village where, as anticipated, there was a fair bit of red, white and blue on display - including these toys and rather natty outfits for the (little) dog in your life.

At the end of the afternoon we visited the historic centre of Leesburg where there are a number of 18th century buildings and many small and interesting shops - mostly closed in observance of the holiday.

Finally this evening we went to a park on the outskirts of Leesburg where many thousands of people were gathering to listen to a band playing music from the 1980's, to eat festive food - including 'funnel cake' - see above - and finally, once it was dark, to watch the fireworks.