Caroline Tucker
WMAL

(WMAL) Oxon Hill, MD – National Harbor will play host to a massive watch party for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
The opening ceremony will be projected onto a huge screen near the waterfront starting at 8 p.m. on Friday.

“People are invited to bring their chairs, their blankets, and some food if they want and of course to purchase at some of the restaurants here at the harbor,” said Bruce Gudenberg, Visit National Harbor Executive Director.

Visitors can play lawn games starting in the afternoon. There will also be a dueling piano show and DJ before the night’s main event gets underway.

Once the opening ceremony begins, the sound will be turned on so people can watch the Olympic spectacle.

“We really don’t know what the crowds will be,” said Gudenberg.

He says past events like World Cup watch parties have gotten crowded, so the advice is to get there early for a prime viewing spot on the lawn.

National Harbor also plans to show other Olympic events during the next couple of weeks.

“We are hoping to be able to turn the [Capital] Wheel different colors based on different countries winning of gold for different events,” said Gudenberg.

The event is free but visitors will need to pay for parking on site.

For more information you can visit National Harbor’s website at: https://www.nationalharbor.com/event/730pm-rio-olympics-opening-ceremony-viewing-party/

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(Photo: CNN)