As enjoyable as the City of Washington’s celebration of George Washington’s birthday was Wednesday, it would have been much more significant if more of the public could have participated in that celebration.

Held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, the celebration was attended by people invited to the event. There’s no doubt the Council Chambers could not accommodate the crowd if the public had been invited. Perhaps the celebration could be held next year at a venue, say Festival Park or the Civic Center, which could handle a larger crowd.

While it’s understandable that invitations to the celebration — the first of many to come in a renewal of such celebrations by the city — went out to “movers and shakers” in the community (people who help promote the city in various ways), the city must provide a way for all city residents (if they desire) to partake in such celebrations in the future.

Surely, the city did not mean to snub the public with its invitation-only ceremony, but some people undoubtedly will view not being invited to the event as a snub. To avoid that perception in the future, the event needs to be celebrated in the public as much as possible.

All things considered, it is heartening to see the city, after a long absence, resume its celebration of Washington’s birthday. Next year, let’s be sure anyone who wants to do so can be part of that celebration.

That’s the way George would want it.