Wawa Welcome America! Fireworks

Overview

Thursday, July 4 – Philly 4th of July Jam & Grand Finale Fireworks

Location: Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th Street and Eakins Oval

Concert: The Philly 4th of July Jam features performances from The Roots, John Mayer, Jill Scott, Demi Lovato, Ne-Yo, Grace Potter and J. Cole, along with Ben Taylor and other surprise guests on Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Fireworks: Estimated to begin around 10:30 p.m.*

Note: Estimated times provided by Wawa Welcome America! Performances could happen before or after the listed times.

Saturday, July 6 – Taste of Philadelphia Concert and Adventure Aquarium Waterfront Fireworks Spectacular

Location: Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing

Concert: Enjoy live music during Taste of Philadelphia, including a special performance from Marsha Ambrosius.

Getting Around

Expect large crowds and closed streets throughout the city during the Fourth of July. Your best bet is to take public transportation including SEPTA and the PHLASH Trolley.

For those coming in from the Philadelphia suburbs, SEPTA Regional Rail will be operating on an extended schedule to get travelers home after the fireworks. Buses will be operating on a Sunday schedule and detours are expected. Click here for more details.

Limited service will be available on the Philly PHLASH trolley with pickups starting at 12th and Market Streets (Stop 3) at 10 a.m.

Questions

For up to the minute updates or July 4th questions, head to the city’s official Twitter accounts: @philly311, @PhiladelphiaGov and @july4thphilly

Viewing Tips

Arrive early. Bring lawn chairs, a blanket and a picnic. If you get there early, you’ll be able to grab a great location for the concert and the fireworks. Check out a few of our top places to watch the fireworks, below.

Places to Watch

Best places to watch the giant Fireworks display above the Philadelphia Museum of Art on July 4

View on Interactive Map

• Benjamin Franklin Parkway: You can stake out a spot anywhere along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from Logan Circle to Eakin’s Oval. The entire street is shut down in honor of the celebration. Tip: try to grab a spot at the baseball fields at 22nd and the Parkway.

• Martin Luther King Drive: This is another great place, right across the the Schuylkill River from gorgeously lit Boathouse Row. Anyone driving in from the suburbs will find it convenient to settle in along here for the evening.

• Schuylkill River Park: There’s lots of grass along the banks for comfortable viewing, with a beautiful view of the Art Museum. It’s a super convenient spot for Center City residents, since it’s accessible via the Walnut Street Bridge, Race Street crossing and other connectors.

• Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park: There’s a a gorgeous mansion, and lots of space to set up your lawnchairs. One advantage of this site is the elevation. Bring a BBQ!

• Kelly Drive: There are many places along the river with great views of the display, including Boathouse Row and the open field at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Sedgley Drive.

• Best Western Center City: Conveniently located right on the parkway, this hotel is the closest hotel to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and affords prime views of the events if you know anyone staying there and can watch from inside (or outdoor pooldeck, anyone?) or just want to situate yourself close to the action.

• Bistro St. Tropez: Beat the heat, the rain and the crowds at Bistro St. Tropez. Thanks to the resturant’s huge picture window overlooking the Art Museum, you’ll have an unblocked view of the fireworks. Enjoy dinner, an appetizer or just a cocktail at the bar. Chef Rames’ a la carte menu will be offered beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tip: call (215) 569-9269 now to receive the best seating.

• Embassy Suites Philadelphia: Located seven blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art straight down the Parkway, the Embassy Suites hotel offers a fantastic view of the fireworks. Staycation perhaps?

• The Windsor Suites: The hotel’s rooftop pool and sundeck, or private balconies in select suites, make for great fireworks-watching spots.

Delaware River Fireworks

• Penn’s Landing: The Great Plaza (closest intersection is Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut Streets), where the main stage is, is of course a solid option. Other good spots at Penn’s Landing are anywhere along its southern stretch, from Dock Street to South Street.

• Morgan’s Pier: Morgan’s Pier, a waterfront beer garden just to the north of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Get there early to stake out one of the picnic tables on the deck to enjoy the new menu from Chef George Sabatino and sample their awesome selection of local craft beer.

• Race Street Pier: This lush park is an amazing spot to watch, complete with bleacher seating, but we recommend you get there early as it’s going to fill up fast. Also keep in mind that alcohol, BBQ and glass containers are not permitted at the Pier.

• Washington Avenue Green: This is another park on the Delaware River Waterfront, at 1301 S. Columbus Blvd, formerly Pier 53.

• Wiggin’s Park: Across the river in Camden, you can get an equally spectacular view of the fireworks from Wiggin’s Park, located near Adventure Aquarium and the Battleship New Jersey. It’s free and open to the public.

• Penn Treaty Park: Penn Treaty Park’s seven acres of open green space and clean picnic areas provide a great vantage point from which to watch the fireworks.

• Adventure Aquarium: Get after-hours access to all of Adventure Aquarium’s exhibits and an unforgettable view of the fireworks as they cascade over the Philadelphia skyline.

• Battleship New Jersey: Enjoy live entertainment and a great view of the fireworks over the Delaware River from the deck of the Battleship New Jersey.

• Independence Seaport Museum: Get a perfect view of the fireworks over the Delaware River and visit the museum’s new exhibition Tides of Freedom:African Presence on the Delaware River.

• Hyatt Regency Philadelphia: The terrace at Keatings River Grill, which just reopened for the season, is a prime location for the fireworks show. A new summer menu this year fuses local fare with a modern edge and tapas-style dishes.

• Ristorante La Veranda: This historic Northern Italian restaurant located on Pier 3 Penn’s Landing offers prime fireworks viewing on two levels.