Philadelphia’s Classic Fourth Of July Celebration Lasts A Full Week

No one does the Fourth like those who did it first. The proof? Philadelphia’s weeklong Wawa Welcome America. Fifty free, fabulous, family-friendly events bring the crowds to America’s birthplace from June 28 through July 4, 2018. That’s when the region hosts multiple fireworks shows, including two impressively huge pyrotechnic displays. Other highlights: the third annual Historic District Block Party, which, this year, celebrates the forthcoming Philadelphia Bourse, días de museos gratuitos—with an ultra-rare opportunity to explore the majestic Primer Banco de los Estados Unidos—an expanded roster of outdoor concerts and a Fourth of July finale on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with a free concert starring Pitbull.

To take in all the patriotic fun, locals and visitors are encouraged to spend a night or two in the city. The best way to do that is to book the perks-packed Visita Philly Paquete de hotel con pernoctación, which always comes with the freedom to park free of charge. It’s available at visitphilly.com/overnight.

Fireworks & Fun:

• United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” Concert and Fireworks – This free concert serves up patriotic tunes, followed by patriotic pyrotechnics featuring new-this-year special effects. Sábado, 30 de junio. Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard,
  (215) 629-3200, delawareriverwaterfront.com
• Fiesta en la avenida – The finale to the seven-day festival is a daylong outdoor celebration featuring city blocks of family fun. At 7 p.m., The Philly POPS Big Band, spectacular Tony-winner Heather Headley and “Mr. Worldwide” Pitbull take the stage. And at 9:30 p.m., the city’s biggest fireworks display, featuring new special effects and a love-inspired soundtrack, illuminate the skies over the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Miércoles, 4 de julio. 26^th Street &
  the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Conciertos:

• Summer Love Launch Party – Philadelphia City Hall gets the party started with a five-hour event featuring multiple musicians and loads of local food and drink. Thursday, June 28. Broad & Market Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• On the Delaware Music Festival – Folk, funk, new age and old school—more than a dozen acts in all—play all day in Northeast Philadelphia’s Pennypack On The Delaware Park. Event is free. Sábado, 30 de junio. State Road south of Rhawn Street, (215) 685-0060, musiconthedelaware.com
• Gospel on Independence – More than 150 dancers and singers, including the singing preacher group, The Four Tenors, take the stage in front of Independence Hall for a concert of soulful, spirited voices. Sunday, July 1. Between 5^th & 6^th Calles Streets y Market & Chestnut, (267) 546-5424., welcomeamerica.com
• Broadway Philadelphia on Independence – Some of the highest highlights from 10 of Broadway’s most famous musicals, including Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Love Never Dies, Miss Saigon, Cats, Rent y Hamilton go onstage at this live preview of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ 2018-2019 Broadway series. Sunday, July 2. Between 5^th & 6^th Calles Streets y Market & Chestnut, (267) 546-5424., welcomeamerica.com
• POPS sobre la independencia – The largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States invites fans to BYOB (bring your own blanket) for a concert of patriotic tunes with Independence Hall as the backdrop. Tuesday, July 3. Between 5^th & 6^th Calles Streets y Market & Chestnut, (267) 546-5424., welcomeamerica.com

Philly Fourth Classics:

• Rocky screening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art – The 1976 Academy Award-winner screens by the steps, site of that iconic, jubilant jog. Sunday, July 1.
  2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Party – This free, seven-hour-long, classic Philly street celebration returns to Independence Mall for year three. New this year: La Bolsa de Filadelfia will preview the neighborhood’s awesome and historic new food hall. Also on tap: a kids’ stage and zone, beer garden, food trucks, pop-up performances and plenty of history to take in. Tuesday, July 3. Between 5^th & 6^th Calles Streets y Chestnut & Arch, (267) 546-5424., welcomeamerica.com
• Ceremonia de celebración de la libertad – The day’s kickoff begins at Independence Hall during a patriotic presentation. This year’s honorees: Frank Giordano and the Philly POPS. As always, the morning includes a reading of the Declaración de Independencia, followed by music and remarks. Miércoles, 4 de julio. 6^th & Chestnut Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• United States of America’s Independence Day Parade - This big-city event with a small-town feel features dozens of colorful floats, marching bands, military groups and more than 6,000 participants from across the nation in a musical, colorful cavalcade winding through the streets of the Historic District. Miércoles, 4 de julio. Starts at 5^th & Chestnut Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• America’s Birthday Party – Betsy Ross and Termini Bros. Bakery co-host a sweet celebration at the Independence Visitor Center, complete with a five-tier cake and 2,500 cupcakes in the shape of Old Glory. Miércoles, 4 de julio. 6^th & Market Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• Children’s Naturalization Ceremony – Thirteen very lucky kids take the Oath of Citizenship in a naturalization ceremony in the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House. Tissues recommended. Miércoles, 4 de julio. 239 Arch Street, (215) 629-5801, betsyrosshouse.org

Picnics, Food & Fun:

• Wawa Hoagie Day - There is such a thing as a free lunch—a free piece of a seven-ton hoagie, that is—when the festival sponsor and beloved Pennsylvania-based convenience store offers slices of one epic sandwich on the lawn of the National Constitution Center. New this year: the USO Show Troupe sings and marches to honor military, fire and police. Thursday, June 28. 525 Arch Street, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• Red, White & Blue Happy Hours – Bars and restaurants throughout Center City—from The Deck at the Moshulu on the Delaware River to Sonesta’s Art Bar in Center City—add patriotic food and drink to their mixes for two late afternoons during the festival. Friday, June 29 & Monday, July 2. Various locations, (267) 546-5424, com
• Cuchara para helado Philly – New this year: 14 of Philadelphia’s top ice cream makers scoop their wares for adoring dairy fans at the historic Reading Terminal Market. Market merchants get in on the ice cream act too with sweet specials. Sábado, 30 de junio. 12^th & Filbert Streets, (215) 922-2317, readingterminalmarket.org
• Pennsylvania Convention Center Community Festival – The blocks-long facility between 11^th and Broad Streets opens its doors to the general public in celebration of its 25^th The open house will include tours of the center’s $1.5 million art collection, a birthday cake and a screening of SING! Sábado, 30 de junio. 12^th & Arch Streets, (215) 418-4700, paconvention.com
• Picnic in the Park – Valley Forge National Historical Park hosts a come-one, come-all outdoor picnic, complete with barbecue, live music, artillery and weapons demonstrations, Revolutionary-era storytelling, kids games, historic reenactments and trolley tours of the site where General George Washington and his troops endured the notorious winter of 1777 to 1778. Miércoles, 4 de julio. 1400 N. Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia, valleyforge.org

Días de museos gratuitos:

For seven days of the festival, major Philly attractions offer free (or pay-what-you-wish) entry. Here’s the where and when:

• Thursday, June 28:
  • National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6600, constitutioncenter.org
• Friday, June 29:
  • Penn Museum, 3260 South Street, (215) 898-4000, museo.penn
  • Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Avenue, (215) 236-3300, easternstate.org
• Saturday, June 30:
  • First Bank of the United States, 116 S. 3^rd Street, (215) 965-2305, nps.gov/inde
  • Free Library of Philadelphia Parkway Central Branch, Rare Book Department, 1901 Vine Street, (215) 686-5416, freelibrary.org
  • El Rosenbach (pay what you wish), 2008 Delancey Place, (215) 732-1600, rosenbach.org
  • Museo de Historia de Filadelfia en el Atwater Kent (pay what you wish), 15 S. 7^th Street, (215) 685-4830, philadelphiahistory.org
  • Academia de Bellas Artes de Pensilvania, 118-128 N. Broad Street, (215) 972-7600, pafa.org
• Sunday, July 1:
  • Cubierta de observación One Liberty, 1650 Calle del Mercado, 57^th piso, (215) 561-3325, phillyfromthetop.com
  • The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7200, barnesfoundation.org
  • Fort Mifflin, 1 Fort Mifflin Road, (215) 685-4167, fortmifflin.es
  • African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street, (215) 574-0380, aampmuseum.org
• Sunday, July 1 and Monday, July 2:
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art (pay what you wish), 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, www.philamuseum.org
• Monday, July 2:
  • The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia (pay what you wish), 19 S. 22nd Street, (215) 560-8564, muttermuseum.org
• Tuesday, July 3:
  • National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street, (215) 925-2800, org
• Rodin Museum (pay what you wish), 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, rodinmuseum.org
• Wednesday, July 4:
  • Museo Nacional de Historia Judía Americana, 101 S. Independence Mall East, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org

Wawa Welcome America! Calendar of Events:

Thursday, June 28:

• Wawa Hoagie Day, Centro comercial Independence
• Summer Love Launch Party, Filadelfia City Hall

Friday, June 29:

• Red, White & Blue Happy Hours, various locations

Saturday, June 30:

• On the Delaware Music Festival, Pennypack on the Delaware Park
• Philly Ice Cream Scoop, Reading Terminal Market
• Pennsylvania Convention Center Community Festival, Centro de Convenciones de Pensilvania
• United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” Concert and Fireworks, Penn's Landing

Sunday, July 1:

• Evangelio sobre la independencia, Independence Hall
• Rocky, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Monday, July 2:

• Red, White & Blue Happy Hours, various locations
• Broadway Philadelphia on Independence, Independence Hall

Tuesday, July 3:

• Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Party, Centro comercial Independence
• POPS! on Independence, Independence Hall

Wednesday, July 4:

• Celebration of Freedom Ceremony, Independence Hall
• Independence Day Parade, Distrito histórico
• Picnic in the Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park
• America’s Birthday Party, Centro de visitantes Independence
• Fiesta en el Parkway, Parque Benjamin Franklin

To request a media credential for Wawa Welcome America!, please complete the application at welcomeamerica.com/media by Friday, June 22, 2018. One application per person. Approved credentials are non-transferable. Approval itself is not guaranteed. Applicants will receive notice of application status via email by Wednesday, June 27, 2018.

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