Philly's Classic Fourth Of July Celebration Turns 25

Bienvenidos a América turns 25 this year, and Philadelphia is planning a six-day Independence Day festival to celebrate. As always, a birthday party of this magnitude can take place only in the United States’ birthplace—Philly. From June 29 through July 4, 2017, Wawa Welcome America! includes four spectacular fireworks shows, a bigger Historic District Block Party, a delicious Wawa Hoagie Day and a huge 4 de julio^th concierto—this time, starring Mary J. Blige. Also on the docket: Free Museum Days, outdoor movies—including Rocky on the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps—and new alfresco happy hours.

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 & Concert Combos:

• Philadelphia Orchestra Concert and Fireworks – Those more-fabulous-than-ever Philadelphians return to Penn’s Landing for their 10th annual free Wawa Welcome America concert punctuated by fireworks over the Delaware River. Concert at 8 p.m., fireworks at 9:30 p.m., Friday, June 30. Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard, (215) 629-3200, delawareriverwaterfront.com
• Pershing’s Own Concert and Fireworks – The United States Army Band returns to the Delaware River Waterfront for a rousing free concert of patriotic tunes, followed by patriotic pyrotechnics. Concert at 8 p.m., fireworks at 9:30 p.m., Saturday, July 1. Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard, (215) 629-3200, delawareriverwaterfront.com
• Fiesta en el Parkway – The finale to the six-day festival is a daylong outdoor celebration featuring city blocks of family fun—including a 1 p.m. concert by KIDZ BOP Kids—a 7 p.m. concert by the Philly POPS!, Hamilton’s Mandy Gonzalez, jazz vocalist Tony DeSare, Philly’s own R&B hit-makers Boyz II Men and the one and only Mary J. Blige. The finale’s finale: 9:30 p.m. fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Noon-10 p.m., Tuesday, July 4. 26^th Street y Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Fireworks Only:

• Freedom Festival Fireworks – Just across the Delaware River, Camden, New Jersey sets off its own set of lights in the sky, simultaneous to the ones going off over the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 9:30-10 p.m., Tuesday, July 4. Wiggins Park, 1 Riverside Drive, camdenwaterfront.com

Concerts Only:

• Philly POPS! on Independence – Philly’s beloved popular players invite fans to BYOB (bring-your-own-blanket) for a swinging concert of patriotic tunes with Independence Hall as the backdrop. 7 p.m., Monday, July 3. 5^th & 6^th Streets and between Market & Chestnut Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Philly Clásicos:

• Wawa Hoagie Day – There is such a thing as a free lunch—a free piece of a six-ton hoagie, that is—when the festival sponsor and beloved Pennsylvania-based convenience store offers slices of one epic sandwich on Independence Mall. Noon-2 p.m., Thursday, June 29. Between 5^th & 6^th Calles Streets y Chestnut & Arch, (267) 546-5424., welcomeamerica.com
• Rocky screening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art  – The 1976 Academy Award-winner screens by the steps where the magic first happened. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sunday, July 2. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Party – This free, seven-hour-long, main street-style celebration returns for its second year. Two stages feature American music—fife and drum, Dixieland jazz, barbershop quartet and Broadway—with plenty of modern sounds and historic reenactments. There will be pop-up parades, make-and-take crafts, old-fashioned sack and wheelbarrow races, blocks of famous Philly food trucks, crafts for sale, police and fire vehicles and more. Noon-7 p.m., Monday, 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. Honorees this year include Philly’s own Boyz II Men. As always, the morning includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by music and remarks. 10-11 a.m., Tuesday, July 4. 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 form a musical, colorful cavalcade winding through the streets of Historic District. 11 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, July 4. Start at 5^th & Chestnut Streets, west on Chestnut Street to 9^th Street, north on 9^th Street, east on Market Street to Front Street, south on Front Street, ending at Front & Chestnut Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Happy Hours:

• Culture on Tap at City Hall Courtyard – A pop-up beer garden that’s family friendly transforms Center City’s centermost historic site. 4-9 p.m., Thursday, June 29. Broad & Market Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• Red, White & Blue Happy Hour – The week winds down and weekend winds up with patriotic happy hour celebrations that stretch from the Delaware River (Moshulu) to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Capriccio at Cafe Cret). 4-7 p.m., Friday, June 30. Various locations, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Días de museos gratuitos:

Five days of the festival, major Philly attractions offer free entry. Here are the where and the when:

• National Constitution Center – 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday, June 29. 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6600, constitutioncenter.org
• Penn Museum – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, June 30. 3260 South Street, (215) 898-4000, museo.penn
• Eastern State Penitentiary – 5-8 p.m., Friday, June 30. 2027 Fairmount Avenue, (215) 236-3300, easternstate.org
• African American Museum in Philadelphia – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, July 1. 701 Arch Street, (215) 574-0380, aampmuseum.org
• Cubierta de observación One Liberty – 8-11 a.m., Saturday, July 1. 1650 Calle del Mercado, 57^th piso, (215) 561-3325, phillyfromthetop.com
• El Barnes Foundation – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, July 2. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7200, barnesfoundation.org
• Philadelphia Museum of Art – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 2. Benjamin Franklin Parkway 2600, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org
• Museo Nacional de la Libertad – 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday, July 3. 321 Chestnut Street, (215) 925-2800, libertymuseum.org
• Museo Nacional de Historia Judía Americana – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, July 4. 101 S. Independence Mall E., (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org
• Museo de Historia de Filadelfia en el Atwater Kent – 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 4. 15 S. 7^th Street, (215) 685-4830, philadelphiahistory.org

Wawa Welcome America! Calendar of Events:

Thursday, June 29:

• Wawa Hoagie Day, Centro comercial Independence
• Culture on Tap at City Hall Courtyard, City Hall

Friday, June 30:

• Red, White & Blue Happy Hour, various locations
• Philadelphia Orchestra Concert and Fireworks, Penn's Landing

Saturday, July 1:

• Pershing’s Own Concert and Fireworks, Penn's Landing

Sunday, July 2:

• Rocky, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Monday, July 3:

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

Tuesday, July 4:

• Celebration of Freedom Ceremony, Independence Hall
• Independence Day Parade, Distrito histórico
• Fiesta en el Parkway, Parque Benjamin Franklin
• Freedom Festival Fireworks, Camden, NJ

To request a media credential for Wawa Welcome America!, please complete the application at welcomeamerica.com/media by Friday, June 23, 2017. 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 28, 2017.

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