Feature Published on October 27, 2025

What's the Best City to Celebrate the Fourth of July?

Philadelphia, where it happened, of course ...

Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, should top every list of where to celebrate Independence Day because of the city’s historical significance as the central city in the American Revolution and for its dedication to throwing the best July Fourth festival in the country.

Not only did the country officially begin here on July 4, 1776, but the Founding Fathers themselves celebrated the young nation’s first anniversary here, on July 4, 1777.

Philadelphia: Birthplace of American Independence

The centerpiece of Philadelphia’s Fourth of July celebration is Independence Hall.

Imagine the sweltering summer of 1776 when delegates to the Second Continental Congress were inside the Pennsylvania State House (as it was known then) debating — OK, arguing — their points of view about our “Declaration of Independence” from England. (They didn’t dare to open the windows, despite the heat, or else their treasonous plans could be overheard!)

It’s no coincidence this nation — founded on the then-radical notion that a country could be ruled by the consent of the people, rather than by a monarch — would be born in Philadelphia. William Penn sought to create a safe haven for religious freedom and to encourage the participation and consent of the governed when he founded Philadelphia on the ancestral homeland of the Lenape in 1682.

Iconic Landmarks

Philadelphia’s Historic District (encompassing parts of Old City, Society Hill and the Delaware River waterfront) is peppered with sites of national significance.

Trace the country’s path to democracy along 19 “inspiration points” on a self-guided walk that connects you to America’s origins, including:

Congress Hall, (part of Independence Hall), where the United States House of Representatives and Senate met from 1790 to 1800
Carpenters’ Hall, site of the First Continental Congress in 1774
Liberty Bell, symbol of liberty worldwide; pilgrimage site for people escaping oppression
Betsy Ross House, where there’s even more to this feisty businesswoman than her role in creating the flag
National Constitution Cean nter, interactive museum exploring the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1789 and the model for democratic nations around the world, and
Mother Bethel AME Church, the mother church of the nation’s first Black denomination.

Festivities for All People & All Ages

Philly’s Fourth is as fun as it is historical. The city throws a world-class, 16-day, fireworks-filled party called Wawa Welcome America, which — clocking in at 50-plus events — is the largest Independence Day celebration in the nation.

The festival runs from June 19 to July 4, 2025, commemorating both Juneteenth and the Fourth of July as holidays that together create a more complete picture of freedom and liberty in our nation.

Each summer, a Welcome America festival means multiple fireworks shows; big, free outdoor concerts; block parties, a parade; and so much more — all for free.

The festivities change every year, so stay tuned to our page on Wawa Welcome America for more information each summer

Tips to Help You Bring Philadelphia’s Rich History to Life

Want to connect to American history in a more tangible way? There is no better place than Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dive into the everyday lives of the Founding Fathers by exploring their homes, workplaces and favorite meeting spots. Your whole family can experience how Philadelphians shaped their vision for a new nation at these fascinating (and fact-ful!) places:

Historic taverns like City Tavern (exterior only), where revolutionaries once gathered, and Franklin Court, the site of Benjamin Franklin’s home and printing press.
Historic Bucket-List Philly: Five sites to cross off your list, including a (very special) bell, a hall, a cabin and a few significant houses.
Can’t get enough? Check out these 16 attractions that put the “historic” in Philadelphia’s Historic District.
Experts can show you the way in these guided history tours.