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 Blokfeest Historisch District, which, this year, celebrates the forthcoming Philadelphia Bourse, gratis museumdagen—with an ultra-rare opportunity to explore the majestic Eerste Bank van de Verenigde Staten—an expanded roster of outdoor concerts and a Fourth of July finale on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with a free concert starring Pitbull.

Om alle patriottische pret mee te maken, worden inwoners en bezoekers aangemoedigd om een nacht of twee in de stad door te brengen. De beste manier om dat te doen is door de voordelige Bezoek Philly Overnachtingsarrangement, die altijd gepaard gaat met de vrijheid om gratis te parkeren. Het is beschikbaar op 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. Zaterdag 30 juni. Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard,
  (215) 629-3200, delawarerivierwaterkant.com
• Feest op de Parkway – 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. Woensdag 4 juli. 26^th Street &
  the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Concerten:

• 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. Zaterdag 30 juni. 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. Tussen 5^th & 6^th Streets and Market & Chestnut Streets, (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 en Hamilton go onstage at this live preview of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ 2018-2019 Broadway series. Zondag 2 juli. Tussen 5^th & 6^th Streets and Market & Chestnut Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• POPS over onafhankelijkheid – 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. Tussen 5^th & 6^th Streets and Market & Chestnut Streets, (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: De beurs van Philadelphia 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. Tussen 5^th & 6^th Streets en Chestnut & Arch Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com
• Vrijheidsceremonie – 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 Onafhankelijkheidsverklaring, followed by music and remarks. Woensdag 4 juli. 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. Woensdag 4 juli. 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. Woensdag 4 juli. 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. Woensdag 4 juli. 239 Arch Street, (215) 629-5801, betsyrosshouse.org

Picnics, Food & Fun:

• Wawa Hoagie-dag – 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. Verschillende locaties, (267) 546-5424, com
• Philly IJsschep – 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. Zaterdag 30 juni. 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! Zaterdag 30 juni. 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. Woensdag 4 juli. 1400 N. Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia, valleyforge.org

Gratis museumdagen:

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, penn.museum
  • 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
  • De Rosenbach (pay what you wish), 2008 Delancey Place, (215) 732-1600, rosenbach.org
  • Philadelphia History Museum in Atwater Kent (pay what you wish), 15 S. 7^th Street, (215) 685-4830, philadelphiahistory.org
  • Pennsylvania Academie voor Schone Kunsten, 118-128 N. Broad Street, (215) 972-7600, pafa.org
• Sunday, July 1:
  • One Liberty Observatiedek, 1650 Marktstraat, 57^th verdieping, (215) 561-3325, phillyvanafhethoogste.com
  • The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7200, barnesfoundation.org
  • Fort Mifflin, 1 Fort Mifflin Road, (215) 685-4167, fortmifflin.us
  • 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:
  • Nationaal Museum voor Amerikaanse Joodse Geschiedenis, 101 S. Independence Mall East, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org

Wawa Welkom Amerika! Evenementenkalender:

Thursday, June 28:

• Wawa Hoagie Dag, Onafhankelijkheidsmall
• Summer Love Launch Party, Philadelphia City Hall

Friday, June 29:

• Red, White & Blue Happy Hours, verschillende locaties

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, Pennsylvania Congrescentrum
• United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” Concert and Fireworks, Penn's Landing

Sunday, July 1:

• Evangelie over onafhankelijkheid, Independence Hall
• Rocky, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Monday, July 2:

• Red, White & Blue Happy Hours, verschillende locaties
• Broadway Philadelphia on Independence, Independence Hall

Tuesday, July 3:

• Block Party in het historische district van Philadelphia, Onafhankelijkheidsmall
• POPS! op Onafhankelijkheid, Independence Hall

Wednesday, July 4:

• Viering van de Vrijheid, Independence Hall
• Onafhankelijkheidsdagparade, Historisch district
• Picnic in the Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park
• America’s Birthday Party, Bezoekerscentrum Onafhankelijkheid
• Feest op de Parkway, Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Om een media credential aan te vragen voor Wawa Welcome America!, vul de aanvraag in op welkomamerika.nl/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.

BEZOEK PHILADELPHIA^® is onze naam en onze missie. Als het officiële marketingbureau voor toerisme van de regio bouwen we aan het imago van Greater Philadelphia, stimuleren we het bezoek en stimuleren we de economie.

Op de officiële bezoekerswebsite en blog van Greater Philadelphia, bezoekphilly.nl en uwishunu.nlBezoekers kunnen ontdekken wat er te doen is, welke evenementen er op stapel staan, themaroutes en hotelarrangementen. Indrukwekkende foto's en video's, interactieve kaarten en gedetailleerde bezoekersinformatie maken de sites effectieve hulpmiddelen voor het plannen van een reis. Samen met de sociale mediakanalen van Visit Philly communiceren de online platforms rechtstreeks met consumenten. Reizigers kunnen ook bellen naar het Independence Visitor Center voor meer informatie en tickets.