Fourth of July in Philadelphia: 6 Days of Celebration in 2017

Fourth of July in Philadelphia is something you must experience at least once. It was the birthplace of America and boy do they know how to celebrate. This year marks the 25th year of Welcome America, the annual celebration and it’s the biggest yet.

Welcome America 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 July 4^th concert—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.

Let’s take a closer look at this years activities.

Fourth of July in Philadelphia

Fireworks & Concerts

Philadelphia Orchestra Concert and Fireworks – Those more-fabulous-than-ever Philadelphians return to Penn’s Landing for their 10^th 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.
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.
Party on the 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 & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

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. on July 4.

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.

Philly Classics

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 Streets and Chestnut & Arch Streets
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
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.
Celebration of Freedom Ceremony – 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.
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

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.
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.

Free Museum Days

During five days of the festival, major Philly attractions offer free entry.

National Constitution Center – 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday, June 29
Penn Museum – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, June 30
Eastern State Penitentiary – 5-8 p.m., Friday, June 30.
African American Museum in Philadelphia – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, July 1
One Liberty Observation Deck – 8-11 a.m., Saturday, July 1
The Barnes Foundation – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, July 2
Philadelphia Museum of Art – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 2
National Liberty Museum – 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday, July 3
National Museum of American Jewish History – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, July 4
Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent – 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 4

Wawa Hoagie Day

If you are from Maryland, Jersey or Pennsylvania you know how good a WaWa Hoagie is. During the festival Wawa Hoagie Day serves five tons of free hoagies at lunchtime to people outside the Independence Visitor Center. This year you can grab your free hoagie on June 29!

With so much to see and do during the festival, be sure to book a hotel for a night (or two) and experience everything. The best way to do that is to book the perks-packed Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package, which always comes with the freedom to park free of charge.

Will you Visit Philly during the Fourth of July celebrations?