Are you planning to spend the Fourth of July in Philadelphia? You couldn’t pick a better place to celebrate our nation’s birthday than where it all began! The City of Brotherly Love rolls out the red carpet for visitors and locals alike, with Wawa’s Welcome America! featuring many fun and meaningful activities from morning until late evening. And most of them are free!
The Philly Fourth kicks off with the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony at Independence Hall at 10 a.m. Every year, the ceremony includes readings from the Declaration of Independence, inspiring patriotic music, and remarks from notable Americans (last year’s ceremony speakers were Vice President Joe Biden and Martin Luther King III).
Who doesn’t love a parade? Next up at 11 a.m. is the great Independence Day Parade , with dozens of floats, antique cars, bands from all over the country, and over 5,000 marchers. The parade route begins at Independence Hall and continues through Philadelphia’s oldest and most historic streets.
History buffs will not want to miss Let Freedom Ring on Independence Mall at 1 p.m. Descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution will present a lively program, ending with a ceremonial “ringing” of the Liberty Bell.
Hungry yet? Join Betsy Ross herself at the Independence Visitors Center for some tasty treats. Last year’s visitors marveled at (and then consumed) the world’s largest American flag, made out of cupcakes, courtesy of Termini Brothers Bakery. Free bites of deliciousness for all!
As the Fourth of July in Philadelphia continues, it’s time to party! The action moves over to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where the features are mouth-watering food from local food trucks and vendors, and all kinds of entertainment on several stages. Grab a genuine Philly cheesesteak and stroll around, enjoying the many wonderful sights and sounds. But that’s not all! At 7 p.m. the nation’s largest free concert, The Philly 4th of July Jam, rocks the Parkway, with past headliners such as The Roots, Nicki Minaj, and Ariana Grande.
Your very special Fourth of July concludes with a glorious fireworks display after the concert, at around 10:30 p.m. The display takes place over the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but the beautiful spiders, peonies, and Roman candles can be viewed from many spots throughout the city, including the new Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk over the Schuylkill River.
It’s America’s birthday, and the Cradle of Liberty does it up right. After all, you only turn 239 once!
Hate to leave Philly after all that fun? You don’t have to! Explore the Coldwell Banker Philadelphia real estate listings. There may well be the perfect home for you here! Declare your independence from the humdrum, and celebrate incredible Philadelphia!
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