Welcome America Philly Style

What better place to celebrate America's birthday than in the birthplace- Philadelphia. The Wawa Welcome America Festival is one of the highlights for the city and it grows bigger and better every year. The list below shows that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Monday, July 1:

Free Museums & Attractions:

• Independence Seaport Museum – 211 S. Columbus Boulevard, (215) 413-8655, phillyseaport.com
• Museum of the American Revolution – 101 S. 3^rd Street, (215) 253-6731, amrevmuseum.org
• Photo POP Philly: Sweet Paradise at The Bourse Philadelphia – 111 S. Independence Mall East,photopopphilly.com

United States Army Field Band and Fireworks – The internationally acclaimed touring band of the U.S. Army debuts its newest show “Let Freedom Ring” in the birthplace of the country. The performance is followed by patriotic pyrotechnics over the water. Concert, 8 p.m.; fireworks, 9:30 p.m. Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard,delawareriverwaterfront.com

Tuesday, July 2:

Free Museums & Attractions:

• The African American Museum in Philadelphia – 701 Arch Street, (215) 574-0380, aampmuseum.org
• National Constitution Center – 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6600, constitutioncenter.org

Wawa Hoagie Day – Philly’s convenience store with a supremely loyal following brings eight tons of hoagie to Independence Mall and the National Constitution Center lawn for a complimentary lunchtime treat. Noon. Between 5^th & 6^th Streets and Chestnut & Arch Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Kimmel Center’s Great American Party on the Plaza – The U.S. Navy Band and Hamiltunes present an early evening singalong of hits from Hamilton and other Broadway hits. Festivities begin at 4:30 PM with a special street naming ceremony at the corner of Broad & Spruce as the City of Philadelphia dedicates a section of Broad Street to THE world-renowned singer Patti LaBelle (who will be in attendance). Then around 5 PM, the party moves indoors to our Plaza for performances from the cast of Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, our Kimmel Center ShowStoppers performing “Hamiltunes”, Luke Carlos O'Reilly, and the US Navy Band Cruisers.Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street, kimmelcenter.org

Wednesday, July 3:

Free Museums & Attractions:​​​​​​​

• Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site – 2027 Fairmount Avenue, (215) 236-3300, easternstate.org
• Fireman’s Hall Museum – 147 N. 2^nd Street, (215) 923-1438, firemanshallmuseum.org
• The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design – 1916 Race Street, (215) 965-4027, moore.edu/the-galleries-at-moore
• National Liberty Museum – 321 Chestnut Street, (215) 925-2800, libertymuseum.org
• Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia – 19 S. 22^nd Street, (215) 560-8564,muttermuseum.org
• Penn Museum: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology – 3260 South Street, (215) 898-4000,penn.museum
• Philadelphia Museum of Art – 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org
• Photo POP Philly: Sweet Paradise at The Bourse Philadelphia – 111 S. Independence Mall East,photopopphilly.com

​​​​​​​POPS on Independence – 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. 7 p.m. Between 5th & 6th Streets and Market & Chestnut Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Thursday, July 4:

Free Museums & Attractions:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Bartram’s Garden House – 5400 Lindbergh Avenue, (215) 729-5281, bartramsgarden.org
• National Museum of American Jewish History – 101 S. Independence Mall East, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org

​​​​​​​Celebration of Freedom Ceremony – Independence Hall hosts a patriotic presentation that includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by music, awards and remarks. 10 a.m. 6th & Chestnut Streets, (267) 546-5424,welcomeamerica.com

Salute to America Independence Day Parade – A big-city event with a small-town feel features dozens of colorful floats, marching bands, military groups and more than 4,000 participants from across the nation in a cavalcade through the streets of the Historic District. 11 a.m. Starts at 5th & Chestnut Streets, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

The Philadelphia Pioneers On The Road To Stonewall float, which will carries its message of equality, unity and welcome in the Salute to America Independence Day Parade (July 4, Philadelphia). The hand-painted, 34-foot float made its debut at the Philadelphia’s PrideDay LGBT Parade on June 9. The public was invited to Cherry Street Pier to write messages of love and support on rainbow ribbons that are affixed to the float.

​​​​​​​Party on the Parkway – The finale to the seven-day festival is a daylong outdoor celebration featuring city blocks of family fun. Noon. Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

Naturalization Ceremony – New Americans take the Oath of Citizenship outside the Betsy Ross House. 1:30 p.m. 239 Arch Street, (215) 629-5801, historicphiladelphia.org

July 4th Concert and Fireworks ­– Two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist, Academy Award-winning actress and best-selling author Jennifer Hudson, accompanied by The Philly POPS® BIG Band, and multi-platinum pop-country star Meghan Trainor take the stage outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art for an epic concert. Afterwards, fireworks blast from behind the art museum for all the Parkway to behold. Concert, 7 p.m.; fireworks, 9:30 p.m. 26th Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (267) 546-5424, welcomeamerica.com

See how we stack up according to WalletHub.

Celebrating Fourth of July in Philadelphia (1=Best; 50=Avg.):

• 6^th – Walkability
• 1^st – Legality of Fireworks
• 19^th – Number of Fourth of July Festivals & Performances
• 1^st – Prevalence of Affordable 4.5+ Star Restaurants
• 36^th – Duration of Fireworks Show