2024 Highlights
Wawa Welcome America continues to develop in measurement and that means main as much as the nation’s milestone 250th birthday in 2026.
As soon as once more, the 2024 pageant runs from Juneteenth to Fourth of July in recognition of the nation’s independence in 1776 and the tip of slavery in 1865.
This yr’s festivities pay tribute to the richness and variety of Philadelphia’s communities, cultures and traditions with 16 days stuffed with free multicultural and multigenerational occasions.
Learn on for among the greatest highlights from this yr’s Wawa Welcome America pageant.
— Photograph by S. Ramones for Go to Philadelphia
Free Museum Days
Greater than 30 of Philly’s most celebrated cultural establishments supply free admission on choose days through the multi-week pageant, together with:
- The African American Museum in Philadelphia* (Wednesday, June 19, 2024)
- Nationwide Structure Middle (Thursday, June 27, 2024)
- The Masonic Temple (Saturday, June 29, 2024)
- The Mütter Museum of The Faculty of Physicians of Philadelphia* (Monday, July 1, 2024)
- The Weitzman Nationwide Museum of American Jewish Historical past (Wednesday, July 3, 2024), and
- Japanese State Penitentiary* (Wednesday, July 3, 2024).
*Pre-registration is required for admission.
— Photograph by A. Ricketts for Go to Philadelphia
Juneteenth Block Celebration at The African American Museum in Philadelphia
This Juneteenth occasion is a daylong block get together outdoors of The African American Museum in Philadelphia. Themed “Rhythms of Liberation: Celebrating Juneteenth By way of Music,” the celebration of freedom and tradition presents performances by legendary hip-hop duo Child ‘n Play; native musical skills Seraiah Nicole, Suede Lace and DJ Wealthy Medina; and 2024 Philadelphia poet laureate Kai Davis.
The block get together additionally features a vendor village highlighting Black-owned companies, meals vehicles, hands-on actions for the entire household and an intimate dialog with ladies political powerhouses moderated by Soledad O’Brien and that includes former mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms (Wednesday, June 19, 2024).
Kidchella Music Competition
Seize the kiddos and let’s have a good time Philadelphia households and Smith Memorial Playground’s one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary with tasty treats, interactive artwork stations and some gifted buddies.
Sing and dance to performances by Emmy Award-winning youngsters’s group Alex & The Kaleidoscope, John Shortcake, Unwell Doots, and a lineup of native younger expertise curated by World Cafe Reside (Friday, June 21, 2024).
Concilio’s Annual Hispanic Fiesta
A part of the PECO Multicultural Collection and the biggest occasion of its variety within the metropolis, the Hispanic Fiesta is an annual occasion celebrating Hispanic tradition and heritage with two days of meals, dancing and music.
Iconic musicians Joseph Fonseca and Huey Dunbar take over the John F. Kennedy Bridge with performances of merengue and salsa tunes which might be positive to get the get together began (June 22 & 23, 2024).
— Photograph courtesy Wawa Welcome America
Celebration of Innovation and Schooling
Thomas Jefferson College and Hospital have thrived on the crossroads of innovation and training for 200 years, and in commemoration of this milestone anniversary, the esteemed medical college — one of many first within the nation — is throwing a free, family-friendly block get together (Tuesday, June 25, 2024).
Wawa Hoagie Day
What’s higher than a free hoagie? Strive 25,000 free hoagies! At midday on Thursday, June 27, 2024, seize a free Wawa Shorti hoagie on Arch Avenue between fifth & sixth Streets within the Independence Mall space. In between bites, take pleasure in free leisure, together with a efficiency by the Voices of Service quartet. Plus, admission to the Nationwide Structure Middle is free all day lengthy, so don’t miss the museum’s interactive reveals — together with a really particular one highlighting Wawa’s 100 years of historical past and Philadelphia roots.
— Photograph courtesy Wawa Welcome America
Our America Now
First Individual Arts, by its year-round StorySlams and annual namesake pageant, offers established and rising storytelling artists with a platform to current work based mostly on real-life experiences.
For the primary time, the First Individual Arts Competition groups up with Wawa Welcome America to current a group of signature occasions that includes noteworthy and rising artists, every sharing their tales and sparking brave conversations about what it means to be an American. Admission to the First Individual Arts Competition is free, however pre-registration is required (June 28-July 2, 2024).
Salute to America Independence Day Parade
Get away your greatest pink, white and blue: Teams from across the nation and world meet within the birthplace of the nation for a grand celebration of American tradition, range, and 248 years of historical past.
The parade kicks off in Previous Metropolis at 2nd and Market streets at 11 a.m. earlier than touring west to Metropolis Corridor (Thursday, July 4, 2024).
— Photograph by S. Ramones for Go to Philadelphia
Fourth of July Live performance and Fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
That is it: the large one. Wawa Welcome America culminates in a large, free-for-everyone get together on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the night of the Fourth of July.
A large live performance, headlined by superstars NE-YO and Kesha is adopted by town’s largest fireworks show over the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork (Thursday, July 4, 2024).
For the whole lineup of occasions, click on the button under.
