Queen Latifah, DJ Jazzy Jeff among Welcome America headliners
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler /NBAE via Getty Images)
This year's Wawa Welcome America Festival has a uniquely Philly sizzle, including an appearance by hometown icon Queen Latifah.
Why it matters: Philly's biggest summer bash is supercharged with a slate of well-known Philly natives as the city welcomes an influx of visitors for the nation's 250th birthday.
Driving the news: Organizers on Monday unveiled the lineup for the festival, which stretches over 16 days with events leading to the July 4th concert and fireworks show on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
- The July 4 headliners are still TBA in the coming weeks.
Zoom in: The festival includes free movie and museum days, plus the ever-popular free hoagie day on July 1.
What's new: Philly Fair 250 is a three-day celebration, starting Jun 20, that mixes history with culture and music in Philly's Centennial District.
- Expect a hot air balloon experience, food trucks and performances, headlined by Pink Sweat$.
- Plus, a life-sized Liberty Bell replica, exhibits and workshops.
Highlights:
June 19: The Juneteenth Block Party is a daylong celebration featuring live music, vendors, dance performances, food trucks and family-friendly activities at the African American Museum.
- The celebration is headlined by Philly legend DJ Jazzy Jeff.
June 24: The Five Points Night Market, running through June 22, includes shopping, food trucks, music and family-friendly activities.
June 25: Honor Black Music Month with performances from several Black women artists, headlined by Philly native, rapper and actress Eve.
- The celebration includes a dazzling fireworks nightcap at the Dell Music Center.
June 26: Kids can dance, play and create at the Kidchella Music Festival at Smith Memorial Playground, plus a fireworks show.
June 27: Concillo's Annual Hispanic Festival takes over LOVE Park. Food trucks, family-friendly activities plus a live performance from Grammy Award-winning singer Olga Tañón.
- Plus: Check out the fireworks show along the Delaware River waterfront, starting at 8pm.
June 28: Grammy Award-winning icon Kirk Franklin headlines a night of soul at Independence National Historic Park.
June 30: The Philadelphia Orchestra is putting on a free concert, led by guest conductor Carolyn Kuan, at the Kimmel Center.
- The concert includes appearances from the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus and Philadelphia Voices of Pride.
July 1: 25,000 free Wawa Shorti Hoagies are up for grabs for Hoagie Day at the Independence Mall. Stay for musical performances from U.S. Airforce Heritage of America Band and free admission to the National Constitution Center.
July 2: The Red, White & Blue To-Do celebrations are all about patriotic pomp and circumstance, including a flag-raising ceremony, a parade, and an All-American block party.
- The evening ends with a performance from the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus and headliner Queen Latifah at Independence Mall.
July 3: Check out the semisequential parade, a huge expanded procession that starts at 5th and Chestnut streets, honoring all 50 states, plus all Miss America titleholders.
- 50 marching bands, 13 floats, and groups from across the world, all here to celebrate the U.S.
- Plus: Pope Leo XIV will receive the National Constitution Center's Liberty Medal during a livestreamed event that night.
July 4: The Celebration of Freedom ceremony kicks off at 10am at Independence Hall, and includes a presentation to this year's winner of the Wawa Foundation Hero Award, capped by a fireworks show at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.