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When baseball needed something unmistakably Philly for the All-Star Game,  city artist Andre Chaney answered the bell — the Liberty Bell, that is.

Why it matters: Chaney's hand-painted Liberty Bell is an ode to the Phillies that will show up starting this weekend at Citizens Bank Park.

The big picture: Philadelphia is hosting Tuesday's All-Star Game for the first time in three decades.

So naturally, the city needed some hometown flair. 

Zoom in: The 28-year-old Chaney was inspired by old Star Wars movie posters for the design, capturing Phillies legends in their most iconic moments.

"Those characters looked larger than life, so I wanted to do the same thing," he said.

Who's on the bell: The bell features a Mount Rushmore of Phillies greats — Dick Allen, Jimmy Rollins, Mike Schmidt, Ryan Howard and Bryce Harper — on one side.

😂 1 notable thing: The Phanatic didn't sit for his portrait on the bell, Chaney said.

🥚 Easter egg: Look for Chaney's logo featured on the Jumbotrons on the bell.

Between the lines: Chaney survived a grueling selection process to design the bell. 

He then spent more than 70 hours hours in the studio designing and painting a 4-foot replica of the Liberty Bell — one of America's most enduring symbols of independence.

Worth noting: The project is part of the Bells Across PA program from the city and Philadelphia250. 

What they're saying: Chaney tells Axios he was drawn to art at a young age, prodded by his mother, who gifted him sketchbooks for Christmas.

"She was never OK with me just turning anything in," he said. "She would always say, 'How do you take it to the next level?'"

Two chairs featuring All-Star Game Philadelphia 2026 artwork: left shows Phillies players with fireworks and the logo; right shows a large green monster over a city skyline with stars and logo.

Both sides of the Phillies edition of the Bells Across PA, which was unveiled on Wednesday. Photo: Mike D'Onofrio/Axios

Catch up quick: An illustrator, muralist and children's book author with a studio in South Philly's Bok Building, the Philly native had attended California College of Arts in Oakland and then dove into several projects when he returned home.

He has murals in Philly, including a jazz-inspired piece called the "The Extraordinary in the Every Day" in South Philly.

Plus: Chaney is launching his own publishing house with a line of children's books.

The bottom line: Now that the All-Star project is behind him, Chaney says he's taking a moment to soak it all in before figuring out what's next.

For now, though, he can savor his place among Philly's art all-stars.

Meet the North Philly artist behind MLB All-Star's Liberty Bell

Andre Chaney spent more than 70 hours hours in the studio designing and painting a 4-foot replica of the Liberty Bell.

Smiling man in a white Phillies pinstripe jersey and red cap poses beside a large red All-Star Game display with stars and baseball imagery, against a Phillies backdrop.

Artist Andre Chaney is the brains behind the Phillies edition of the Bells Across PA program. Photo: Mike D'Onofrio/Axios

When baseball needed something unmistakably Philly for the All-Star Game, city artist Andre Chaney answered the bell — the Liberty Bell, that is.Why it matters: Chaney&#x27;s hand-painted Liberty Bell is an ode to the Phillies that will show up starting this weekend at Citizens Bank Park.

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If you're looking for another 250th bucket list experience, block off your schedule because you can saunter across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge this weekend.

Why it matters: Meek Mill has house parties, Philly has block parties, and the Delaware River Port Authority has walking parties.

Driving the news: The port authority will shut down all lanes of traffic for several hours on Saturday for anyone who wants to cross the 1.8-mile bridge, which celebrated its 100th birthday this month.

Starting at 10am, pedestrians may access the bridge from either the Philly or Camden side. 

Plus: A party is set for the Camden-side toll plaza at 10am, which will include historic displays, food trucks and music.

Worth noting: The bridge's regular pedestrian walkway will be closed during the event and reopen at 2:30pm. 

For drivers: The bridge will be off limits to traffic from 8:30am-4:30pm. 

Pro tip: Philadelphians looking to get across the river can ride the PATCO to Camden, or drive across the Walt Whitman Bridge or Betsy Ross Bridge. 

Or, better yet, lace up those Nikes, slather on the sun tan lotion and hoof it.

Flashback: Designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge opened to traffic on July 1, 1926.

It was once the world's longest suspension bridge, before being overtaken three years later by the Ambassador bridge between Detroit and Canada.

Originally called the Delaware River Bridge, it was renamed for one of Philly's founding fathers in 1956.

By the numbers: A masterful feat of engineering, the bridge spans more than 9,600 feet and clears 135 feet above the water below.

Its massive towers stretch 380 feet in the air and the bridge is held up by a series of 30-inch-thick cables that are strong enough to withstand 125,000 tons.

If you go: The event is free, and you can register here.

Walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge this weekend

The Delaware River Port Authority is shutting down all lanes of traffic on Saturday for anyone looking to get their daily steps in.

An aerial view of the Ben Franklin Bridge.


Photo: Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

If you&#x27;re looking for another 250th bucket list experience, block off your schedule because you can saunter across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge this weekend.Why it matters: Meek Mill has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="house parties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKFzPv9vnB8" data-vars-content-id="194c771d-1557-41f7-8391-d6a845956200" data-vars-headline="Walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKFzPv9vnB8" target="_blank">house parties</a>, Philly has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="block parties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaZfelPtPZJ/" data-vars-content-id="194c771d-1557-41f7-8391-d6a845956200" data-vars-headline="Walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaZfelPtPZJ/" target="_blank">block parties</a>, and the Delaware River Port Authority has walking parties.

He's not on the All-Star roster. But Steve Frias played at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday like he was.

Why it matters: As MLB legends and some of the sport's top prospects descend on Philly for All-Star weekend, dozens of young players are getting a shot at the spotlight. 

Driving the news: Frias, a 21-year-old Rowan College of South Jersey freshman, was one of them. He filled in for former Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins during a rehearsal for a new 3-on-3 competition, treating the practice like a personal audition.

"Today we're here, but tomorrow we don't know," Frias tells Axios. "You don't know when it's time to hang up the cleats. You don't know when it's your last game. So, because of that, I'm always hustling." 

The big picture: While fans will flock to Philly to see the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani and the Phillies' own Brandon Marsh, All-Star weekend is also a showcase for baseball's future.

The Futures Game on Sunday stars talented prospects expected to reach the majors soon, while the HBCU Swingman Classic introduces lesser-known college talent to a national audience. 

And new events like the MLBx: 3-on-3 aim to draw in younger fans.

What they're saying: Frias, a New Jersey native, says his college coach flexed some connections and recommended him to participate in the MLBx: 3-on-3 dress rehearsal.

Frias says he was recruited as a youngster to play baseball in the Dominican Republic, spending most of his childhood working on his craft with pro-level dedication.

"I didn't really have a childhood, because I was always playing baseball," he says, recalling "training on Sundays, on holidays, on birthdays."

"I was always overseas playing when my family was here, so it was a big sacrifice. But it definitely worked out."

How it works: The MLBx: 3-on-3 game, which kicks off Sunday at 3pm, teams up former Phillies superstars Rollins, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino with professional softball players and celebrities like former Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens and current wideout DeVonta Smith.

Batters' main goal? For three two-minute rounds, they try to smash as many home runs as they can. They can tag each other in and out, depending on who has the hottest bat.

And a hot-streak button makes things more exciting. Players can smash it whenever they want and, for five pitches, home runs and defensive catches by the other team count for twice the points.

Behind the scenes: Wednesday's test run felt like the real thing. 

The Liberty Bell rang to start each two-minute round, a play-by-play announcer narrated every swing, and pyrotechnics sizzled.

Frias did his part, knocking in homers and snagging balls in the outfield when his team was on defense.

Context: When he returned to the U.S., Frias spent time as an "uncommitted" player selling himself to college coaches before landing at Seton Hall.

Because of a hang-up with NCAA eligibility rules, he says, he had to transfer to Rowan, where he hopes to make a name for himself.

College baseball player Steve Frias posing for a photo in the Phillies dugout.

Steve Frias at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday. Photo: Isaac Avilucea/Axios

Frias has big dreams, hoping one day he'll be taking the field at the Bank for the Phillies.

He has a little help: he can always hear the words of his "prayer warrior" mother, Jasmine, urging him on.

"She said, 'You want to play baseball, make it happen, my son.'"

"It's not so much a dream anymore, because it's gonna happen," Frias says, brimming with confidence. "I know for sure it's gonna happen."

Close view of numerous white baseballs with red stitching piled behind a black net, at a baseball stadium. A blue scoreboard in the background shows MLB All-Star 3-On-3 under a bright sky.

How young players are getting an All-Star spotlight in Philly

Dozens of young players are getting a shot at the spotlight in Philly.

Batter Steve Frias of Rowan College of South Jersey taking swings during a dress rehearsal of the MLBx 3-on-3 event at Citizens Bank Park.

He&#x27;s not on the All-Star roster. But Steve Frias played at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday like he was.Why it matters: As MLB legends and some of the sport&#x27;s top prospects descend on Philly for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="All-Star weekend" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/07/philly-2026-events-mlb-all-star-cycling-classic-ufc-world-cup" data-vars-content-id="1b6f1e91-f843-4dc4-82cf-c3891363aa0d" data-vars-headline="How young players are getting an All-Star spotlight in Philly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/07/philly-2026-events-mlb-all-star-cycling-classic-ufc-world-cup" target="_self">All-Star weekend</a>, dozens of young players are getting a shot at the spotlight.

News

No longer far, far away, the Star Wars galaxy is coming to Philly.

Why it matters: The 18,000-square-foot "Star Wars: The Experience" exhibit is lightsaber-rattling fun for fans of one of the greatest film franchises.

The big picture: Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the original "Star Wars" film, released in 1977, and the franchise is celebrating by touring its behind-the-scenes exhibit across North America.

It'll debut at the Franklin Institute on Feb. 13. 

"Philadelphia is the only place on Earth to see it first," the museum says.

State of play: The exhibit will include 70 props from the Lucasfilm archives, including Darth Maul's double-bladed lightsaber and Darth Vader's costume, per a news release.

It'll be like dropping into one of George Lucas' futuristic sets: Expect to see droids and some of the franchise's most beloved characters, including R2-D2, C-3PO and Grogu.

Plus: A speeder bike and original props from the television series "Andor."

What they're saying: The exhibit was four years in the making, a creative collab of the Institute, Lucasfilm, Disney Consumer Products and design firm MDSX that required "an extraordinary amount of dedication and expertise," museum chief experience and strategy officer Abby Bysshe said in a statement.

What we're watching: More exhibit details and renderings will be unveiled during a July 24 "The Making of Star Wars: The Experience" panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

What's ahead: Tickets go on sale in November. The exhibit runs in Philly through Sept. 6, 2027, before heading to its next destination. 

Star Wars to mark 50 years with new exhibit debuting in Philly

"Star Wars: The Experience" opens Feb. 13 at the Franklin Institute.

Star Wars droid costumes, including R2-D2 and C-3PO, on display at a previous Star Wars exhibit at the Denver Art Museum.

Photo: RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images

No longer far, far away, the Star Wars galaxy is coming to Philly.Why it matters: The 18,000-square-foot &quot;Star Wars: The Experience&quot; exhibit is lightsaber-rattling fun for fans of one of the greatest film franchises.

The World Cup is over in Philadelphia, but it's still alive in city classrooms.

Why it matters: School may be out for the summer, but one local enrichment program is using soccer to introduce students to the cultures, cuisines, fashions and traditions of countries still competing for the World Cup.

Zoom in: Dozens of Philly middle schoolers in Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia's summer program have spent the past few weeks diving into the tournament through hands-on activities, from a World Cup food show-and-tell to designing soccer jerseys.

Students each picked a country to research, studying everything from the playing style of South American teams to Uzbekistan's national anthem. 

They've also recapped matches, including Cape Verde's Cinderella run, which ended in a narrow loss to defending champion Argentina.

Why it works: Breakthrough helps students from some of Philly's most underserved neighborhoods gain admission to top high schools and colleges while giving aspiring educators hands-on classroom experience.

What they're saying: "The students are really motivated. They all really want to be here," teaching fellow Caleb Low tells Axios. 

"It's been a great experience of me learning from them, and the students just working towards our goals."

Philly students use World Cup to work toward summer learning goals

Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia's summer program has used the tournament to teach middle-schoolers about the world.

Illustration of a falling soccer ball with one patch replaced by the United States.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup is over" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/08/world-cup-food-banks-donations-philly" data-vars-content-id="fa07ac03-40b2-4049-ac39-9cdd7e51ca5c" data-vars-headline="Philly students use World Cup to work toward summer learning goals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/07/08/world-cup-food-banks-donations-philly" target="_self">World Cup is over</a> in Philadelphia, but it&#x27;s still alive in city classrooms.Why it matters: School may be out for the summer, but one local enrichment program is using soccer to introduce students to the cultures, cuisines, fashions and traditions of countries still competing for the World Cup.

Isaac Avilucea

Featured stories

Walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge this weekend

Philly students use World Cup to work toward summer learning goals

Meet the North Philly artist behind MLB All-Star's Liberty Bell

How young players are getting an All-Star spotlight in Philly

Star Wars to mark 50 years with new exhibit debuting in Philly