FunTimes Fun Facts: Events Education, & Entertainment!
Fireworks on the Fourth! Nothing’s better to help roll out the red-white-and-blue welcome carpet to celebrate America’s birthday. As June retires, July heats up! Philadelphia owns the Fourth! Here are some of the multi-cultural patriotic events in the area this week through Independence Day – plus some free or low-cost bonus events of interest including free trips to museums. Please respect the pandemic safety protocols and check event-attending instructions with the organizers.
July 1, 2022. The Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia is a perfect backdrop for fireworks in Philadelphia, with prime viewing perches. Check out Our America Now: Expressions of Freedom & Waterfront Fireworks. This immersive experience explores key moments of history and “tells the stories of influential individuals through diverse voices.” Artists from Olive Dance Theatre and We The People Stage will use spoken word, dance and song to tell personal and historical accounts about the journeys of freedom. Featuring DJs, food trucks, live artistic performances and interactive activities, the event climaxes with a grand fireworks finale. Free, event is 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m., Cherry Street Pier and Race Street Pier, 215-629-3200, delawareriverwaterfront.com or welcomeamerica.com
Phillies’ Phireworks
July 1 & 3, 2022. The Phillies will get all fired up against the St. Louis Cardinals during and after the game with the XFINITY fireworks show. If you have a ticket for the game, the fireworks are free afterwards. Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way. After the game around 10 p.m. 215-463-1000, Phillies.com
The military salute & fireworks finale on waterfront
July 2, 2022. Mesmerizing Saturday night fireworks over the Delaware River cap off a patriotic show by the U.S. Army Band Pershing’s Own concert as part of the Wawa Welcome America festival. Free, event is 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with fireworks at the finale. Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., 215-629-3200, delawareriverwaterfront.com or welcomeamerica.com
NOTE: Folks not attending the military-band show can still catch the fireworks display from any number of great spots along the Delaware River waterfront, Penn’s Landing.
Fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Celebrating America’s liberty with concerts & fireworks
July 4, 2022. The Independence Day observances in the United States close out with a fantastic finale and dazzling birthday bash! The evening features the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert starring Jason Derulo, Ava Max and Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Tori Kelly. The concert returns to the Parkway after a two year pandemic pause there, and will be performed in front of a live audience on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and broadcast in English and Spanish in the Philadelphia region on NBC10 and TeleXitos. The concert will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display – the largest in the region — over the iconic Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
While fireworks rocket through the skies, DJ Ghost and Q102 will light up the airwaves with a DJ set fully synced up to the fireworks show. The Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert will be shown in primetime in its entirety. After the concert, fireworks will then take the spotlight over the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The pre-taped morning Celebration of Freedom Ceremony with be broadcast at 6 p.m.; concert live at 7 p.m. and fireworks live at 9:30 p.m. NBC10’s coverage of the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony, concert and fireworks all will be simulcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia+, as well as COZI and TeleXitos. The concert will be live-streamed on nbcphiladelphia.com and telemundo62.com and can be viewed on any screen – TV, iPad or tablet, smartphone. Entry to the July 4th Concert and Fireworks is free, tickets not required. welcomeamerica.com
NOTE: For the best viewing areas to see the various fireworks’ shows, visit: visitphilly.com
A day at a local museum
Wawa Welcome America festival gets cultural
Through July 4, 2022. Freedom may not come free, but the Wawa Welcome America festival is. Where else is the July 4th celebration better than in the nation’s birthplace, Philadelphia? It’s the final week of a 16-day festival featuring art, culture, community engagement and entertainment. It has been synonymous with Independence Day in Philly since 1993. Get your culture caps on. From Germantown to South Philly, explore some of the festival’s Museum Days series:
- June 28:
Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 19 S. 22nd St, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- June 29:
National Constitution Center courtesy of Wawa, 525 Arch St., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - All June 30:
Wyck Historic House, Garden, and Farm, 6026 Germantown Ave., noon to 4 p.m.
American Swedish Historical Museum,1900 Pattison Ave., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, 8601 Lindberg Blvd., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - All July 1:
Powel House, 244 S. 3rd St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Faith and Liberty Discovery Center, 101 N. Independence Mall East,10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Penn Museum, 3260 South St., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Rodin Museum, 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.Masonic Temple, Library and Museum, 1 S.. Broad St., (tours only, first-come, first-serve), 10 a.m.,11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- July 2:
National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - July 3:
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., pre-registration required. - July 4:
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 Independence S. Independence Mall East, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Christ Church and Burial Ground, 304 N. 5th St., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All activities are free or pay what you wish. For more events including the big concert on The Parkway July 4th: welcomeamerica.com or visitphilly.com
Summer fun at the African American Museum
June 30, 2022. Summer Solstice White Party @ AAMP welcomes international recording artist and Philadelphia icon, Barbara Sheree, as host for a night of live music, performance and improv. The night will feature the region’s best musical talent, a full band and a live DJ playing classics. Food and wine will be served. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., African American Museum in Philadelphia, 7th and Arch streets, 215-574-0380, aampmuseum.org
‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’ history tour
June 30, 2022. Get edified at a two-hour Black history tour focusing on an 1852 speech by Frederick Douglass, who asked: “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” Learn the answer and more about Douglass’ words; rediscover Philadelphia’s Black history during a walk through the city’s historic Seventh Ward into Old City. Hosted by Black History Maven, hear a reading from parts of Douglass’ speech. Wear comfortable attire/shoes and water. Free but tips are welcomed to partially benefit the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. two miles: 9th and Bainbridge streets to 6th and Market streets, eventbrite.com or blackhistorymaven.com
Are you in the market for produce?
June 29, 2022 and through the fall season. Get fresh produce at The 58th and Baltimore Farmer’s Market outdoors on Wednesdays. The market is new this year. Periodically, it features food demonstrations. Noon to 3:30 p.m., on the lawn at Blanche A. Nixon Nixon/ Cobbs Creek Library in Southwest Philadelphia. 215-685-1973, freelibrary.org
Flower Show petals back to Convention Center
The flowers did not even wilt yet and the folks at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society are ready for next year’s Philadelphia Flower Show. The date was announced last week. It’s March 4-12, 2023. And the show will be back indoors at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. It was held at FDR Park in South Philly for two years due to the virus crisis. At that point, it had been staged indoors for 190 years prior. So, mark your flowery calendars! If you must be in the know about the Flower Show, get updates at phsonline.org
Viernes Calientes Latin Dance Party is fire!
July 1, 2022. Let’s get ready to Rumba, baby! Grab your dancing shoes for Viernes Calientes Latin Dance Party. Dine, drink and, of course, get foot loose to live music from De Tierra Caliente. Dance to Salsa, Merengue, Reggae, Samba, Chacha, Bolero, Rumba, Funk and more. 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., free, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, e-mail: TicketingStaff@worldcafelive.com, https://worldcafelive.com/
