July 4th festivities: Parade in Old City, Party on the Parkway

Independence Day events are happening all day long, from Old City to the Parkway.

Kick off the nation’s birthday with the Independence Day Parade through America’s most historic square mile beginning at 5th and Arch at 11 a.m.

This year’s parade will feature more than 5,000 patriotic and multicultural marchers, musicians, dancers and floats, and will honor our nation’s servicemen and women.

After the parade, say “Happy Birthday” to America with a special birthday cake made by Termini’s Bakery at the Independence Visitor Center.

The Party on the Parkway will kick off at 12 p.m. on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. From 20th Street to Eakins Oval, there will be blocks and blocks of educational activities, games, entertainment, and food for the whole family.

 

There will be three music stages, including a Multicultural Stage, and ?uestlove’s music stage.

The Go 4th & Learn fun zone and Radio Disney Music Stage for children will offer interactive games, make-and-take arts and crafts and face painting, and exciting performances.

There will be food vendors, fun & games for the kids provided by NBA Nation and the MHP Liberty Strongman Classic’s where “strong men” will compete and haul concrete cylinders, pull trucks and lift thousands of pounds.    

At around 7 p.m., catch “The Largest Free Concert in America,” when The Roots, Queen Latifah, Daryl Hall, Common and Joe Jonas, take the stage during the Philly 4th of July Jam.

The 10-day WaWa Welcome America festivities will come to a close after the Jam, as fireworks illuminate the night sky over the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Need more events? Uwishunu has broken it down hour by hour with even more details on even more events happening throughout the day.