How Philly is celebrating Juneteenth, the Fourth of July and the 250th in 2026

African American Museum in Philadelphia
701 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
12 – 5 p.m.

AAMP will commemorate the legacy of Juneteenth and celebrate the museum’s 50th anniversary with an all-day festival led by Philly native Patty Jackson.

Live entertainment, food trucks, games and more are expected, with appearances by DJ Jazzy Jeff, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Leah Jenea and other local artists. New this year will be performances from a 15-piece jazz band.

AAMP’s block party will kick off at noon behind the museum, rain or shine. Guests may also visit AAMP for free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Independence Mall
599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
7 – 8:30 p.m.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and creator of The 1619 Project, will explore the legacy of freedom, democracy and the pursuit of racial justice in this evening conversation at Independence Mall.

Independence Mall
599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
8:30 – 10:30 p.m.

Visitors may bring blankets and chairs to watch a free screening of the 2019 film “Harriet,” starring Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Janelle Monáe.

Centennial District
Avenue of the Republic and East Memorial Hall Drive
2 – 9:30 p.m.

In West Philadelphia, the Centennial District will host a daylong fair with food, music and family-friendly activities. 

The fair will include food trucks representing flavors from the original 13 colonies, a trapeze attraction, a life-size replica of the Liberty Bell, interactive exhibits and creative workshops.

Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jazz, featuring vocalist Carol Riddick and bassist Gerald Veasley, is expected to perform. The night will wrap up with a fireworks display.

Additional performers and activities have yet to be announced.

Day 2 of the fair will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 21.

Lest We Forget Slavery Museum
5501 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

In Germantown, the Lest We Forget Slavery Museum explores the scars and legacy of slavery in the U.S. Historical artifacts shed light on the millions of enslaved Africans who were captured and brought to the Americas.

“All this stuff touches home,” Germantown native Mark Keenheel told The Philadelphia Tribune in 2019. “It doesn’t go back that far.”

Visitors can take a 90-minute guided tour, which features artifacts from the transatlantic slave trade, and examine the history of slavery to emancipation, the Jim Crow era and beyond.

Elfreth’s Alley Museum
126 Elfreth’s Alley, Philadelphia, PA 19106
12 – 4 p.m.

One of the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in the U.S., Elfreth’s Alley dates back to 1703. Visitors can learn about the alley’s early inhabitants, who were primarily artisans and working-class laborers.

American Women’s Heritage Society
2000 Belmont Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

West Philadelphia’s Belmont Mansion, built in 1745, was later connected to the Underground Railroad. Visitors can explore the mansion for free as part of Free Museum Day.

Carpenters’ Hall
320 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

In Old City, Carpenters’ Hall visitors can learn about the First Continental Congress and the history of the Carpenters’ Company. Several large models of Carpenters’ Hall will also be on display.

Johnson House Historic Site
6306 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144
12 – 4 p.m.

Germantown’s Johnson House Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark and was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Visitors can learn about the history of the Quaker abolitionist Johnson family, the anti-slavery movement and more.

Historic Strawberry Mansion
2450 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19132
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

North Philadelphia’s Historic Strawberry Mansion was built in 1789 by Judge William Lewis, a lawyer and abolitionist. Visitors can take a guided tour of the historic 18th-century property.

Richard Allen Museum at Mother Bethel AME Church
419 Sixth St., Philadelphia, PA 19147

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, located in Society Hill, is the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by Black Americans. Museum visitors can explore rare artifacts and historical documents dating back to the early 1700s.

Free activities and programming will be offered throughout the National Liberty Museum. Those interested may pre-register online.

National Constitution Center
25 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

National Constitution Center visitors can trace the history of the Declaration of Independence and the evolution of “We the People.”

The museum will host an interactive Independence Day show, etiquette workshops, Colonial-era arts and crafts and a Revolutionary War encampment.

Philadelphia Historic District
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

The Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee will host Red, White, and Blue To-Do, or a day of “pomp and parade,” as declared by John Adams in 1776.

Local museums, historic sites and businesses will honor the nation’s founding with bell ringings, historic site openings and a flag-raising ceremony with “Betsy Ross.” A parade featuring red wagon floats, drill teams, cultural dance troupes and more will follow.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a Red, White, and Blue To-Do block party will feature music, food and family-friendly games and activities. Historic District attraction highlights are also expected.

Free street performances are expected in the afternoon and evening throughout the Historic District. Performers and additional activities have yet to be announced.

Independence National Historical Park
599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
6 – 9 p.m.

The Soldiers’ Chorus, founded in 1957, will perform at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. Queen Latifah will deliver a headlining performance. Miss America 2026, Cassie Donegan, will also perform.

The event will kick off with an award ceremony tied to the semiquincentennial.

The concert is expected to begin at 7 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, with limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests may bring chairs or blankets to watch the concert from the lawn.

Stenton
4601 N. 18th St., Philadelphia, PA 19140
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Visitors can explore the historic Stenton house, built in 1730 by James Logan, to learn about the secretary to William Penn and how Logan shaped the formation of the commonwealth.

Stenton was home to six generations of Logans as well as people who were enslaved, indentured and free laborers.

Independence Hall to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
12 – 4 p.m.

Billed as the “largest professionally produced semiquincentennial parade in the nation,” the semiquincentennial parade will showcase 50 marching bands, 13 floats and historic and cultural showcases celebrating America’s past, present and future

The parade will begin at 5th and Chestnut streets before passing Independence Hall and traveling down Market Street, circling City Hall, continuing along the Parkway, looping around Logan Circle, and ending at Broad and Chestnut streets.

Fireman’s Hall Museum
147 N. Second St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Visitors can dive into the history of firefighting in Philly at the Fireman’s Hall Museum. Ben Franklin formed the city and nation’s first volunteer fire company in 1736.

Science History Institute
315 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Visitors can check out the Science History Institute’s newest exhibition, Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks, participate in some fireworks-related arts and crafts, and explore the history of the matchbook, which was invented in Philadelphia. 

Historic St. George’s Museum and Archives
235 N. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Historic St. George’s Museum and Archives, set to reopen this summer, will host interactive exhibits and crafts like water marbling and doll-making.

Independence National Historical Park
​​599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
7 – 9 p.m.

The Philly Pops will perform at Independence Mall with Tony Award-winning performer Idina Mendzel.

National Constitution Center
599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center will award the 38th annual Liberty Medal to Pope Leo XIV for his lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of expression.

Pope Leo will deliver remarks virtually from the Vatican. The speech will be livestreamed and viewable at Independence Mall.

520 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
10 – 11 a.m.

Philadelphia’s historic district will host a Celebration of Freedom Ceremony at Independence Hall. Performers have yet to be announced.

Powel House
244 S. Third St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

In Society Hill, visitors can explore the 18th-century home of Samuel Powel, Philly’s first independent mayor and George Washington’s confidante.

Cliveden of the National Trust
6401 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

In East Mount Airy, visitors may tour the historic Cliveden house. “The Battle of Germantown” was fought at the site in 1777, when Washington’s army tried to oust British troops, unsuccessfully.

A new exhibit, “Procuring Liberty in the Emerging Nation,” will be on display. Free tours will also be given of the first floor of the house.