Fifty-six men representing America’s early 13 states signed the document at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on August 2, 1776. Throughout history, the adoption date has been considered America’s birthday. The building where the Declaration of Independence was signed is located in what is now considered Center City Philadelphia. To commemorate the nation’s birthday, Philadelphia host a series of events that stretch across two weeks.
Philadelphia’s Sunoco Welcome America
Sunoco Welcome America is one of the city’s largest event long celebrations. Cultural and educational events, concerts, food, a parade, and of course, fireworks are activities the cities four million residents and many visitors can take part in and enjoy. The 2009 activities kick off on June 26 at Penn’s Landing. The opening event is the “Taste of Philadelphia” cooking event. Saturday, June 27, there is a concert by talented and widely respected rhythm and soul singer, Angie Stone. The concert is followed by the first of two nights of fireworks.
Monday, June 29 at Franklin Square there is the “Go 4th and Learn” event which includes story time for children. During the week there is also an Ice Cream Festival, orchestra concert with Peter Nero and a closing concert by popular recording artist Cheryl Crow. The concert takes place at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and concludes with an amazing display of fireworks at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Parkway.
Other July 4 activities that are regularly held in Philadelphia to celebrate America’s birthday include the annual parade which goes down historic Philadelphia through areas marking the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House and Independence Hall. Marching bands, drill teams and floats honoring the nation’s birthday will be a part of the parade.
July 4 Celebration Activities from Start to Finish
All day from 11:00 in the morning until nearly midnight, Philadelphia will offer a variety of activities that people of all ages can enjoy. The city’s rich history, historic documents, original and replica items and cultural mix coupled with its many years of experience organizing and hosting the annual events make Philadelphia a prime location to celebrate America’s birthday.
The Party on the Parkway takes place on July 4 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Festivities start at the Benjamin Franklin Institute and go down to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Parkway. Residents and visitors can bring their lawn chairs and sit along the Parkway to enjoy the festivities and fireworks. Parking is plentiful but can be difficult to gain as the closing concert nears and especially at the start of the fireworks.
Other Historic Events in the City of Brotherly Love
People visiting the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection can also take their families, children and adults, to the Franklin Institute and learn about as well as see firsthand products and discoveries that Benjamin Franklin invented and unearthed. About a half hour drive from Center City in Valley Forge is the Freedom Trail, a pathway that recants the Underground Railroad trail.
The drive goes through Valley Forge and follows the path that leaders like Harriet Tubman took to help lead countless slaves into freedom. For Harriet, her personal journey from slavery in Maryland to freedom led to Philadelphia, a city where the courageous leader lived for several months before she continued her Underground Railroad trek with others seeking freedom and liberty.
Visitors can also stop by the Paul Robeson House, Fairmont Park, American Indian Cultural Center, Arch Street Friends Meeting House, the Constitution Center, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Jewish Museum, Washington Park, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Washington Square and the African American Museum on Arch Street.
Sources Cited:
Sunoco Welcome America. 14 June 2009.
Philadelphia and the Countryside. 14 June 2009.
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