One Heck of a Birthday Party

Sunoco Welcome America! prepares Philly for its week-long July 4th celebration

As summer heats up across the nation, Americans prepare for their favorite summer holiday with fresh tanks of propane, coolers stocked with cold ones and lawns acupunctured by American flags. And no one takes the Fourth of July more seriously than Philadelphia — the City of Brotherly Love is devoting an entire week to celebrating our nation’s 231st birthday.

As summer heats up across the nation, Americans prepare for their favorite summer holiday with fresh tanks of propane, coolers stocked with cold ones and lawns acupunctured by American flags. And no one takes the Fourth of July more seriously than Philadelphia — the City of Brotherly Love is devoting an entire week to celebrating our nation’s 231st birthday.

Starting June 28th Sunoco Welcome America! kicks off their week-long bash that offers patriotic fun for all ages, with free concerts, movies, salsa dancing, arts fairs and block parties. The Dreamland Carnival — perfect for the kids — runs until July 6th and, besides all the usual carnie delights, features the Victoria Circus, which brings daring feats and comedic clowns. Or grab the kids and head to The Kimmel Center or the African American Museum for the “Go 4th and Learn” series, which allows kids to participate in hands-on activities and crafts that will teach them about Philly’s sports, music, culture and history.

Although the week is chock full of don’t-want-to-miss events, make sure to slot time on July 4th for the grand finale: the parade on the Ben Franklin Parkway, followed by a concert featuring Hall & Oates, Bianca Ryan and the Jazz Ambassadors of the US Army Field Band, and a fireworks display on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

For the full list of events, see below or go to the Welcome America! website, http://www.americasbirthday.com.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, June 28
Welcome America Dreamland Carnival with Victoria Circus, Memorial Hall Noon to 11 p.m.
Go 4th & Learn, African American Museum, 701 Arch St., 10 a.m. to noon
Summer in Love Concert (Sonoma Sound), Love Park, Noon to 2 p.m.
Opera on the Square, Rittenhouse Square, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Philly @ The Movies (“Rocky”), Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday, June 29
Welcome America Dreamland Carnival with Victoria Circus, Memorial Hall Noon to 11 p.m.
Go 4th & Learn, Philadelphia Housing Authority, Bartram Village, 5404 Gibson Drive, 10 a.m. to Noon?
Kid’s Day, Penn’s Landing, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Summer in Love Concert (Downtown Harvest), Love Park, Noon to 2 p.m.
Best of the Northwest Gospel Showcase, New Covenant Church campus, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday Night Gospel Celebration, Great Plaza and Penn’s Landing, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Philly @ The Movies (“The Untouchables”), Eastern State Penitentiary, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday, June 30
Welcome America Dreamland Carnival with Victoria Circus, Memorial Hall Noon to 11 p.m.
Taste of Philadelphia With Free Salsa Lessons, Historic Area, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Strong Man Competition, Memorial Hall, Noon to 5 p.m.
Best of the Northwest: Gospel Fest, New Covenant Church campus, 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Waterfront Concert and Fireworks, Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 1
Welcome America Dreamland Carnival with Victoria Circus, Memorial Hall Noon to 11 p.m.
Taste of Philadelphia With Free Salsa Lessons, Historic Area, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Strong Man Competition, Memorial Hall, Noon to 5 p.m.
Best of the Northwest Classical and Jazz Brunch, New Covenant Church campus, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Fair on the Square, Rittenhouse Square, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Philly @ The Movies (“The Philadelphia Story”), Rittenhouse Square, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday, July 2
Welcome America Dreamland Carnival with Victoria Circus, Memorial Hall Noon to 11 p.m.
Go 4th & Learn, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Summer in Love Concert (EvrymanJack) Love Park, Noon to 2 p.m.
Arts on the Avenue With Free Salsa Lessons, South Broad Street, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Philly @ The Movies (“Apollo 13”), Northeast Airport, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Tuesday, July 3
Welcome America Dreamland Carnival with Victoria Circus, Memorial Hall Noon to 11 p.m.
Go 4th & Learn, Atwater Kent Museum, 10 a.m. to noon
Summer in Love Concert (Agent Moosehead), Love Park, Noon to 2 p.m.
Fiesta Goya, 20th Street & Ben Franklin Parkway, 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Pops on Independence, Independence Mall, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Philly @ The Movies (“Selena”), Ben Franklin Parkway at 21st Street, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Wednesday, July 4
Welcome America Dreamland Carnival with Victoria Circus, Memorial Hall Noon to 11 p.m.
Independence Day Ceremony, Independence Hall, 10 a.m.
Happy Birthday America, National Constitution Center, Noon to 2 p.m.
Party on the Parkway, Ben Franklin Parkway, 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
July 4th Parade, Ben Franklin Parkway, 6:30 p.m. yo 8:30 p.m.
Concert and Fireworks, Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.