Writer: Ryan Gandolfo
2 min read June 2023 — Philadelphia knows how to party. Starting today, the city is promoting a variety of free events for residents over the next two weeks in the lead up to the Wawa Welcome America July 4th festival.
According to the organization’s website, it is considered the largest July 4th celebration in the country, with 16 days of family-friendly programming for an estimated one million attendees that spotlights the City of Brotherly Love’s arts, culture, history and diversity.
“Philadelphia is one of those hidden gems where until you know about it, you don’t really know about it. Once you’re here, you realize it’s very comfortable for international people. At a basic level, there are three pillars evidencing this,” Global Philadelphia Association President Zabeth Teelucksingh told Invest:. Wawa Welcome America will host 50 events between now and July 4, from block parties and concerts to free museum days and parades.
Welcome America, a nonprofit affiliated with the City of Philadelphia through a public-private partnership, has an estimated $10 million direct economic impact that benefits more than 50 local businesses, as cited by Welcome America’s website.
The event series is kicking off following the recent I-95 collapse at Cottman Avenue caused by a vehicle fire which eventually led to a bridge collapse on the highway. The event has caused traffic delays for commuters and could impact out-of-town travelers plans to celebrate the fourth of July in the birthplace of America. Last week Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a disaster declaration to speed up the reconstruction progress.
“To expedite the rebuilding of I-95 and cut through the red tape, this morning, I issued a disaster declaration,” Shapiro said, “allowing the commonwealth to immediately draw down federal funds and move quickly to begin the repair and reconstruction process,” as cited by CBS News.
To check out the Wawa Welcome America festival’s upcoming event calendar, click here.
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