2024 Highlights
Wawa Welcome America continues to grow in size and meaning leading up to the country’s milestone 250th birthday in 2026.
Once again, the 2024 festival runs from Juneteenth to Fourth of July in recognition of the country’s independence in 1776 and the end of slavery in 1865.
This year’s festivities pay tribute to the richness and diversity of Philadelphia’s communities, cultures and traditions with 16 days filled with free multicultural and multigenerational events.
Read on for some of the biggest highlights from this year’s Wawa Welcome America festival.
— Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia
Free Museum Days
More than 30 of Philly’s most celebrated cultural institutions offer free admission on select days during the multi-week festival, including:
- The African American Museum in Philadelphia* (Wednesday, June 19, 2024)
- National Constitution Center (Thursday, June 27, 2024)
- The Masonic Temple (Saturday, June 29, 2024)
- The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia* (Monday, July 1, 2024)
- The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (Wednesday, July 3, 2024), and
- Eastern State Penitentiary* (Wednesday, July 3, 2024).
*Pre-registration is required for admission.
— Photo by A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia
Juneteenth Block Party at The African American Museum in Philadelphia
This Juneteenth event is a daylong block party outside of The African American Museum in Philadelphia. Themed “Rhythms of Liberation: Celebrating Juneteenth Through Music,” the celebration of freedom and culture presents performances by legendary hip-hop duo Kid ‘n Play; local musical talents Seraiah Nicole, Suede Lace and DJ Rich Medina; and 2024 Philadelphia poet laureate Kai Davis.
The block party also includes a vendor village highlighting Black-owned businesses, food trucks, hands-on activities for the whole family and an intimate conversation with women political powerhouses moderated by Soledad O’Brien and featuring former mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms (Wednesday, June 19, 2024).
Kidchella Music Festival
Grab the kiddos and let’s celebrate Philadelphia families and Smith Memorial Playground’s 125th anniversary with tasty treats, interactive art stations and a few talented friends.
Sing and dance to performances by Emmy Award-winning children’s group Alex & The Kaleidoscope, John Shortcake, Ill Doots, and a lineup of local young talent curated by World Cafe Live (Friday, June 21, 2024).
Concilio’s Annual Hispanic Fiesta
Part of the PECO Multicultural Series and the largest event of its kind in the city, the Hispanic Fiesta is an annual event celebrating Hispanic culture and heritage with two days of food, dancing and music.
Iconic musicians Joseph Fonseca and Huey Dunbar take over the John F. Kennedy Bridge with performances of merengue and salsa tunes that are sure to get the party started (June 22 & 23, 2024).
— Photo courtesy Wawa Welcome America
Celebration of Innovation and Education
Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital have thrived at the crossroads of innovation and education for 200 years, and in commemoration of this milestone anniversary, the esteemed medical school — one of the first in the nation — is throwing a free, family-friendly block party (Tuesday, June 25, 2024).
Wawa Hoagie Day
What’s better than a free hoagie? Try 25,000 free hoagies! At noon on Thursday, June 27, 2024, grab a free Wawa Shorti hoagie on Arch Street between 5th & 6th Streets in the Independence Mall area. In between bites, enjoy free entertainment, including a performance by the Voices of Service quartet. Plus, admission to the National Constitution Center is free all day long, so don’t miss the museum’s interactive exhibits — including a very special one highlighting Wawa’s 100 years of history and Philadelphia roots.
— Photo courtesy Wawa Welcome America
Our America Now
First Person Arts, through its year-round StorySlams and annual namesake festival, provides established and emerging storytelling artists with a platform to present work based on real-life experiences.
For the first time, the First Person Arts Festival teams up with Wawa Welcome America to present a collection of signature events featuring noteworthy and emerging artists, each sharing their stories and sparking courageous conversations about what it means to be an American. Admission to the First Person Arts Festival is free, but pre-registration is required (June 28-July 2, 2024).
Salute to America Independence Day Parade
Break out your best red, white and blue: Groups from around the country and world meet in the birthplace of the nation for a grand celebration of American culture, diversity, and 248 years of history.
The parade kicks off in Old City at 2nd and Market streets at 11 a.m. before traveling west to City Hall (Thursday, July 4, 2024).
— Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia
Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
This is it: the big one. Wawa Welcome America culminates in a giant, free-for-everyone party on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the evening of the Fourth of July.
A massive concert, headlined by superstars NE-YO and Kesha is followed by the city’s largest fireworks display over the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Thursday, July 4, 2024).
For the complete lineup of events, click the button below.
