CELEBRATE AMERICA CALENDAR

Thursday, June 30, 2011 Independence Day Picnic & Military Change of Command Independence Mall, 6th and Market Streets 10 a.m. 4 p.m. What better way to celebrate July 4th than with a patriotic picnic? Wawa Welcome America! continues the celebration with an Independence Day Picnic and a special military change of command on June 30. Visitors are welcome to stop by, bring a picnic lunch, blanket and lawn chair and observe the Military Change of Command of Officers from the Army Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion based in New Jersey. Nearly 300 soldiers will march in command, as a military band plays patriotic music. Food and cold drinks will be available for purchase. And, while youre here, visit other uniquely Philadelphia attractions like the new Presidents House, the National Museum of American Jewish History, the Independence Visitor Center and the National Constitution Center, all located in this remarkable historic area. Photo Exhibit- Tuskegee Airman: Making Aviation History Philadelphia International Airport (Terminal A-East) 10 a.m. Whether heading into or out of town, celebrate the 70th anniversary of the African American cadets who were inducted into military flight school at the Tuskegee Institute at the unveiling of the Tuskegee Airman Photo Exhibit. The exhibit includes an annual rotating display to showcase and pay tribute to cultural and historical aspects of Philadelphia. To Note: this event is for ticketed passengers only. Philly @ the Movies - The Devil Wears Prada Rittenhouse Square 9 p.m. If fashion is your thing, then this movie is for you! Channel your inner fashionista and join us in Rittenhouse Square for a special screening of The Devil Wears Prada. Visitors can enjoy a picnic and a movie in one of Philadelphias most legendary locations. Friday, July 1, 2011 Philly @ the Movies - Hairspray Sing-a-Long Love Park 9 p.m. Warm up your vocal chords, dust off your dancing shoes and rock out with Tracy and the gang on the Corny Collins Show during a sing-a-long screening of Hairspray on July 1 at Philadelphias Love Park. Saturday, July 2, 2011 Go 4th & Learn about Science The Franklin Institute 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Bring the little ones to this morning event to learn about the science of fireworks at the Franklin Institute, after all, fireworks are a big part of how we celebrate July 4th! NOTE: Due to space restrictions, this ticketed event will be limited to the first 300 guests. The first 200 participating students will receive a free book, Night Wonders. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Chinatown Block Party Chinatown 12 p.m. 4 p.m. The Festival returns to Chinatown to showcase Philadelphias vibrant Asian culture with a good oldfashioned Block Party. Experience a festive open-air market with a multitude of exciting entertainment, Asian cuisine, crafts and more. Miss America 2011 and Mayor Nutter will also make a special appearance to meet and greet visitors and residents. Super Scooper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival Penns Landing July 2: 12 p.m. 5 p.m., 6 p.m. 9 p.m. Nothing beats ice cream on a hot summer day! Make a $7 donation to the Joshua Kahan Fund and help find a cure for Pediatric Leukemia while enjoying all of the cold stuff you can eat. Fireworks on the Delaware River Penns Landing in Philadelphia, PA and Waterfront Park in Camden, NJ 6 p.m. 9:30 p.m. The second of three free fireworks shows ends the evening with a bang! On July 2nd, the Two Cities, One Waterfront Concert features the United States Army Band Pershings Own at the RiverStage at the Great Plaza at 7:30 p.m. and the Air National Guard Band of the Mid-Atlantic at 6:00 p.m. at the Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden followed by free fireworks, choreographed to a patriotic soundtrack, over the Delaware River at 9:30 p.m. Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan will be making an appearance in both states, too! Sunday, July 3, 2011 Super Scooper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival Penns Landing July 3: 12 p.m. 5 p.m. You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! Make a $7 donation to the Joshua Kahan Fund and help find a cure for Pediatric Leukemia while enjoying an endless supply of ice cream. POPS on Independence Independence Hall 8:00 p.m. Peter Nero and the Philly Pops return to celebrate Americas birthday with POPS on Independence, a free concert at Independence Hall. Come join the celebration and participate in one of Philadelphias most popular Fourth of July traditions. Note: Seating is first come, first served. Concert goers are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Monday, July 4, 2011 Celebration of Freedom Ceremony Steps of Independence Hall 6th and Market Streets 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Celebrate our nations 235th birthday with a patriotic salute! Music, speeches and a reading of excerpts from the Declaration of Independence will pay tribute to the history of our nation. Also, Miss America 2011 will sing one of our countrys famous songs.

Philadelphia Independence Day Parade Historic Philadelphia 11 a.m. 1 p.m. Wawa Welcome America! takes the freedom celebration to the streets of Philadelphia during the annual Independence Day Parade. And this year, the route is longer than before! Due to the popularity of the Parade, the route is expanded two blocks. It marches through downtown Historic Philadelphia, stepping off at 11 am at 5th and Chestnut Streets immediately following the July 4th Independence Day Ceremony. The procession heads up Chestnut Street, passing Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, turns right on 9 th Street, then proceeds one block north to Market Street where it turns right again. Once on Market Street the parade marches six blocks down though Historic Philadelphia and ends at Front Street. With more than 4,000 participants from a dozen states, 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan, 16 marching musical groups, nine floats, five military branches and a multitude of special performing teams, Wawa Welcome America!s Independence Day Parade is the most diverse Fourth of July parade in the country and you dont want to miss it! People of all ages will enjoy up close and personal an array of entertaining, patriotic and multicultural marchers, music, dancers, and floats as it winds through Philadelphias most historic square mile. Super Scooper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival Penns Landing July 4: 12 p.m. 5 p.m. Dont miss out on your last chance to make a $7 donation to the Joshua Kahan Fund and take advantage of all the free ice cream you can eat. Happy Birthday America Independence Visitor Center 12:30 p.m. Join us as we celebrate Americas birthday and sample delectable treats from hometown favorite Tastykake. Bell Tapping Ceremony Liberty Bell Center, 500 Market Street 1:45 p.m. The Liberty Bell rings out symbolically to commemorate Independence, sponsored by Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration and Sons of the American Revolution. Party on the Parkway Benjamin Franklin Parkway 20th to Eakins Oval 12 p.m. 7 p.m. Bring your flags, patriotic spirit and plenty of energy to the day-long festival with blocks and blocks of exciting and educational activities, games, entertainment and food for the whole family! The highly anticipated Party on the Parkway offers three Music Stages: the ?uestlove Stage with Chin Chin, Nicos Gun, Reiss, Kindred and the Family Stone, and Don T.; the Go 4th & Learn Stage with hip hop breakdancers and pop vocalists for teens and tweens and the Global Music Stage with headliner Anthony Colon and AMLA Salsa Orchestra and performances by the Caribbean Steel Drum Band Alzonia & The Steel Source, the Nrithasree Indian Dance School and the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble.

The Party on the Parkway also features the MHP Liberty Strongman Classic; crowds can marvel at incredible feats of strength as strong men compete and haul concrete cylinders, pull trucks and lift thousands of pounds. In addition to entertainment and activities, food vendors will fill the Parkway offering delectable dishes from all corners of the globe to popular Philadelphia favorites. Find out why Philadelphia is the place to be on the 4th of July! Phillys Fourth of July Jam and Grand Finale Fireworks Benjamin Franklin Parkway 20th and Eakins Oval 7 p.m. 10 p.m. Four-time Grammy award-winning band The Roots will headline Phillys 4th of July Jam! The band and the Festival musical director ?uestlove will perform their set as well as sets with special guests Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, DJ Jazzy Jeff and more! The concert will also include a special tribute to the 40th Anniversary of Gamble and Huffs iconic Philadelphia International Records, The Sound of Philadelphia. The all-star cast of musicians will perform nearly every genre of music from R&B and hip hop to rock and funk for the largest free concert in America, followed by a spectacular fireworks show, with the Philadelphia Museum of Art as a dramatic backdrop. You dont want to miss this concert, on the last and biggest night of Wawa Welcome America! Additional Events in Philadelphia to Celebrate July 4th Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon National Constitution Center July 1 September 5 The Father of Our Country led us to victory in the American Revolution, chaired the Constitutional Convention, and served as our first president all in the Philadelphia region. This summer, George Washington will return to Philadelphia in the new feature exhibition, Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon at the National Constitution Center from July 1 through September 5, 2011. Mount Vernons world-class collection provides a new and refreshing perspective on Washington, his achievements, legacies, family, intellectual pursuits, and entrepreneurial ventures. Fullscale figures of Washington, architectural models, decorative and fine art items, maps, manuscripts, and paintings reveal his personal side and uncover his roles as an entrepreneur, farmer, and businessman. Plus, families can save a pocketful of Washingtons during the Centers first-ever Kids Free Summer promotion: free admission to the Center for up to four children (ages 12 and under) with one paying adult. Beyond the Centers exhibition, organizations all over the Philadelphia region are coming together to make the Summer of Washington a cant-miss experience. For more information and tickets, visit www.constitutioncenter.org or call 215.409.6700.

Civil War Weekend Historic Philadelphia July 1- 4 At Historic Philadelphia, its a Civil War Weekend, July 1-4 and all summer long! Meet President Lincoln and Civil War History Makers, join a military muster, and experience interactive exhibits in the massive free Civil War Road Show at Franklin Square, hear lesser-known stories about the Civil War on the Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches, see the flag Betsy Rosss daughter sewed during the Civil War at the Betsy Ross House, and take a 3-D journey through the Emancipation Proclamation in Liberty 360 - just to name a few! Civil War Road Show July 1-4, 11am-7pm at Franklin Square, 6th & Race Streets. Rally Round the Flag, a Civil War exhibit All summer, 10am-5pm at the Betsy Ross House, 3rd & Arch Streets Liberty 360, a 3-D show starring Ben Franklin All summer, 10am-7pm (until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays) at the Historic Philadelphia Center, 6th & Chestnut Streets Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches All summer, 11am-4pm throughout Historic Philadelphia Flag Showcase City Hall, Second Floor June 27 July 1 and July 4 There will be a presentation from the Philadelphia Flag Day Association called The American Flag- A Work in Progress featuring 20 flags in five large display cases. Come learn about our flags history! Wawa Welcome America! is a multi-day festival that celebrates Americas birthday in Americas birthplace, Philadelphia, and is produced by Welcome America, Inc. For more information, please visit www.welcomeamerica.com. # # #