UPDATED: 4:25 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Anyone else “wake up in the morning feeling” ready to party on the Parkway again? With the Fourth of July inching “closer,” the Welcome America festival has revealed its headliners for the 2024 Independence Day concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway: Kesha and Ne-Yo.
The free concert starts at 7 p.m. on July 4, followed by the annual fireworks show.
The concert caps off two weeks of special events during the annual Welcome America festival.
Gospel on Independence Mall will be another one of several free concerts during the festival, which begins on Juneteenth with a celebration at the African-American Museum in Philadelphia. The free Kimmel Center Party on the Plaza will feature the Philadelphia Orchestra, while country singer LeAnn Rimes will join the U.S. Army field band on Independence Mall.
Welcome America president Michael Del Bene promised the nation’s largest Fourth of July celebration. “Our festival will give Philadelphians and those fortunate enough to be here during our festival a reason to celebrate,” he said on Tuesday at the fanfare-filled announcement of this year’s lineup at City Hall.
“It’s a thrill to kick off Wawa Welcome America as title sponsor since 2010,” said Wawa President Chris Gheysens. “It’s coming to a whole new level this year.”
Kesha, a Grammy-nominated and award-winning musician, is best known for bangers like “TiK ToK, “Your Love Is My Drug,” “We R Who We R,” and “Die Young.”
Ne-Yo is a three-time Grammy-winning artist, songwriter and actor whose 2005 single “So Sick” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He went on to make several other hits, including “Sexy Love,” “Closer,” “Because of You,” and “Miss Independent.”
There will also be smaller festivals within the main festival, such as the Annual Concilio’s Hispanic Fiesta and First Person Arts Fest, featuring a live recording of comedian Chris Gethard’s “Beautiful/Anonymous” podcast. Family events include Kidchella at the Smith Playground.
Del Bene said 37 of the city’s museums will offer free admission throughout the festival and there will be a new public art installation. There will also be a “Rocky” movie night on the famed Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, along with free boxing classes. And Wawa Hoagie Day will take over Independence Mall on June 27.
There is no charge for any of the events, although some require pre-registration.
“We will once again foster a narrative that recognizes and reflects the lives and voices and experiences of all Americans,” Del Bene said.
Among the new features this year for Independence Day itself is the One Philly Award, to be presented by Mayor Cherelle Parker.
“I want them to hear us down Market Street, I want City Hall to shake,” Parker said to the assembled crowd. “Let me hear you say, ‘One Philly, a city united.’”