The festival has a new leader this year. President and CEO Michael DelBene takes over on Feb. 6. He was the vice president of business development at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts for more than six years.
June 30 will start five days of free events at various spots throughout the city for Philadelphia's 27th annual Welcome America.
DelBene says there is a whole lot more than fireworks and a concert on Independence Day.
"We are doing a lot of work to push our festival out into the neighborhoods, more than we ever have before," Delbene said. "You know, you have a marquis event that takes place on the parkway, but there are so many other opportunities to do other smaller events in our neighborhoods, and Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods."
DelBene succeeds Jeff Guaracino, who went on to head Visit Philadelphia, the city's visitor and tourism agency.