PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Wawa Welcome America officials have announced new events and some of the headliners for this year’s semiquincentennial edition of the 16-day festival. They did not divulge the lineup for the July Fourth free concert on the Parkway.
Miss America Cassie Donegan, plus all 52 contestants, will be among the 10,000 people expected to march in what is being billed as the largest-ever Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia's history (which will actually be held July 3).
It’s part of an expansive array of celebrations during the festival that emphasize how exceptional this year is and how Philadelphia aims to be the undisputed center of the country’s 250th anniversary celebration.
The lineup includes Idina Menzel singing with the Philly Pops at their annual July 3 concert, Queen Latifah joining The U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus on July 2, and gospel singer Kirk Franklin fronting a 250-voice choir drawn from local churches on June 28.
“I feel like I’m selling steak knives because, wait, there’s more,” said Welcome America President Michael Del Bene.
New events, including a three-day Philly Fair in Fairmount Park, and a free Philadelphia Orchestra concert as part of Pride month hosted by Trixie Mattel, will be added to the dozens of other activities. They are all free and open to the public from Juneteenth through Independence Day. DJ Jazzy Jeff will headline the annual Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum. This year, it’s celebrating 50 years.
“We are able to put events together that put Philadelphia on a global stage and demonstrate what makes our festival one of the largest free festivals to be found anywhere in the country,” Del Bene said.
The festival will be competing with the FIFA World Cup, including a Round of 16 game on July Fourth. Mayor Cherelle Parker has promised that the Parkway concert that night will be a “legacy” event (it will get its own big reveal at a later date).