PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In 1876, Philadelphia hosted the Centennial Exposition to celebrate America’s 100th birthday. This weekend, on the same spot, the city will celebrate 250 years with the Philly Fair 250.
An exact replica of the original Liberty Bell, a zip line, zoo animals, food trucks representing the 13 original colonies and fireworks — those are just some of the highlights of the weekend festival in front of the Please Touch Museum, which originally was the main exhibition hall for the Centennial Exposition.
Nicole Allen of Welcome America said they wanted to make this year’s celebration extra special.
“For the first time that we are aware of, Wawa Welcome America will be in one place for three days straight, here in the Centennial District, paying homage to that history,” she said.
The event is free and offers rare experiences, such as flying through the air on a trapeze, an attraction managed by Randy Cohn.
“This is a full-size trapeze, just like you’d see in a circus,” he said. “All the same dimensions, just added safety so anyone can do it, age 4 to 104.”
The fireworks are courtesy of the Science History Institute, which Vice President Jesse Smith said will be a throwback to pyrotechnics of old.
“Things you’ve never seen before that you’ll probably never see again: flaming wheels and fiery fountains and then a traditional finale of aerial shells over the Please Touch Museum,” he said.
The fair is open from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 20, through Monday, June 22, and includes free admission to the Please Touch Museum over the weekend.
Three-day event features trapeze, fireworks, zoo animals and more
Three-day event features trapeze, fireworks, zoo animals and more
