The Wawa Welcome America Festival Is Back

The Roots will headline the concert that brought 500,000 people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway last year

Philadelphia will be celebrating the nation’s birthday in style with a spectacular event that is recognized as the “Largest Free Concert in America.”

Once again, The Roots will rock the stage for Philly’s 4th of July Jam at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  They will perform alongside artists Queen Latifah, Common, Estelle, Joe Jonas, and more. The concert is from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., but come early so you can get a good view of the show that brought half a million people to Eakins Oval last year.

The Roots’ musical director, Questlove said in a press release, “We are excited to help put together such a great show! Philly’s a natural fit for the Fourth of July concert– The Fourth of July on the Parkway should be what New Year’s Eve in Times Square is to New York.”

The concert is a precursor to the fireworks that will light up the sky. The Independence Day Fireworks is the grand finale to a week-plus of enriching and fun-filled events from movies to music to food fests to a fireworks.

It's all part of the annual Wawa Welcome America festivities that kicks off Monday night with a showing of the Great Gatsby at 9 p.m. in Rittenhouse Square.

“From June 25 to July 4, 2012, Wawa Welcome America! will offer you and your family high-quality, free and most importantly, fun entertainment to celebrate America’s birthday with us,” Mayor Nutter said in a statement.

Nutter is honored to roll out the “red, white and blue” carpet to welcome everyone to the city where America was born.

“We invite residents and visitors alike to experience and enjoy two spectacular fireworks displays, a day-long Party on the Parkway, a full-scale Independence Day Parade and the Largest Free Concert in America. From outdoor movies to interactive, educational programming for children to a vast range of “tastes” of Philadelphia’s best cuisine, we’re serving it up for our guests to celebrate the Fourth.”

Penn’s Landing is the place to be for the “Taste of Philadelphia” weekend on June 29 to July 1. You will be able to taste some of Philadelphia’s delicious foods, listen to talented musicians and watch the first display of stunning fireworks. You will also be able to enjoy activities provided by Radio Disney and NBA Nation.

Make sure to come out to celebrate the Fourth of July in the very place where it started.

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