Go Fourth and celebrate!
Here are holiday events in Philly and the 'burbs
Fourth of July festivities have been downsized this year as Philadelphia and its suburban neighbors face tight budgets. But that doesn't mean you won't find plenty to do this holiday weekend, especially in the city as Sunoco Welcome America concludes with parades, fireworks and the nation's biggest free concert.
Today
Peter Nero and the Philly Pops will play Pops on Independence at Independence Mall (5th and Markets streets) from 8:30-10 tonight. Arrive early with blankets and chairs for a good spot to the free show.
Today through Sunday visit the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing for the Super Scooper All-You-Can Eat Ice Cream Festival. A $5 donation to the Joshua Kahan Fund gets you unlimited scoops of Ben &Jerry's, Haagen-Dazs, Edy's, Breyers, Philadelphia Water Ice and more.
Tomorrow
Mayor Nutter kicks off Independence Day activities at 10 a.m. at Independence Hall, 520 Chestnut St. A parade through historic Philadelphia steps off at 11 a.m., with marching bands, bugle corps re-enactments, antique cars, floats and musical performances by celebrities, including Philly's own Lauren Hart.
For the first time in almost two decades, the parade travels through the city's historic district, starting at 5th and Chesnut and passing both Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell before proceeding down Market to Front Street. Viewers are invited to fall in behind the final performance group, the Golden Crowne New Years Brigade, and march along to Penn's Landing.
Across town, the Party on the Parkway kicks off at at noon on the Ben Franklin Parkway. Inflatable rides, children's theater productions, a salsa dance contest, multicultural performances, food vendors and a sanctioned strong man competition provides entertainment until 6 p.m.
In a more reverential vein, several descendants of signors of the Declaration of Independence will ceremonially tap the Liberty Bell, an Independence Day tradition that happens at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Liberty Bell Center, 500 Market St.
The climactic event of the Fourth is the "Life, Liberty, and You" concert on the Parkway. Beginning at 8 p.m., the stage at Eakins Oval features the sounds of Philly hip hop stars (and Jimmy Kimmel's houseband) the Roots, followed by pop legend Sheryl Crow. After the music - billed as the largest free concert in the country - fireworks will light up the night sky over the Art Museum.
(If you are lucky enough to have tickets to the Phillies-Mets game Saturday night - or you live in South Philly - you can see fireworks at Citizens Bank Park following the game.)
Sunday
The holiday weekend concludes with Sunday's "Fam Jams" at Penn's Landing, a free concert for kids by Nickelodeon TV stars Nat and Alex Wolff (Naked Brothers) and Camp Rock's Meaghan Martin, among others.
Getting around
Of course, to accommodate all this activity, a number of roads will be closed.
The Ben Franklin Parkway closes at 7 tonight, and remains closed through tomorrow. (Traffic traveling on I-676 should use the Broad Street exit. )
Kelly Drive, from Strawberry Mansion Drive to Fountain Green, will close at 2 p.m. tomorrow and will re-open Sunday.
Martin Luther King Drive will close at 6 a.m. tomorrow and will remain closed for recreational activities until 5 p.m. Sunday.
From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow Chestnut Street will be closed from 8th to Front. And Market Street, from 8th to Front, will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Your best bet is to use public transportation to get into and around the city throughout the weekend. But if you must drive, you can find a list of parking lots at the Welcome America Web site, www.welcomeamerica.com.
