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How to prep for July 4th in Philly: 'Rocky' on the Art Museum steps, Wawa Hoagie Day and more

Independence Day is still a week away, but Philly's already celebrating our country's 240th anniversary. Here are some of the ways to join in.

Wawa celebrated Hoagie Day last year at Independence Mall by serving up a 4.5 ton hoagie to anyone who was in the area.
Wawa celebrated Hoagie Day last year at Independence Mall by serving up a 4.5 ton hoagie to anyone who was in the area.Read more(Colin Kerrigan / Philly.com)

Independence Day is still a week away, but Philly's already celebrating our country's 240th anniversary. Here are some of the ways to join in.

Go 4th & Learn

From scoping out the technology that made Finding Nemo (catch interactive activities before the beloved Pixar movie, 7 p.m. Monday, Franklin Square, 200 Sixth St.) to working out like Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (6:25 a.m. Wednesday, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway), this Welcome America program gives kids a chance to delve and discover at local learning centers.

Bookworms can make their way to any public library in the city for a reading on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. Show up early, the first 100 kids at each library will get a free book. Future strutters can learn about music with the crew over at Mummers on Thursday (5 p.m., Mummers Museum, 1100 S. Second St.).

Welcome America also offers free entry to the National Constitution Center on Wednesday and Saturday, and museums around the city are opening their doors to knowledge-seekers of all ages throughout the week.

Times vary, through July 4, locations vary, prices vary, welcomeamerica.com.

Philly @ the Movies

There's a hot lineup of family friendly flicks on its way. Pixar's Finding Nemo (8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Franklin Square, 200 Sixth St.) and The Good Dinosaur (5 p.m. Tuesday, Xfinity Live, 1100 Pattison Ave.), as well as National Treasure (8:30 p.m., Thursday, Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.) will get free big-screen treatments. But there's also a site-specific classic: How can you resist Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (7 p.m. Wednesday)?

Times vary, June 27-30, locations vary, free, welcomeamerica.com.

Parks on Tap at Schuylkill Banks

A new city initiative brought to life by Morgan's Pier, Parks on Tap takes advantage of the largest inner-city park system in the country by creating makeshift beer gardens at green spaces around Philadelphia.

"Think of it like the carnival or the circus," said owner Avram Hornik.

Equipped with a full outdoor kitchen, mobile truck, bathroom trailers, lights, and seating for 200 people, Parks on Tap lets kids play life-sized chess while parents sip on a glass of wine or munch on a watermelon salad. The traveling beer gardens will make their debut at Schuylkill Banks this week, offering a view of the fireworks with a drink in your hand.

5-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 1-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday and Monday; begins Wednesday and runs through July 4, Schuylkill Banks at Walnut Street Bridge, 2501 Walnut St., prices vary, parksontap.com.

Wawa Hoagie Day

Wawa brings back its annual Hoagie Day, where you, too, can chow down on a free sandwich while listening to the music of the USO Show Troupe. Food Network Chef Robert Irvine will also be in attendance.

Noon to 5 p.m., Thursday, Independence Hall, 520 Chestnut St., 215-629-4026, welcomeamerica.com.

We Differ As Rational Friends: A Debate between John Adams & Thomas Jefferson

While the Founding Fathers worked together to form a new nation, they didn't always agree on the best methods of government for the United States. Reenactors at the National Constitution Center bring the second and third presidents of the U.S. to life in a discourse on policy during the Revolutionary Era.

"They have a tremendous knowledge of their characters," Amy Needle, president and CEO of Historic Philadelphia, Inc., said of the actors. "They really cannot only have debates about the Declaration and all the things that were happening during that time, but they're also able to answer questions from the audience and in some cases it really is like you're talking to the actual person."

1 p.m., Thursday, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., free, 215-629-4026, historicphiladelphia.org.