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Philly celebrates July Fourth on Parkway

Undaunted by scorching heat, thousands packed onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Wawa Welcome America celebration on Sunday, attracted by the promise of music and a spectacular fireworks display.

Phil and Denise Riehl watch the fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art Sunday night. (David Swanson / Staff)
Phil and Denise Riehl watch the fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art Sunday night. (David Swanson / Staff)Read more

Undaunted by scorching heat, thousands packed onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Wawa Welcome America celebration on Sunday, attracted by the promise of music and a spectacular fireworks display.

With the thermometer easing back in the evening after an afternoon high of 96 degrees, a multitude squeezed around a stage near the Philadelphia Museum of Art to enjoy performances by Green River Ordinance, the Roots, and the Goo Goo Dolls, followed by an Independence Day pyrotechnical extravaganza.

Parkway real estate was in extremely short supply, as spectators staked out plots of grass with towels and blankets, and those arriving late had to tiptoe between the squatters to find a place to park.

"We forced our way in here," said Andrew Vassalla, 20, of Malvern, who was accompanied by two friends. The trio, who sat near the main stage, were glad to find a spot in the shade, he said.

"I had to take a picture because I couldn't believe the crowds," said Millie Daikawa, who was visiting from Hawaii with her husband.

Mayor Nutter welcomed the throng at 7:45 p.m. to some applause and a scattering of boos - politics took no holiday.

Event organizers and city officials said they would not have crowd estimates until Tuesday, but they were pleased with the turnout, said Melanie Johnson, executive director of Welcome America.

Last year, the event drew about a million people, with 600,000 at its height, Johnson said. But Sunday's heat was expected to suppress the turnout.

People were grabbing food and drinks an hour before the show - the longest lines were for frozen refreshments.

Though police reported some incidents with disorderly conduct and impromptu fireworks at the fringes of the crowd - one young man was arrested near 22d and the Parkway for fighting - most spectators were on good behavior.

They came early to eat cheesesteaks, munch funnel cakes, and quaff smoothies.

Some found out how to join the Marines, to learn salsa dancing, and to watch big, strong men flip 1,000-pound tires.

They heard a 9-year-old singing sensation from Ridley Park belt out pop songs old and new.

Children discovered they could escape the heat by dancing in front of an open fire hydrant.

Some arrived early to watch the morning parade and said they planned to remain through the evening's entertainment.

Among them was Sam Melton, 40, a construction worker from South Philadelphia. It can't get hot enough for him.

"I love it! I love it!" he said, donning his Phillies cap and eyeing his food options. "I like to walk around. I like the women."

Beverly Madyun, a Philadelphia public schoolteacher from Northern Liberties, set up under a tree with family members and enjoyed a plate of fish, rice, and macaroni.

"It's better than it was last week," she said of the weather. "There's a little breeze."

Johnson said the city won't have an official cost estimate for the festivities until later in the week, but expects it probably will come close to the $2 million raised through sponsorships.

Wawa was generous with its donations, Johnson said, including 40,000 drinks it gave guests to help them cope with the heat.

"We're hydrating Philadelphia," said spokeswoman Christine McCarthy.

The Marines challenged people to try their strength on a pull-up bar. Men had to do 20 pull-ups to win a T-shirt that said "Pain is weakness leaving the body." Women had to hang for 15 seconds to win a prize.

Kaylah McFarland, 12, of Royersford, looked at the bar tentatively, gripped it, and let the Marines help her up.

"Get up there! Get up there!" Marine Donald Toy, 18, of Chichester, encouraged. "I'll catch you if you fall."

But she wanted down. "It seems high," she said.

Bob Curatola, 30, a personal trainer from San Diego, fell just short. He did 19 1/2 pull-ups. The Marines gave him a prize anyway.

"They let me slide," he said.

"Don't print that," said the Marine who gave him the shirt. "We don't let anybody else slide."

Further down the Parkway was 9-year-old Kyra Leigh McKillip, onstage. Her young, freckled face belied the powerful voice booming from the speakers. Singing hits ranging from Michael Jackson to Taylor Swift, she delighted the crowd as she hit and held note after note.

"I never heard anybody go like this for so long. It's incredible," said Rich Bardzik, 37, a University of the Arts admissions worker from Northeast Philadelphia, who was drawn by her voice.

Mary McKillip, Kyra's mother, said she took her daughter for voice lessons three and a half years ago when she started singing in the backseat of the car.

"She has a photographic memory on top of it," McKillip said, noting that she can memorize a song in five to 10 minutes. "She can hear it, know it, and copy it."

Kyra said the heat didn't feel great, but noted that it's good for the vocal cords.

No matter the obstacle, she said, "as soon as I go up onstage, I'm not going back down."

The event allowed the city to showcase its jewels, and some who visited knew what to look for.

As soon as they arrived, members of Green River Ordinance from Fort Worth, Texas, wanted to sample a Philly cheesesteak, said Margaret Hughes, deputy city representative. A host helped them partake, she said.

To which steak shop were they taken?

"If I told you that," Hughes said, "I might start a war."