InBox: Enjoy July 4th Safely at Your Home

May 13, 2020 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Philadelphia (May 12, 2020) – The City of Philadelphia announced that the 2020 Wawa Welcome America festival will be delivered virtually in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the health and safety of the community top of mind, Welcome America, Inc. supports the City’s decision, and remains committed to hosting a festival that engages residents in every neighborhood of Philadelphia and across the nation in celebration of America’s Independence Day.

This year, Wawa Welcome America will be re-imagined to create meaningful, at-home experiences that will embody the same spirit of celebration that Philadelphians have come to know and love over the past 28 years. Arts, culture, education, history and performance will continue to play a starring role in the festival, along with new virtual opportunities to expand and enhance Wawa Welcome America’s free and interactive programming.

“Our team remains committed, now more than ever, to creating an experience that gives our City something to celebrate,” said Michael DelBene, President and CEO, Welcome America, Inc. “It is a challenging time, and while we may not be able to gather in our City’s great public spaces this year, we are eager to celebrate in a new way through interactive, virtual experiences. We are grateful to the City and to our incredible sponsors and partners for their support, which will allow us to continue this storied tradition in a new, exciting way.”

“The City of Philadelphia is proud to support the Welcome America team in their commitment to delivering a virtual festival this year,” said Mayor Jim Kenney, City of Philadelphia. “With the health and safety of our community top of mind, we are confident that this virtual event will continue to create new opportunities to bring our community together in celebration of America’s Birthday. Philadelphia is a strong City of strong traditions, and I am excited to see this important tradition continue.”

A longstanding tradition that will remain in place for this year’s festival is a concert performance on the evening of July 4^th,produced in partnership withLive Nation and broadcast in English and Spanish on NBC10 and TeleXitos, Telemundo62’s multicast network, for viewers to enjoy from their homes. The City of Philadelphia and Wawa Welcome America will be sharing additional details about the virtual event, including information about performers, schedule and more, during a press conference in June.

Meghan Trainor brought out her father Gary Trainor, 70, to dance on “Dance Like Your Daddy”

The annual Wawa Welcome America festival is made possible by the support of the City of Philadelphia, title partner Wawa, Comcast NBCUniversal and their local broadcast stations NBC10 & Telemundo62, Independence Blue Cross, Visit Philadelphia and Live Nation.

Jennifer Hudson at Wawa Welcome America in Philadelphia, July 4th, 2019

Head on over to Metro Philly newspaper online to read more about this years plans and see another photo I took from last year’s concert.

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What You Need To Know for July 4th Party on the Parkway

July 2, 2019 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

Welcome America has designed a new layout for the July 4^thParty on the Parkway and July 4^th Concert & Fireworks which will offer families and guests an enhanced experience. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway will now feature dedicated entry points and a perimeter that will allow guests to enter in a smooth, more orderly fashion, then roam freely to experience all the iconic Party on the Parkway has to offer.

Party on the Parkway runs from noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 4^th and is followed by the July 4^th Concert and Fireworks from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Once guests enter the Parkway, they will be able to roam freely and experience all that Philadelphia’s iconic July 4^th party has to offer from food and drink, to games and rides, to entertainment. This year’s enhanced family-friendly experience includes the free PECO Kids’ Zone featuring a zip-line, acrobatic dunkers, bungee jumping, games, arts & crafts, storytelling, face painting, and more. Party on the Parkway runs from noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 4^th and is followed by the July 4^th Concert and Fireworks from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Once guests enter the Parkway, they will be able to roam freely and experience all that Philadelphia’s iconic July 4^th party has to offer from food and drink, to games and rides, to entertainment. This year’s enhanced family-friendly experience includes the free PECO Kids’ Zone featuring a zip-line, acrobatic dunkers, bungee jumping, games, arts & crafts, storytelling, face painting, and much more. As always, guests are permitted to bring picnics and small personal coolers. A full list of prohibited items can be found on welcomeamerica.com/guides.

23rd Street & Pennsylvania Avenue north side entrance

All entrances will be open from noon until 9 p.m. (That means you can not enter after 9PM. So get here early to find your spot for the fireworks, or watch them on the side streets) Guests are highly encouraged to enter through the Main Welcome Gates at Logan Circle. Other entry points include:

· 20th Street & the Parkway from both the north and south sides

· 21st Street & the Parkway from both the north and south sides

· 23rd Street & Pennsylvania Avenue north side

Entry signage will be clearly visible at all gates, and Wawa Welcome America Ambassadors will be on hand to help guests find their way.

Road closures and more info about Wawa Welcome America on Philly Mag
but I wanted you to see what the fencing looks like on the Parkway. Basically just like Made in America, or when the Pope came to Philly, the area is fenced off and there are entrance points. It’s for convenience and your safety. It’ll definitely be a much better experience than in years gone by when there was a rush of people at the last minute jockeying for a spot to watch the fireworks, as well as folks lighting their own fireworks off in the crowd. Bring the family for the day long Party on the Parkway, then enjoy the free concert and fireworks.!!

Philadelphia

The Best Fourth of July Fashion on the Parkway July 4th

July 5, 2017 by HughE Dillon

Happy day after Fourth of July. I’m so beat, as you probably are as well. If you’re not there’s always SIPS tonight. Thank you City of Philadelphia, Jeff Guaracino and his team from Wawa Welcome America, Melanie Sole, Cashman & Associates, as well as Philly’s Special Events office for planning and excuting an amazing event, with a lot of consideration on the set up of the Parkway. I’ve lived on the Parkway for years, and this was the best set up, and viewing of stage and fireworks ever. I felt safe, yet not trapped or burdened by blockage. The security guards were well trained, and very nice. After the rain some of the people in the front VIP section left, and the security allowed the folks in the back to move into those sections. It was a great time despite mother nature’s dampness. Every year I like to run a column of fashion standouts. This year more than ever, did people dress up in their Red, White & Blue. Let’s see some of my favorites….

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Thank you to all volunteers. Here are two from the Red Cross. HD1_2236 (Custom)

Not R/W/B but the best sunblock Fourth
Awesome, and on a mission

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Perfect HD1_2248 (Custom)
Love her hat Fourth
Can’t go wrong with those socks

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OK not in r/w/b at all, but she’s straight up Paula Abdul and she posed for me in the Visit Philly tent.

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Not in red/white/blue but a stellar dresser

Fourth
I ran into this family a couple of times yesterday, they were dressed perfectly for family day. They told me their sons even had a football
catch with the police officers nearby.

Fourth

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Fourth
Robin Younger, Meryl Levitz, Visit Philly (Thanks for the hospitably last night) and Patty Jackson, the legend from WDAS

Fourth
Monica Lewis, I love this dress. HD1_2299 (Custom)

Poor Hugo it was so hot yesterday,
but his steaks are delicious at Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House at SugarHouse – I just ate there last week HD1_2411 (Custom)
This!!