- What you should know
- Philadelphia’s July Fourth concert and fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway resumed following a several-hour evacuation and delay as thunderstorms moved through the area.
- Prior to the Parkway concert and storms, Philadelphians celebrated the United States’ Seminquincentennial with pomp and sweat.
- For some Black and Indigenous Philadelphians, freedom remains a work in progress as the nation marks its 250th Independence Day.
- What makes July 4th in Philly? A block party.
// Timestamp 07/05/26 3:29am
Recap: In Philly, the 250th birthday of a fragile nation was celebrated with pomp and sweat. Then came the storm.
An unscheduled and dramatic light and sound show — this one produced by nature — interrupted Philadelphia’s July Fourth extravaganza Saturday night, forcing crowds to evacuate the Parkway three hours before the man-made fireworks show was scheduled to start.
People were told to leave the area and seek shelter midway through the One Philly: Unity Concert for America. But city officials were not quite ready to call it a Semiquincentennial — a year in the planning — and two hours later the city announced the event would resume with a shortened schedule and the fireworks finale. This time, the man-made kind.
Forecasters had been warning for the last two days that potent thunderstorms were possible Saturday night, as so often happens when a heat wave begins to break down.
July Fourth marked the third consecutive day that the temperature had reached 100 in Philly, tying a record set in 1963 and 2011, and the atmosphere on Saturday, congested with water vapor, was exhibiting clear evidence that it was about to pop. A severe-storm watch covered the entire region.
Earlier, declaring a measure of independence from steaminess that made the atmosphere feel like sweat itself, hundreds of thousands in the region celebrated the day 250 years ago when rebellious colonists gathering in Philadelphia announced to the world they had formed a fragile new nation.
From a ceremonial burial to a patriotic pet parade, for a day at least, anxieties over divisiveness, a national identity crisis, historical controversies, AI, or the state of the economy and the world yielded to an air of celebration robust enough to compete with the heat.
Read more of our coverage from the Fourth in Philly:
- What makes July 4th in Philly? A block party.
- The Roots, Will Smith, and Meek Mill carried Philly’s Independence Day concert into July 5
- Despite intense summer temperatures, World Cup fervor still hit a fever pitch in Philly
— Anthony R. Wood, Brooke Schultz, Brett Sholtis, Henry Savage, Ximena Conde
// Timestamp 07/05/26 3:28am
Photos: July 4th fireworks in Philly
// Timestamp 07/05/26 2:56am
Meek Mill and Will Smith finish off July 4th concert in the city that ‘raised a nation’
Kathy Sledge was followed by the full complement of the State Property crew, which meant not only Beanie Sigel and Philly Freeway, but also Peedi Crakk and Chris and Neff, the duo formerly known as Yung Gunz, who provided the high point of their Roots-backed set with their ageless rap classic “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.”
“I’m loving the energy tonight, I’m glad we came back,” said the next guest, Meek Mill. “I was headed out of town, and I had to double back.”
With the Roots backing him, and Questlove in particular locked in, it was at the once the most tightly disciplined and casually free-wheeling Meek performance I’ve ever seen.
That went for throwback tracks like “ImaCQ Boss” and “House Party” as well as an especially epic “Dreams and Nightmares,” before which the rapper asked the crowd to light up the night, which they did, with phones and flames.
Last but not least was the Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith, who came bounding out shortly after 2 a.m. in a red Phillies cap and jacket to join the band and Jazzy Jeff, his musical partner Jeff Townes with whom he was catapulted to stardom in the late 1980s.
Smith has had a rocky time of it since he set his career back significantly by slapping Chris Rock on the Oscars in 2022, and his relatively joyless 2025 comeback rap album Based On A True Story didn’t help matters much.
But on the Parkway, Smith was in his element and back on form.
“I’m on stage right now on the Fourth of July with the Roots,” he said, beaming, after earlier thanking Parker, whom he called “Mrs. Mayor.”
“We was at the hotel and about to go and she said, ‘Oh no! Come back out.’”
“Every dream I ever dreamed I dreamed in these streets,” Smith said. He then got into Semiquincentennial mode.
“And this city didn’t just raise me. It didn’t just raise us. It raised a nation. Two hundred fifty years ago, it all began here. So Happy Birthday, America!”
And with that, Smith and Townes and the Roots did the song everybody wanted to hear, in this season in 2026: “Summertime.”
And just past 2:30 on Sunday morning, it was finally time for fireworks.
// Timestamp 07/05/26 2:34am
Fireworks begin after Will Smith’s set on the Parkway
Just before 2:30 a.m., Will Smith had no shortage of energy. The same was the case for the several hundred people flanking the stage, heads encircled with cigarette smoke.
But for those on the outskirts, less engaged in the performance and seemingly more eager for a fireworks show, staying awake was a battle. Toddlers curled up in scrollers and on chairs to get a little shuteye before the lights lit up the sky and adults yawned and sat on curbs.
Minutes later, at long last red, white and blue fireworks illuminated the sky as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played over the speakers.
The crowd shuffled to the right side of the stage to get the best view and parents hoisted toddlers in soccer jerseys onto their shoulders.
A riot of color lit up the sky in the fireworks’ big finish around 2:45 a.m. and was greeted with a rousing applause. Within minutes, crews were taking down the stage and concertgoers, drunk and exhausted, were ambling toward the exits after an unorthodox but satisfying July Fourth celebration.
// Timestamp 07/05/26 2:18am
Will Smith reenergizes restless concertgoers calling for fireworks
After Meek Mill wrapped up his set around 2 a.m., the ever-patient audience began to grow anxious for the fireworks display.
“Fireworks!” some shouted from the left of the stage repeatedly.
But sentiment changed when Will Smith stepped onstage in a slightly askew Phillies hat and glossy jersey unbuttoned.
Clusters of audience members began attaching to the existing crescent-shaped collection of die hards encircling the stage. Audience members behind the fountain previously enjoying the music passively began to pull out phones and record the Fresh Prince as he spit bars and subwoofers shook the grass stretch in front of the stage.
// Timestamp 07/05/26 1:37am
The Roots and Kathy Sledge kick off late-night Parkway concert following storm delay
The July Fourth party carried over into July 5.
After a three-hour-plus rain and lightning delay on Saturday night, the One Philly: Unity Concert for America for the nation’s 250th birthday finally resumed on Sunday morning.
Shortly before midnight, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway grounds that had been evacuated earlier in the evening due to severe weather were reopened and thousands of die-hard concert goers made their way to the front of the stage.
There DJ Aktive hyped up a crowd — younger, on average than at the earlier hour — that was a mix of Philadelphians and visiting World Cup soccer fans by spinning records by Beyoncé, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Journey. (Yes, Journey.)
Then at 12:44 a.m., Mayor Cherelle L. Parker — last seen on stage with Gov. Josh Shapiro four hours earlier — came out and led the crowd in a “Ain’t no party like a Philly block party because a Philly block party don’t stop” chant and introduced “the Legendary Roots Crew!”
Starting with a sly intro — a few measures of Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park” — the unparalleled Philly hip-hop and Tonight Show house band then put on a musical master class. Rapper (and singer) Black Thought displayed his trademark staggering breath control as he led the band (who were accompanied by DJ Jazzy Jeff) in a 20-minute nonstop workout that pulled from a century of Black music, including the band’s own rich 30-year catalog.
And then it was time for the all Philly guest list. (Christina Aguilera, from Pittsburgh, the scheduled headliner, did not perform.)
First up was Kathy Sledge, who now performs the hits she scored with her siblings as Sister Sledge under her own name.
She was accompanied by a team of dancers, and on “He’s the Greatest Dancer,” a couple of eager-to-boogie dudes brought up on stage from the crowd.
The showstopper, of course, was “We Are Family,” which with Questlove keeping the beat and sousaphone player Damon Bryson moving along with the dancers, played out as a wee-small-hours-of-the-morning singalong.
// Timestamp 07/05/26 0:50am
‘This is Philadelphia’: Mayor Cherelle Parker introduces The Roots
At around 12:45 p.m., Mayor Cherelle L. Parker took the stage in a patriotic red dress and addressed the crowd.
“Thank you for coming back,” she said, a fierce and determined look in her eye as she prepared to salvage her big summer deliverable.
“This is Philadelphia,” she exclaimed. “Ain’t no party like a Philly block party cause a Philly block party don’t stop.”
She then presented The Roots.
// Timestamp 07/05/26 0:20am
Roots performance, fireworks forthcoming as crowds continue to reenter concert
About 15 minutes past midnight, rows of people as far as the eye could see came walking down the Parkway toward the stage, filling the concert area back in.
DJ Aktive got the crowd reenergized with Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” and Boys II Men’s “Motownphilly” as people made their way over the mud-laden grounds onto the concrete areas to surround the stage.
The Roots and fireworks were forthcoming, a screen announced in front of the stage.
Prior to the hiatus, the crowd was primarily sitting and lounging across the grass, giving the event more of a music festival feeling. The second piece of the event had more of a concert vibe with the majority of people standing and alert, facing the stage.
The heat wave had broken for the night and the weather had cooled to a comfortable 78 degrees.
The DJ was continuing to play Top 40 hits as the crowd grew antsy for The Roots’ performance and the fireworks display they’d ridden out thunder and lightning to see.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 11:58pm
Crowds gather for reentry and wait for July 4th concert to resume
Hundreds of people lined Pennsylvania Avenue sitting on ledges and standing in crowds patiently waiting for the concert to restart about five minutes before The Roots were scheduled to hit the stage after the storm delay.
Once the gates opened, a crush of concertgoers rushed in until the police took notice and pushed the crowd out and toward the formal entryways.
Throngs of people gathered around the entry tents awaiting their chance to reenter.
“Philadelphia!” a booming voice uttered over the speak system as music started back up.
Audience members couldn’t quite be sure whether or not the voice was that of Questlove. Most were still congregated around the entry gates waiting to have their bags examined and get let back in.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 11:29pm
July 4th concert to resume following evacuation over storms
The show goes on.
City officials announced just before 11:30 p.m. that the One Philly: Unity Concert for America will resume — more than two hours after severe weather commandeered the stage.
The Roots — and possibly a special guest, city officials told The Inquirer — are set to perform, followed by a grand fireworks finale. Organizers were encouraging people to head back to the Parkway.
The Roots are slated to take the stage at midnight, the city announced via social media.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 10:56pm
Nearly 49,000 Peco customers affected by power outages
Nearly 49,000 Peco customers were affected by power outages as of 10:45 p.m., according to the energy company’s online tracker.
More than 3,100 were without power in West Caln in Chester County, while 2,400 were experiencing outages in Doylestown in Bucks, the tracker said.
The outages come as Peco workers — from linemen to call center workers — are on strike. Negotiations continued Saturday, but the sides failed to come to an agreement before wrapping at 9 p.m.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 10:35pm
Some SEPTA Regional Rail lines delayed or suspended amid storm
As the rain poured down late Saturday, several SEPTA regional rail lines were delayed or suspended.
The Lansdale/Doylestown line was suspended about 9:30 p.m. due to a downed tree and wires, according to the transportation agency’s social media. The Doylestown line has since been restored, according to SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.
The Paoli/Thorndale line between Malvern and Thorndale “is out,” Busch said, and there are residual delays on both lines.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 9:46pm
Parkway concert ‘paused,’ next steps yet to be announced
The One Philly: Unity Concert for America on the Benjamin Franklin Parway has been “paused” due to severe weather, and next steps will be communicated as soon as possible, city officials said in a statement.
“Our foremost concern is for the safety of our guests, the crews, the artists, and all staff supporting this event. We will decide to resume when we are confident that it is safe to do so,” Managing Director Adam K. Thiel said. “We are continuing to closely monitor weather conditions and developments and are in coordination with all departments and partners through our Emergency Operations Center.”
Concert attendees were advised to leave the area of the concert and move to protected areas such as Suburban Station at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has been advised of the decision to pause the concert, and has been communicating with event producers and emergency leadership throughout the evening, the city said.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 9:03pm
Parkway concert evacuation announcement catches attendees off guard: ‘I’m kinda bummed out’
The sudden evacuation announcement caught Parkway concert goers off guard as winds and gusts full of detritus suddenly picked up.
Dozens of people took refuge at a nearby gas station.
“I’ve got so much dirt in my eye,” said a man on the phone.
Alaina Hawkins, 24, followed orders to evacuate clad in a Wawa bucket hat and not at all regretful of the trek from Northern Virginia.
She and two friends arrived around 3:30 p.m. and they felt they got plenty from their time at the Parkway.
“I’m kinda bummed out, at the same time I had fun,” she said. “I was up front dancing with other people.”
Still, she lamented not being able to see Christina Aguilera.
Though the evacuation message didn’t say whether the event could resume once storms passed, for many, the night came to an end.
People walked away from crowds and opened rideshare apps, while others waited for the bus.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 8:45pm
Parkway concert attendees told to leave and seek shelter as storms move toward Philly
Due to approaching severe weather, an announcement at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway has been made telling attendees to head to the nearest exit and head to their vehicles or other shelter.
Crowds headed towards the exits as the announcement instructing them to leave the festival area ran on repeat.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 8:40pm
Severe thunderstorm warning for Philly until 9:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a warning for Philly and its neighboring Pennsylvania counties for a strong thunderstorm with a history of producing damaging winds and “frequent” cloud-to-ground lightning.
The warning is in effect until 9:30 p.m. with winds to 60 mph possible
The federal Storm Prediction Center has advised that storms may be accompanied by damaging “downburst” wind gusts.
The severe storm watch remains in effect until 11:30 p.m.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 7:57pm
Gov. Josh Shapiro and Mayor Cherelle Parker appear at Parkway concert: ‘Philadelphia, let ‘em hear you’
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker took the stage not long after country singer Jordan Davis, greeting a rather muted crowd.
“The promise of America has always been carried forward by all of us, by people who believe in one another, and by the possibilities of tomorrow,” said Shapiro in brief remarks.
“So tonight we honor not only the past but the ideals that continue to unite us and drive us forward and we remain resolved that those ideals will endure because we choose to uphold them.”
Parker tried to energize the crowd, encouraging them to get loud.
“From the birthplace of freedom, let the whole nation feel the power of unity in our city tonight,” she said. “Philadelphia, let ‘em hear you.”
Comedian and host Wanda Sykes, followed and also tried to hype the crowd to slightly better results, introducing Jill Scott.
As if on cue, the Parkway, no longer in the sun’s path, cooled and hundreds more made their way to the main stage area.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 7:53pm
Jordan Davis — the country singer, not the Eagles player — takes the stage on the Parkway
Following Seal’s set, the crowd was treated to a pre-recorded video skit starring host Wanda Sykes and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. The gag was that Sykes interpreted her all-access pass to mean she could take a seat behind the mayor’s desk at City Hall.
Podcaster Wallo 267 and Gillie Da Kid then came on to hype up the crowd that was mostly lounging in shaded spots on the Parkway lawn and avoiding the still-punishing early evening sun.
They quizzed the crowd on its thoughts on the Jaylen Brown trade and assured Sixers fans that LeBron James is coming to Philly next. (We’ll see about that.)
Then the duo introduced the next act: Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis!
No, not really. The next act was a performer by that name, but it was Jordan Davis, the Louisiana-born country singer, not the football player.
Davis — who was a late add to the One Philly concert lineup — has scored a number of country hits in recent years. His music leans slightly toward rock and roll, taking a page out of arena-sized star Eric Church’s playbook.
His slick, 40-minute set was fast-paced, with hits like “Tucson Too Late,” and “Turn This Truck Around” coming in rapid succession as if Davis was worried that if he slowed down, Philly hip-hop and R&B fans would start to wonder what this country guy was doing singing in their city on its big July Fourth celebration.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 7:11pm
Some FIFA fans sweat it out in colonial wigs in South Philly: ‘Oh, is this American culture?’
Ever wondered how hot it must have been for the Founding Fathers to walk around with those wigs in summer?
Some soccer fans at Philadelphia Stadium signed themselves up to a sweaty history lesson.
Nicholas Ruiz, 27, came from Southern California with his friends to Philadelphia for his bachelor party. The trip combines his two passions: history and soccer.
So for the Round of 16 World Cup game between Paraguay and France, Ruiz and his crew wore referee-style jerseys in different colors and colonial wigs.
“Perfect bachelor party,” he says.
The wigs were a last-minute decision, said Jason Broesamle. They wanted to a “Founding Father’s thing” for America’s 250th birthday.
And people are noticing.
“We’ve been stars here all game, a bit of celebrities,” the 27-year-old said. “Other people from other countries are like, ‘Oh, is this American culture?’”
Despite sweating under the wigs, they don’t regret the decision, and neither does Koosie Boggs — for now.
The 41-year-old from Maryland came to Philadelphia with her boyfriend for the July Fourth weekend. At first they planned on coming in “full George Washington, Ben Franklin” outfits, but decided it was too much once the heat got close to 100 degrees.
But the wig made it into the game, and a lot of people asked for photos, she said.
The couple plans on going to the concert on the parkway after the game, the wigs might be left behind.
“It’s just too hot,” Boggs said. “It’s going to end up in the trash at some point.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 6:47pm
British pop-rock vocalist Seal opens Parkway concert: ‘I know it’s hot, but it’s not hot enough!’
The One Philly: Unity Concert for America celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday got going with an international superstar opening act.
British pop-rock vocalist Seal went on at 5:45 p.m., dressed in a mustard yellow blazer, just as the sun dipped low enough to provide a sliver of shade to provide some relief for the red, white, and blue crowd gathering in front of the stage.
Seemingly unbothered by the heat, the London-born singer of Nigerian and Brazilian descent remarked: “I know it’s hot, but it’s not hot enough! It’s only 105. I need it to be 110!”
He quickly demonstrated that he knows how to play to a Philadelphia crowd. His second song began with the instantly recognizable doo, doo, doo-doo doo-doo’s of the Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like An Eagle.”
In fine, smoky voice, he finished his version of that 1976 hit off and quipped: “I know you want it to be “Fly, Eagles, Fly,” but you not going to get it. Not in this lifetime.”
For Seal’s mellow, sultry summer afternoon set, he was backed by a band that included West Philly native Gail Ann Dorsey, who previously toured frequently with David Bowie. He introduced a cover of British band Talk Talk’s “Life’s What You Make It” as “a song by an artist who influenced me when I was first starting out” before finishing up leading a singalong on his biggest song, his 1994 hit ”Kiss From A Rose.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 6:35pm
‘A lot more shade than I thought’: Concert attendees stay cool on the Parkway
Staying cool on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway has required a bit of planning and some luck.
Princess Akowe, 39, made the trip from Camden excited to see Will Smith and Christina Aguilera.
With a smooth check-in process, Akowe was able to make it to the front of the stage but stepped away around 6 p.m. to grab some food and eat in the shade with a plan to move up towards the stage again later.
“I can’t complain, it’s been really good,” said Akowe liking her chances of snagging a front spot as people seemed to be avoiding the sun.
Katrina Baker, 33, made the trip from Prince George’s County, Md., with her family of four, not wanting to pass up a free concert.
Equipped with noise-canceling headphones for her baby and a handheld battery-operated fan, Baker was excited for her spot on the grassy, shaded area with a clear view of a giant video screen.
“We’re excited, there’s a lot more shade than I thought,” Baker said.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 5:56pm
Fans paid an average of $925 per ticket to get into today’s World Cup finale in Philly
How expensive was a ticket for the final World Cup game that will be played in Philly? That depends.
Fans in attendance for Saturday’s match between France and Paraguay paid a pretty penny to be in attendance. But according to Front Office Sports, what was paid to be in the house at Philadelphia Stadium paled in comparison to other matches in the round of 16.
The get-in price for the match on secondary markets averaged $925, ranking as the second-lowest ticket offering of the eight matches to be played between Saturday and Monday. Sunday’s match between Mexico and England in Mexico City is currently listed as the highest with a $3,359 get-in price. The cheapest was Morocco’s win over Canada in Houston, with an average $694 get-in tag.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 5:50pm
City officials will monitor weather conditions throughout Parkway concert amid severe thunderstorm watch
City officials are monitoring weather conditions and collaborating with the National Weather Service throughout the evening’s One Philly: Unity Concert for America, according to a spokesperson for the mayor’s office.
Organizers have stressed that the concert, which was scheduled to get underway at 5 p.m., will be a rain-or-shine event. The entire Philadelphia region is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m.
Attendees may receive mobile weather and public safety alerts, and people can get connected by texting AMERICA to 888-777 or by visiting phila.gov for the latest information.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 5:39pm
Some heat-related health issues reported as attendees wait for Parkway concert to begin
At around 5:30 p.m. the concert that had been slated to begin at 5 had yet to officially begin. Performers continued to rehearse onstage with lights and sound as attendees filled in along the grassy swaths on either side of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Even with the assortment of misters and free water refill stations, the heat casualties have begun to mount on the parkway, with at least three people being transported into one of the medical tents located throughout the concert’s footprint.
A precise update of the number of people seeking medical attention so far was not immediately available at the City of Philadelphia Mobile Command Post. Questions were directed to the city’s press office.
Monitors and speakers set up around the area allowed visitors to groove to the music. Many laid on blankets and fanned their faces while other perused food trucks. Hundreds of people crowded onto into the area, but many spots were sparse. The parkway appeared to have a long way to go to reach the estimated 300,000 attendees that ESM Productions President Scott Mirkin had estimated would stop by the ESM-produced event at a news conference on Wednesday.
Clothes were minimal in some groups with a set of toddlers clad only in diapers, some men forgoing shirts and some women rolling up T-shirts into makeshift crop tops. Headwear, including cowboy hats, baseball caps, and fisherman’s hats were a common sight.
Most spectators enjoyed the music in passing as they chatted with friends and ate from small red-and-white food baskets.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 5:25pm
U.S.-focused preshow kicks off FIFA World Cup elimination game in South Philly
The decibels at Philadelphia Stadium eclipsed the blistering temperature during the pregame show of the FIFA World Cup elimination game between Paraguay and France.
Thousands of fans from all over the world came together to, aptly for July Fourth, form a sea of red, white, and blue jerseys.
The colors in the stands were for the flags of the teams on the pitch, but the pre-game show was all about America. The green pitch was covered with a white tarp with blue shooting stars with red tracks.
Tony Award-winning singer Idina Menzel, known as the voice of Elsa in the beloved Disney franchise Frozen, provided an explosive performance of the national anthem — a patriotic moment that wouldn’t have been complete in the birthplace of the United States without a flyover.
And the Philadelphia Boy Choir and Chorale followed with a beautiful rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
And as if it wasn’t already hot enough, Philly’s own Grammy Award-winning band, The Roots, reminded the fans that they were here, on the nation’s 250th birthday.
Move aside Kylian Mbappe, Philadelphia is already the player of the game.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 5:22pm
Near 21st and McKean, residents build memories with a long-running block party tradition
Near 21st and McKean Streets in South Philly, a few pieces of string were all that was needed to remind residents of the annual Fourth of July block party.
As Monica Elder served up a sandwich and condiments to another resident, she said the block party was a tradition that goes back as far as she can remember — and she’s been here 38 years.
Now 55, Elder has become one the leaders on the block who watch over children and preside over the festivities.
“Cooking, eating, dancing — everybody participates. Whether we know you or not, everyone is welcome,” Elder said.
By 5 p.m., the good times were getting a bit of a late start due to the blistering temps, exceeded only by the heat from a charcoal grill attended to by Elder’s son, Jeremiah Worthem.
Worthem said the block parties build community and serve as a chance for neighbors — many have been here for decades — to meet up.
“It’s a good time,” Worthem said. “Just building these memories.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 5:20pm
Watch: Philly holds a Ben Franklin look-alike contest on the eve of Independence Day
// Timestamp 07/04/26 5:19pm
Point Breeze block’s first party comes on the 250th: ‘Days like today have all of us coming together’
In Point Breeze, Robin Miller and her neighbors were having a block party together for the first time as a group. Miller and another neighbor started to hang outside together until eventually the duo realized they should make an official gathering and bring everyone on the block together.
What better day to throw the block’s first party than the 250th anniversary of the United States, Miller said.
A bounce castle took over the middle of the block, where a hose was attached to the opening of the slide, and one after another, kids flew down the vinyl slide through a curtain of water into a small pool at the bottom. Another inflatable pool sat nearby where a group of young children and teens lay with just their faces sticking out of the water, cooling off.
Joy Fields-Butler and Christine Mardre, neighbors and friends, sat underneath one of the canopies situated along the street. For them, this block party was about bringing together all walks of life on the block, from fostering formative memories for the children to bringing a diverse array of adults to kick back, share a beer, and even join in on the water-gun fights with the little ones, Mardre said.
“It’s diverse on this block, and days like today have all of us coming together,” Mardre said. “Today there is no arguing, there is no drama, it’s just a party.”
Miller was enjoying the experience of neighbors coming together to do something special, feeling very Philadelphian, she said, as the city is known for its rich neighborhood culture.
“Our neighborhood pitched in, and a lot of us pooled together to get the inflatable pool or the bounce castle,” Miller said. “The food spread is basically for the entire neighborhood, and people just keep coming out and replenishing anything that’s run out.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 5:01pm
The price of custard on the Parkway is ‘way too high’
The 250th concert is free but some attendees are feeling a bit of sticker shock when it comes to the cost of food.
From $20 cheesesteaks to $7 soft pretzels, snack breaks could add up by the time the fireworks start around midnight.
“I don’t like it, it’s way too high,” said Briana Farrington, 24, spooning her small cup of custard that ran her $10.
“I feel like on a day like today it should be a little bit cheaper,” said the Maryland visitor.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 4:37pm
Visitors begin trickling in for Parkway concert
With gates open for the One Philly: Unity Concert for America, visitors are slowly trickling in and already finding ways to cool down.
Saxxton Brazier, 36, came from Southwest Philly and said she was already drenched through her shorts when she got through security.
“I’m sweating and it looks like I peed myself but I didn’t!” she said with a laugh, after running through one of the several masters placed throughout the parkway to keep attendees cool.
Brazier said there was a stark temperature drop in the shady parts of the Parkway, so her plan was to take breaks in those areas when possible.
“Dip yourself, walk around, you’ll be fine,” she said.
The potable water stations set up by the Philadelphia Water Department were also ready to go with people already beelining to get cool water refills.
Others staked their claim on the cool patches of grass in the shade.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 4:26pm
FIFA ‘couldn’t miss’ the opportunity to have a Fourth of July game in Philly
Mattias Grafström was out for a run early Saturday and could already feel the celebrating around town, he said.
FIFA’s secretary general, the soccer governing body’s No. 2 in charge, made his first visit to Philadelphia Saturday during this World Cup. The soccer world will train its eyes on Philadelphia Saturday afternoon, when France, one of the tournament’s favorites, plays Paraguay in the round of 16.
The game, which starts at 5 p.m., is the finale of a daylong soccer celebration in the city. Besides the supporters of both teams making the city home for the weekend, FOX’s studio broadcast also set up shop outside Independence Hall.
“You feel the history of this country, a proud country,” Grafström said. “Having this game as part of the celebration is something unique and we couldn’t miss that opportunity once we were working on the schedule. It’s no surprise that there’s an important game on the Fourth of July in Philadelphia.”
Saturday marks the sixth and final World Cup game in Philadelphia. It’s France’s second trip of the tournament to Lincoln Financial Field, which has been renamed Philadelphia Stadium for the tournament.
“During the bidding period, Philadelphia was one of the cities where you could feel they really wanted the World Cup to come here, support from the government, the state, and the city,” Grafström said.
“Watching the games on TV, you feel the energy. It’s what I always thought about Philly, a working-class city with passion. I look forward to seeing it full tonight.”
France is a heavy favorite, but Paraguay, which knocked off Germany in the round of 32, could prove to be a pesky test on France’a journey to get back to the final.
The game will kick off under extreme heat. The feels-like temperature on the field likely will surpass 100 degrees. There is a chance of thunderstorms throughout the evening.
“It’s quite hot outside, so let’s see how the weather impacts the game and the teams, but I’m sure it will be as all the other games that we’ve had, a fantastic match today,” Grafström said.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 3:50pm
They take block parties seriously in Ludlow
Johanna Rodriguez and Michael Cunningham mixed fresh lemonade as they watched their daughter and son splash around in the above-ground swimming pool in the middle of their Jefferson Street block in the Ludlow section of Philadelphia.
The Fourth of July brings the block’s “OGs” into full force, applying for permits, coordinating who will be grill master, and erecting party tables to turn Jefferson Street into a Puerto Rican Fourth of July extravaganza, Cunningham said, gesturing to his mother-in-law, Carmen “Terry” Torres, the block captain and resident of more than 50 years.
Rodriguez said the block takes Fourth of July seriously because it’s one of the only times of the year when everyone comes outside to enjoy the festivities and see each other in person. It also provides the classic July Fourth fun outside during a time when many kids are used to hanging out inside.
“Obviously, having a block party with all the neighbors coming together is always the best. Just hanging out and talking about the old days. It brings back the classic vibes,” Rodriguez said. “On top of that, it’s about making sure our kids get to experience what we got when we were their age.”
Torres, alongside her neighbor of more than 30 years, Elizabeth Reyes, transformed Jefferson Street into a barbacoa party, taking the cuisine pioneered by the Taino people and fusing it with jerk and other Caribbean flavors.
Grill master Danny Torres, who runs the barbeque business “The Latin Grill,” only lives a few houses down from Torres and Reyes, and along with his wife, Lisa Desamoir, will be supplying the prized smoked meats to the entire neighborhood. Desamoir, a retired firefighter who had the local Engine 29 truck stop by to treat the kids earlier in the day, is taking inventory of the more than 50 chicken wings, whole slabs of pork shoulder (with a crunchy skin for added texture), and dozens of chicken kebabs. These will go nicely alongside the macaroni salad, corn on the cob, Spanish rice, and more sides that neighbors prepared, Desamoir said.
“Danny is making a whole Caribbean vibe cause he’s got the jerk seasoning and Puerto Rican flavors,” Desamoir said.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 3:44pm
Severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 11 p.m.
The federal Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe-thunderstorm watch in effect until 11 p.m. for the entire Philadelphia region.
The criterion for a “severe” storm is wind gusts of 58 mph or higher, but “downburst” winds accompanying the storms could reach 75 mph, said Mike Lee, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly.
The watch went into effect at 3:30 p.m., and Lee said the likeliest time for storms would be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
However, meteorologists advise that timings, intensities, and locations of storms are impossible to forecast.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 4:01pm
Advocates rally at President’s House Site
As hundreds of people lined up outside the Liberty Bell, about 200 folks gathered in the yard next door at the President’s House Site to honor the nine people enslaved by George and Martha Washington in the 1790s.
But this year, attendees said the annual independence gathering, with its focus on freedom, truth, and remembrance, felt different.
On Friday, an appeals court gave the final legal go-ahead for President Donald Trump’s administration to install the panels it wants to replace the original slavery exhibit.
“Over the last six months, since the president issue an executive order, they have tried to whitewash and bend history in a way that doesn’t tell the whole story of the country,” said Dawn Chavous, director of public relations for Avenging the Ancestors Coalition. “We are here because it’s important to not only remember, but protect and defend the history of America, which includes Black and African American history.”
That same sentiment brought Edwina Griggs, 62, from her Northern Liberties home to the President’s House in 98-degree weather.
She said she used to think of the Fourth of July as a time of jubilee, but now she can’t help but feel angry that Black people must continue to fight for visibility.
“Why do we have to go through so much just to present the true?” Griggs said. “We help build this country.”
As she approaches her senior years, Griggs is concerned for the history both Black and white children will inherit and the message that changing the exhibition sends.
“What is Trump scared of? If that is who George Washington was, that’s who he was; we can’t sugarcoat it,” Griggs said. “Replacing the panels doesn’t change that slavery existed and that Black folks were treated as not human.”
As speakers and City Council members took the stage, Chavous stressed that the exhibition shouldn’t be seen as a Black or white issue, but rather as an important need, to protect history the way it happened.
That sentiment made Eric Bright take a five-hour train from Amherst, Mass., to be at the celebration.
Bright is not Black, but he doesn’t think he needs to be to stand up against what he sees as Trump’s censorship of history.
“What they do to some of us, they do to all of us,”Bright said. “Today is this exhibition, but this is happening all over the country already and it won’t take long until it affects someone you love.”
Despite the latest ruling, Chavous said the organization wouldn’t stop advocating for the exhibit.
She encouraged the crowd to email their local and state officials and send notifications to the president regarding the importance of the exhibit.
“We are not going anywhere; we are going to continue to advocate because when you censor American history, you don’t know the full history of our country and that’s a disservice to everyone,” Chavous said.
A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unanimously ruled last month that Philadelphia doesn’t have rights over the exhibits presented at the site.
Friday’s procedural order followed the Justice Department’s Thursday request to allow the National Park Service to “begin work immediately and install its new exhibits.”
The city immediately appealed the order, saying it didn’t have time to respond to the Justice Department’s request and there was no need to rush.
Third Circuit Judge Thomas M. Hardiman, a George W. Bush appointee, denied the city’s request that the court recall the order. He did give Philadelphia a chance to attempt to change his mind by filing a brief before Tuesday afternoon.
— Michelle Myers, Abraham Gutman
// Timestamp 07/04/26 3:03pm
A Liberty Bell-shaped frozen treat
The line at Franklin Fountain continued along the side of the building, with people dotted on seats and stoops, licking ice cream cones or sipping milkshakes. It was worth it, one patron confirmed to another joining the line.
Several Mr. Softees also staked a claim by the Liberty Bell Center and reaped the benefits.
The ice cream makers at Franklin Fountain, along with Shane Confectionary, rolled out a special Liberty Bell Ice Cream Bar for America’s 250. The bars were made in small, limited batches, from replica molds made with the help of Temple University’s architecture school.
They’re made of chocolate ice cream, with a chocolate coating, and a cherry filling. Some are still left in the freezer, but supplies are running low, according to staff.
Longtime Philadelphians Deb Clarke and Cheryl Bruttomesso gave interested patrons advice for handling the line (send an emissary, while others sit in the shade, they say).
Franklin Fountain is Clarke’s favorite spot, especially on this side of the city.
“I always stop here,” Clarke said. As for their orders: Bruttomesso opted for a root beer float while Clarke ordered a “Ladies First” — a raspberry soda and ice cream concoction.
The two had been in the city for America 250 on both Friday and Saturday, basking in the festivities. People have been pleasant, despite the heat, they said.
“I think the city has done a really good job getting ready for the 250,” Bruttomesso said. “And the transportation is easy, I felt signage is better, everything just looks really awesome. … I think the visitors find it easy to get around.”
Across Philly, other local businesses also appear to be getting in on the America 250 fun with themed goodies. Small Oven bakery and Isgro, both in South Philly, and Famous 4th Street at the Reading Terminal Market were spotted selling 250, 1776, and Liberty Bell-themed confections.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 2:41pm
Happy, even in the heat
Though the heat was wearing on some, with maps becoming impromptu fans, there were plenty of smiles and excitement, even as people waited in a long line for the Liberty Bell.
Visitors clutched water bottles, umbrellas, fans, and plenty of ice cream. They waved to broadcast news cameras with glee.
People posed for selfies with Independence Hall as their backdrop, or stopped a wandering Liberty Bell that had seemingly escaped her enclosure at the Liberty Bell Center to grab a picture. A roving band of historical figures wrapped their arms around people for group shots — “Huzzah,” they said, instead of “Cheese.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 2:21pm
Philly is hotter than Florida right now, much to tourists’ dismay
Adorned in red, white, and blue, people gathered in the shade at the Independence Beer Garden across from Independence Mall, escaping some of the record heat to sip beer with the World Cup displayed on a big screen.
Sandra Rahn, from Jacksonville, Fla., was taking a break from the sun to watch the game. Her pup, Matilda, was cooling off alongside her, following the Patriotic Pet Show at the Betsy Ross House.
Rahn, her husband, and Matilda arrived Wednesday to celebrate the country’s 250th, attending as many outdoor events as they could so Matilda could be part of the festivities.
“Everybody’s excited and outside; it’s been great,” Rahn said.
They’ll head home to Florida Monday, where they hope to “cool off.”
“It’s not this hot at home,” she said.
True story. The average temperature in Florida is hovering around the high 80s statewide (with some outliers, of course). But Philly is still hanging out with a high of 100 degrees. In Jacksonville specifically, the heat index is 98, while Philly’s is a scorching 103.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 1:55pm
Lackawanna County man honors vets by running for 3 days, from Scranton to Philly
A Lackawanna County man seeking to honor military veterans is set to complete a three-day run from Scranton to Philly Saturday evening.
“I’m pushing for 5 p.m., unless I get heatstroke,” Mike Kravitz said during a Saturday morning phone interview, in between breaths and while shouting “Happy Fourth” to passersby.
Kravitz said the heat has forced him to take more breaks, but that hasn’t kept him from attempting to run the 250-odd kilometers, roughly 157 miles, to Independence Hall. He said he felt called by God to encourage people to live up to their potential.
“There’s so much that divides us these days. I’m just trying to bring people together,” Kravitz said.
Though it’s not his first ultra-distance run — he said he once ran across Myrtle Beach — and he ran the 2024 Steamtown Marathon, Kravitz said this time he’s partnered with Team Red, White & Blue, a veterans’ organization focused on health and wellness. He hopes to raise $250,000 for the group.
Kravitz is supported by family members who provide him with two liters of water per five miles, and who cheer him on as he carries a roughly three-pound flag, zip-tied to a hiker’s trekking pole. Their support has helped him lose 60 pounds and find a renewed purpose in helping raise money for veterans.
“I’m calling on people to live up to their full potential. Our veterans didn’t die for us to scroll on our phones all day long. Do something today to improve your life, improve your family’s life, your community’s life,” Kravitz said.
In particular, Kravitz said, he’s grateful for his uncle, Kevin Metschulat, a former U.S. Army Ranger who served two tours in Iraq. Reached by phone, Metschulat said his nephew is someone who fully commits to whatever he does.
“I love it. I love it. He’s a true patriotic person,” Metschulat said.
Kravitz can be followed in real time using an online tracker. As of around 2 p.m., he was near Bala Cynwyd.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 1:39pm
Colman Domingo among Celebration of Freedom honorees: ‘I am so proud of where I come from’
Seven people with profound ties to Philadelphia were honored Saturday in the city’s Celebration of Freedom.
The awards, created as part of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s effort for the Semiquincentennial, recognized those whose legacy “strengthens the city of Philadelphia,” said NBC10’s Lena Tillett, who emceed the event.
The recognized included:
- David L. Cohen, Philadelphia Freedom Award for Civic Devotion
- Bishop Dr. Millicent Hunter, Philadelphia Freedom Award for Faith, Courage, and Service
- Daniel J. Hilferty, Philadelphia Freedom Award for City Champion
- Joseph Neubauer and Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer, of the Neubauer Family Foundation, Philadelphia Freedom Award for Transformative Philanthropy
- Nasir “Gillie Da King” Fard and Wallace “Wallo267” Peeples, Philadelphia Freedom Award for Restorative Justice and Resilience
- Colman Domingo, Philadelphia Freedom and One Philly Award for The American Voice
Those being recognized credited the city with shaping them.
“It’s nearly impossible for me to express what Philadelphia means to me,” said David Cohen, a Philadelphia stalwart. “I have traveled across this entire continent, and I can tell you there is no city like Philadelphia.”
Through their organization, Joseph Neubauer and Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer have donated millions to higher education, the arts, and to Jewish organizations. Recently, the foundation gave $1.2 million to Temple University to support students from families of first responders and to help bolster teacher training to improve math education in the Philadelphia School District.
“Like those who have preceded me, I knew it was my duty to pay it forward,” Neubauer said.
West Philadelphia native — who graduated with Will Smith from Overbrook High School — Colman Domingo credits his acting career to a Temple University professor, Chris Wolfe, who pulled him aside and asked if he had considered pursuing the arts.
“I am so proud of where I come from,” he said. “I use Philly in every character, every story, every play that I write, music.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 1:25pm
Strong storms are looking likelier Saturday evening
Potent storms that may come with “downburst” wind gusts up to 75 mph are possible in the Philly region Saturday evening, forecasters are warning.
The likeliest time would be in the 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. period; however, the timing and location of any storms and their durations are uncertain, said Mike Lee, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly. Blame the limits of science.
What is certain is that with so much daytime heating, the atmosphere is full of energy and moisture.
In its late morning update, the federal Storm Prediction Center has placed Philadelphia in the “enhanced risk” zone for severe thunderstorms, defined as those with wind gusts to 60 mph. The storm center said that “downbursts” that can generate powerful and damaging straight-line winds may accompany the storms.
Last night, thunderstorms caused significant damage in areas north of Philadelphia and adjacent South Jersey. A lightning strike set off an eight-alarm fire in Medford, the weather service reported.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 12:47pm
Senior yellow lab, Bruno, wins Patriotic Pet Show
Bruno, an 18-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, sporting big blacked-out goggles and using a baby-dog stroller to move around, immediately stole the show at the Patriotic Pet Show at the Betsy Ross House on Saturday. With his long fluffy blond hair waving in the breeze, Bruno’s confident and smug smile told the crowd everything they needed to know: This veteran was here to bring home gold.
The tiny brick-lined courtyard of the Betsy Ross House was packed shoulder to shoulder as hundreds of residents and tourists witnessed in awe the most patriotic and gorgeous pets Philadelphia has to offer on the Fourth of July. Chihuahuas draped in Eagles green, twin pups dressed as a Geno’s cheesesteak and Betsy Ross, and no one could forget the two adorable snakes, Clyde the ball python and Hoagie the corn snake, whose owners were excited to break the stigma around the friendly no-legged critters.
These contestants play for keeps, as winning the competition doesn’t just provide bragging rights, but also tickets to a Phillies game, the Chinese Lantern festival, and gift cards.
Bruno, the crowd favorite who’s older than a good portion of Saturday’s audience, and his human, Tim Dunlea, are already known around Old City as Dunlea runs an account (@brunoabouttown) on Instagram, where the large Labrador can be seen strolling through Washington Square Park and Pride festivals. After the big win, Dunlea is cooking a delicious steak for Bruno.
“We live around the corner, and folks in the neighborhood know of Bruno,” Dunlea said. “We’ve attended this show so many times, but we never entered him. Now that Bruno’s getting older, we said, ‘We don’t know if he’ll be here next year. Let’s put him in.’”
The moment Bruno strutted the catwalk, the rest was history.
Jacquiline City of South Philadelphia and her 10-year-old twins, Lilo and Stitch, are last year’s winners who tried to bring home Best in Show, among other awards, but didn’t make it to the winner’s podium this year.
“We had to try and defend our title,” City said. “Last year we got to go to a Phillies game and we had all these restaurant gift certificates. We celebrated all year long after they won. We went to Little Suzy’s and then got pup cups from Franklin Fountain.”
Emma Thomas of Northeast Philadelphia brought her rambunctious Chihuahua mix to Old City to show that big personalities can come in small packages. As soon as Tiger Pepe Thomas walked onto the runway, he hopped on a ledge double his size and struck poses for the cheering crowd. With some loving encouragement from his human, Tiger jumped off the ledge and gave a dog in the crowd a running bark to let them know who’s in charge. Tiger didn’t take home any trophies but garnered enough laughs to garner an honorable mention in this article.
While the Patriotic Pet Show was dominated by canines, Liz Ruelle brought two friendly snakes with her to strut or slither their way down the runway. Clyde, the green ball python, easily took home the Best Non-Canine award with his shimmering scales that almost looked golden when reflecting the sunlight. His buddy Hoagie, who moonlights as a class pet, didn’t win any prizes, but his size and colorful skin attracted many children after the show to provide consolation pets. Of course, each time someone approached Hoagie or Clyde, they asked Ruelle “if they bite,” a question that wasn’t asked of any of the dogs, Ruelle joked.
As the winners lined up to collect their prizes, the hundreds of attendees cheered amid a backdrop of Bridgerton’s orchestral covers of pop songs. While only a few lucky canines and one serpent took home trophies, every pet on display showed that even in extreme heat, Philadelphians are prepared to compete.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 11:51am
Period costumes in this weather? ‘Everyone’s hot. I’m just a little warmer than most.’
Hidden in plain sight among those braving the serpentine line to visit Independence Hall were numerous time travelers from the Revolutionary era.
Aaron Patrick traveled — like many Revolutionary War soldiers once had done — from Carlisle, Cumberland County, and donned a wool waistcoat and a black tricorn hat as he made his way through the line at Independence Square. Temperature check: About 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Everyone’s hot. I’m just a little warmer than most,” said Patrick.
Patrick’s family met up with family friend Abby Harting, a historical clothing expert from Middletown, Del., who said they are dressed in “what would have been typical of 19th-century Philadelphians to wear.”
These clothes start with a linen shift for women or a linen shirt for men, Harting said. “It’s naturally cool, wicks sweat away — it’s perfect for a muggy, hot day, because the fabric does the same thing it did 250 years ago,” Harting said.
On top of the linen, the boys and men in the group wore a light wool waistcoat, while the girls and women wore a “stay,” which serves the same purpose as a bra, and another layer. Harting noted the women’s layers were designed to last for years and adapt to a person’s changing body.
She said their decision to dress up is a bit of “experiential archaeology,” and a great way to imagine what those in 1776 were experiencing — both mentally, and temperature-wise — as they adopted the Declaration of Independence.
For Washington, D.C.-area couple Katelyn and Zachary Damm, it all started with the tricorn hat given to Zachary by his father-in-law. From there, they turned to Amazon to order their clothes.
The history buffs prepared for their trip by reading about the era and reading the Declaration of Independence, Zachary Damm said.
“All of our freedoms date back to this day,” Katelyn Damm said. “That makes it special.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 11:34am
Peco workers picket for better benefits, wages, and pensions
This Fourth of July, a dozen striking Peco workers baked in the sun outside the utility’s Market Street building. The group protested for better working conditions after the workers’ union and the electric company failed to reach an agreement Friday.
“There is a real power imbalance,” said Melissa McCleery, a spokesperson for IBEW Local 614. “These workers work 24/7, 365 days; their work is highly skilled and dangerous most of the time. We need Peco to value them as much as the public does.”
According to McCleery, 16,000 IBEW Local 614 members will remain on strike until Peco can provide all members pensions, better benefits, and industry-standard wages.
Holding blue and red “PECO workers strike” signs, the picketers walked back and forth down Market Street, under the watchful eyes of at least eight security personnel wearing high-visibility vests guarding the building.
“It’s crazy that they are here,” one union member told another as they passed the guards. “Such a shame,” the other person replied.
Trying not to pay attention to the security team, Joseph Vassallo, 43, expressed his frustration that things had to come to this. The union business agent has worked for almost two decades as a Peco power line worker.
“I have been working 16-hour shifts almost every day before this,” Vassallo said. “The amount of time, effort, wear and tear on your body is a lot, and this is what they think our value is?”
Peco could not be reached for comment.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 11:31am
Independence Hall closed to anyone not in line: ‘I’d recommend coming back literally any other day’
By 11 a.m., the window to visit Independence Hall is effectively closed for anyone who hasn’t gotten in line, according to a park ranger.
It’s an estimated seven-hour total wait, the ranger said, noting that First Bank, Second Bank, and the Franklin Court Printing Office — which contains an 18th-century printing press — are all excellent alternatives for people who want to take in some history.
“If you’re not in line now, I would say Independence Hall is an unattainable goal, and I’d recommend coming back literally any other day,” the park ranger said.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 11:17am
Mayor Parker: Philly will honor three Black women with bronze statues, including West Philadelphian Blanche Nixon
Philly is getting three new bronze statues honoring Black women, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced at the National Constitution Center.
As the United States celebrates its 250th milestone, the job is not to “choose which parts of the American story to tell, it is to tell all of it,” Parker said.
As she stood before a crowded National Constitution Center, preparing to honor seven people with profound ties to Philadelphia, she highlighted that alongside the country’s triumphs, there were also costs: “the Middle Passage, the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples, the injustice of Jim Crow, and the long years of racial and economic discrimination, all the ways this country actually struggled to live up to the creed it declared.”
It was with that in mind that before she looked to the future, she returned to the past, to three women who will be immortalized in bronze as statues in the city.
The statues will honor abolitionist Harriet Tubman; the first Black American to earn a doctorate in economics and lawyer Sadie T. M. Alexander; and West Philadelphian Blanche Nixon, who Parker said spent decades standing up for children and community safety.
Alexander and Tubman’s statues were announced in 2024 and are expected to be completed this fall.
According to the city, Passing the Legacy of Love and Community Service by Frederick Hightower is coming to the Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library in West Philadelphia. The bronze statue will honor the life and legacy of Nixon, whom the library is named after.
Nixon, a lifelong Philadelphia resident, was known for her community and youth advocacy work.
“Three women — one history celebrates, one history forgot, and then one history never knew — and every one of them, in their own right, widened the American promise until the words on the page meant what they always should have meant — ‘All of us,’” Parker said.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 10:56am
The Philadelphia Pops and Idina Menzel felt like a balm on a steamy night
Whatever brutally hot designs the weather gods had in store Friday for Philadelphia’s Independence Day celebrations, by 8 p.m. the temperature fell below 90 degrees, and the music on Independence Mall arrived like a balm.
Listeners were stretched across the lawn of the mall for fairly solidly from Independence Hall to Arch St., an estimated 12,000 attendees, according to a Wawa Welcome America spokesperson. Whether drawn by the Philly Pops in tunes patriotic or stirring, or by popular actress-singer Idina Menzel, the crowd was in a mood at once celebratory and relaxed.
The weather posed no threat, at least for the first hour or so.
This annual tradition of “Pops on Independence,” a free Philly Pops concert on the mall, has become a way of taking the national temperature. Last year, a few months into the new presidential administration, there were subtle references to the political moment, with the acting superintendent of Independence National Historical Park speaking to the audience about equal rights of all kinds, including marriage rights, and referencing a nation “built on the struggle for freedom from tyranny, and the principle of liberty for all under the just rule of law.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 10:41am
Veterans rally at Washington Square Park: ‘We are trying to sound the alarm. We are not here to let our service members die.’
Military veterans from around the country gathered in Washington Square Park Saturday morning to rally against the Trump administration and what they call the “billionaire control” of the country.
Military servicemembers are often the first to feel the consequences of bad governance, said Lindsay Knapp, an attorney and former U.S. Army officer who traveled from North Carolina to join the rally.
Knapp said that, as an attorney who advocates for sexual assault survivors in the military, new policies under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have made it harder for women to report abuse without fear of reprisal.
“As veterans, we are trying to sound the alarm. We are not here to let our service members die,” Knapp said.
The veterans’ rally is part of The People’s Parade, a coalition of progressive-oriented groups that oppose which Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. War in Iran, and the U.S. embrace of Israel.
“The People’s Parade is a coming together of everyone who is concerned by the direction of where our country is going,” said Rev. Jay Bergen from West Philly.
He said the parade rejects “the violence of fascism and the control of billionaires,” and pushed back against anyone who says this isn’t a form of celebration.
“We are here to celebrate the workers who actually build this city each day,” Bergen said, including immigrants and veterans, “and we’re here to celebrate the power and the beauty of the people.”
U.S. Navy veteran Maxine Rebeles traveled from Ft. Laredo, Texas to share her message. She said President Trump’s border wall project has damaged water supplies along the Rio Grande River and destroyed the local ecosystem.
“They are bulldozing our rights away,” Rebeles said.
She joined the U.S. Navy after 9/11 but became disillusioned when the “weapons of mass destruction” that the government had used to justify invading Iraq had ceased to materialize.
Now, Rebeles said, the government wants people to believe another lie — that their neighbors on the other side of the Southern border are an enemy.
Rebeles said an encouraging number of people have shown up for the rally and other recent events — a sign, to her, that more people are getting frustrated.
“People may not want to mess with politics, but politics are messing with people,” she said.
Another Navy Veteran held a sign that read “Veterans are not losers and suckers,” a reference to a 2020 report from The Atlantic alleging that President Trump once referred to dead military soldiers as such. The Trump administration has repeatedly denied he said that.
The veteran from Delaware, who gave just his first name Bill, out of fear of retaliation from the Trump administration, wore a photo of a young man in an Army uniform around his neck. That was his nephew, Eric, he said. He died by suicide in 2013 after returning home from Afghanistan.
“He’s the reason why I march,” Bill said. “There are too many people ignoring what’s going on. We need to join together and turn this around.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 10:14am
Gov. Josh Shapiro makes rounds at Doylestown parade
Chalfont and New Britain residents began lining the sidewalks with sunshades and water squirters before 9 a.m. this morning in Bucks County.
“Don’t feel silly with an umbrella,” advised Bob Doyle, 70, a longtime resident in a folding chair and a wide-brimmed hat who’s attended this parade for over 25 years. “You need it.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro walked the route before the parade, talking to attendees. Maryellen Murphy, 68, said she worked with Shapiro’s dad, pediatrician Dr. Steven Shapiro, when she was a nurse at Suburban General Hospital in Montgomery County.
Murphy said she was “shocked” to see the governor here. “When I see this guy, he sounds and looks just like his dad,” Murphy said. “We loved him.”
Shapiro greeted first responders as they rolled along before making brief remarks.
“I hope that today you take a moment to remember what this is all about: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the governor said. “It started here, and we’ve got a responsibility to carry it forward.”
The governor might not have time for a cookout today, he said, but last night he grilled some July Fourth classics: “chicken, burgers and dogs.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 10:28am
Lengthy lines at Independence Square: ‘We’re making history today’
There’s a two-hour wait just to get into Independence Square this morning — not Independence Hall, but rather, the park just south of the Hall.
From there, visitors still have to wait in a separate line to go through security and then another to visit Independence Hall.
“We’re making history,” National Park Service Ranger Willow Tuttle said of the lengthy wait. “On the day history was made.”
Tuttle, who has worked as a park ranger for three years, said she’s never seen lines close to this lengthy before, even during past Fourth of July celebrations.
She anticipates lines lasting four to five hours for the people to get into the building from the end of the line. But at least there will be a soundtrack soon.
The Celebration of Freedom Ceremony kicks off this morning at Independence Mall and will feature performances by Grammy Award-winner Yolanda Adams and DJ Diamond Kuts.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 10:00am
Jefferson wasn’t independent of editors
Writing a revolutionary manifesto infused with Enlightenment ideals isn’t easy, Thomas Jefferson learned in 1776.
In drafting the Declaration of Independence, he had to endure the bane of all writers — editors.
Jefferson, one of the younger delegates to the Continental Congress, spent more than two weeks on the draft before submitting it to a five-member committee that included Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, according to a National Archives article.
The Library of Congress noted that it underwent a total of 47 “alterations,” undergoing more rewriting even after the July 2 vote for independence.
Jefferson wasn’t happy about the outcome, according to the Library of Congress, and fellow Virginian Richard Henry Lee told Jefferson he wished “the manuscript had not been mangled as it is.”
To this day, sources indicate that few writers have gained independence from editors. (Editor’s note: this feels especially pointed)
// Timestamp 07/04/26 9:24am
Meet Indy: the bald eagle who attended today’s time capsule burial
The eagle, known as Indy, whose full government name is Independence (obviously), made an appearance at this morning’s America’s Time Capsule burial.
Visitors were able to meet and take pictures with her.
Not to be confused with the bald eagle who flies over Lincoln Financial Field ahead of Eagles games (that’s Lincoln), Indy, 10, is from Auburn University’s Raptor Center. She’s a rehabilitated bird who now serves as an ambassador, teaching people about raptors, conservation, and the ecosystems that sustain them.
She flew — not by wingspan but via Delta flight — to Philly alongside handlers with her carrier strapped to three coach seats.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 9:20am
She went to the country’s 200th birthday with her mom as a kid; today, she honors her late parents’ memory
For attendee Kristine Robinson, from Turnersville, N.J., celebrating the Fourth was in honor of her mother, Katherine.
In 1976, her mother brought her to the city for the country’s then 200th birthday. She remembers standing at Independence Hall then at 6 years old.
Now, 50 years later, she felt like she was honoring the memory of both her late parents — her patriotic mother, who always brought her to the city and collected commemorative coins, and her World War II veteran father.
“She was right to support this wonderful nation and be proud — be proud of this wonderful nation, and what it’s become, and what it will become,” she said.
Her husband, Dennis Robinson, grew up in South Jersey, making school trips to Philadelphia. The significance of America’s Time Capsule, which the couple visited to watch its burial Saturday morning — and where they stood — wasn’t lost on him.
“You stand there, and you think, ‘Wow, right here is where it happened,’” he said. “If you love this country, it’s never lost on you, and you feel the weight of it when you’re here.”
// Timestamp 07/04/26 9:10am
See you in 500 years: America’s Time Capsule gets buried
Phones were lifted into the air, capturing as a hefty time capsule was lowered into the ground at Independence National Historical Park on the Fourth of July.
America’s Time Capsule — containing snippets from the three branches of the federal government, all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the five U.S. territories — will rest at the park until the United States celebrates its birthday once more in 2276.
Saturday’s ceremony, held in the early morning before the extreme heat could set in, brought out the public, adorned in red, white, and blue. Indy, a bald eagle, was also in attendance.
*Spoilers, if you’re 500 years in the future*
Sealed away items include:
- Poems from Alabama
- Stickers from Connecticut
- A whale bone from Maine
- A belt buckle from Oklahoma
- Letters from governors
- A gold medal from the Milan Olympics
- A deconstructed iPhone
- Commemorative coins and postcards
- New York’s Semiquincentennial crystal ball
Pennsylvania skipped the coins and bones; Gov. Josh Shapiro penned a “Greetings from Harrisburg” letter. Also enclosed is a scintillating read: An archival booklet titled, American 250 PA Highlights, which lists “numerous state commemorations.”
The time capsule is a multiyear collaboration among America250, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Library of Congress, the National Park Service, Independence Historical Trust, and other project partners.
The commission, formed by federal law in 2016, had only one programmatic mandate: bury a time capsule on the Fourth of July, 2026, at Independence Hall.
It felt only right that the time capsule is entrusted to the city, as Philadelphia has stood at the center of the nation’s history, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker told attendees Saturday.
“Now I know that we’re here for a burial, but unlike any other burial, this one is about hope, it’s about possibility, and about believing that the generations who come after us will build a stronger nation than the ones we’ll leave behind,” she said. “A time capsule is more than a collection of artifacts; it’s a message from one generation to the next about who we were, what we valued, and what we believed was worth preserving.”
A 46-foot monumental stone sculpture, inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s Join or Die cartoon published in 1754, will be installed in the area. The sculpture will depict a segmented snake, and is being carved from granite. The snake’s head will rest atop the capsule’s burial spot, officials said.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 8:53am
The weather on Independence Day 1776 was no sweat
At 1 p.m. on July 4, 1776, the temperature on what is now Independence Mall was 76 degrees by the reckoning of Thomas Jefferson, whose pursuit of weather data was in a league with his thoughts on the pursuit of happiness.
The author of the Declaration of Independence owned 20 different thermometers in his lifetime, according to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which operates the Monticello site in Charlottesville, and he purchased one of those in Philly on July 4. (Didn’t he have something better to do?)
He didn’t record a high for the day, or whether it was raining, but noted that the temperature was 72½ at 9 p.m., not long after sunset. (With all those clothes they wore in those days, they still must have been pretty warm.)
Jefferson diligently kept daily temperature logs in the colonies and Europe, and his efforts were precursors of the creation of a national weather service.
If you’re out and about today and the weather of July 4, 1776, stirs a certain envy, your right to jealousy would be self-evident.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 7:37am
Independence Day events in Philadelphia
The nation’s 250th birthday is finally here, and organizations throughout Philadelphia have planned a full itinerary of celebrations for the weekend.
For those seeking historical enrichment, live music from national headliners, or even a patriotic pet parade, look no further.
Here is a schedule of some of the activities and events happening in the city.
Celebration of Freedom ceremony
The ceremony will honor America’s 250th anniversary in the heart of its historic center, with speeches, awards, and a performance by Grammy Award winner Yolanda Adams.
10 a.m., 525 Arch St.
Free Museum Day: Cliveden of the National Trust
Visitors can view exhibit panels in the Barn and participate in free tours of the house, which was built in 1767 and is the site of the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Germantown.
10 a.m., 6401 Germantown Ave.
Free Museum Day: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
The museum will offer the exhibition, “Paths to Independence: 1765-1787,” showcasing more than 140 items that represent the people and events involved in the American Revolution.
10 a.m., 1300 Locust St.
Betsy Ross House Patriotic Pet Parade
An annual pet parade will occur at the Betsy Ross House, where prizes will be awarded for the best and most patriotic costumes.
10:30 a.m., 239 Arch St.
Free Museum Day: Powel House
Owned by Philadelphia’s first mayor after American independence was secured, visitors can tour the 18th century house where President George Washington once danced.
11 a.m., 244 S 3rd St.
One Philly: Unity Concert for America
The free concert will be hosted by comedian Wanda Sykes and feature performances from headliners including Christina Aguilera, Jill Scott, The Roots, and Will Smith. Music begins at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC10.
3 p.m., 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
// Timestamp 07/04/26 7:30am
Philly’s fireworks won’t start until midnight on July 4th and some residents say that’s too late
Fairmount residents are accustomed to annual July Fourth fireworks; it comes with the territory of living near Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where the city stages its major celebrations. With the United States’ 250th birthday, this July Fourth is no different — except that the fireworks will start closer to midnight.
“We have the whole family coming to our home, all on their way right now,” said Fairmount resident Margo DelliCarpini. “But 11:30, midnight is just too late for some families with children. I understand that it’s the Fourth of July, but the late start for fireworks is decidedly not a family-friendly decision.”
DelliCarpini will have her children and grandchildren visit to experience the Semiquincentennial in the city where the country began. But with young children in tow, parents along for the trip were hoping to have them in bed by midnight, she said. Instead, the large group is looking to catch one of the fireworks shows at Valley Forge or across Montgomery County, which start around 9 p.m.
Philadelphia’s July Fourth concert and fireworks show, the One City: Unity Concert for America, is expanding its lineup from two to three acts like in years past, to 10 artists, including Christina Aguilera, Will Smith, Meek Mill, and Seal. The show will also start earlier and end later, spanning into July 5 by the time people head home.
The city did not respond to request for comment.
Other cities, like New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, are keeping their 9-9:30 p.m. start times, while Washington, D.C. is among the cities pushing back its fireworks show to 10:30 p.m. or even 11 p.m. to allow for its expanded America 250 showcase.
// Timestamp 07/04/26 7:25am
The Inquirer’s Semiquincentennial front page
// Timestamp 07/04/26 7:00am
Impromptu pageantry replaced Philly’s official parade as extreme heat mars the nation’s 250th
The eve of the United States’ 250th birthday in Philadelphia was less celebration and more chagrin, as oppressive heat left swaths of tourists and revelers in an aimless search of pomp and circumstance.
On Friday, Wawa’s Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade was canceled because of 100-plus-degree temperatures and a perilous heat index. It was one of numerous events called off or shortened this holiday weekend, as the scorching weather has thwarted events across the region, and potential storms could impact more.
The cancellation left scores of sweat-soaked performers, musicians, and historical reenactors in wool garb stranded near Independence Hall and around Center City. There might not have been the sort of “shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations” that John Adams prophesied in a July 3, 1776, letter to his wife, but there was still an air of importance — and some impromptu pageantry.
“We won’t be around for the 300th, so we really wanted to come for the 250th,” said war re-enactor Kathy Touzjian, 61. Touzjian and Laurie Pelletier were among a 75-person Massachusetts Army of 1775 troupe, who traveled six hours by bus to be in Friday’s parade.
“At least we still have cheesesteaks,” Touzjian said.
To the pair, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the fledgling country’s split from Great Britain felt different — and not just because of the heat. Now more than ever, Pelletier said, it was important to return to the country’s bedrock: liberty and independence for all.
“Today is still special,” said Pelletier, 60. “It’s a chance to recognize what our ancestors gave us, because the world is falling apart and this brings people together.”
— Maggie Prosser, Isabel Maney, Michelle Myers, Andrew Seidman
// LiveBlog Name: 250th in Philly
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