July 4, 2011
Photo Of The Day: Happy 4th Of July! Wawa Welcome America Concludes With The Roots-Headlined 4th Of July Jam And Grand Finale Fireworks On The Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Wawa Welcome America comes to an explosive conclusion with the Roots-headlined 4th of July Jam and grand finale fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)
The eleven-day July 4th celebration known as Wawa Welcome America comes to a roaring head tonight as Philadelphia celebrates America’s Independence Day.
Philly’s Fourth of July Jam, the official name for the 4th of July concert, is headlined by The Roots with Earth, Wind and Fire; Michael McDonald; DJ Jazzy Jeff; and Sara Bareilles.
Giant screens and speakers will broadcast the concert all along the Parkway, which kicks off at 7 p.m. The grand finale fireworks follow with an ETA of 10:30 p.m.
Check out our complete hour-by-hour guide of the festivities taking place on Monday, July 4.
It’s been a whirlwind of knockout festivals, parties, and general jubilee, and we’re pumped for tonight’s sure-to-deliver concluding events.
Happy July 4th!
MONDAY, JULY 4
Location: Benjamin Franklin Parkway, steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Concert: 7 p.m.
Fireworks: around Approximately 10:30 p.m. (subject to change)
Best places to watch the giant Fireworks display above the Philadelphia Museum of Art on July 4:
NOTE: The outer lanes of the Parkway will be closed to car traffic for the first time ever, so you’ll have expanded options for viewing.
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway: You can stake out a spot anywhere along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from Logan Circle to Eakin’s Oval. The entire street is shut down in honor of the celebration. Tip: try to grab a spot at the baseball fields at 22nd and the Parkway.
• Martin Luther King Drive: This is another great place, right across the the Schuylkill River from gorgeously lit Boathouse Row. Anyone driving in from the suburbs will find it convenient to settle in along here for the evening.
• Schuylkill River Park: There’s lots of grass along the banks for comfortable viewing, with a beautiful view of the Art Museum. It’s a super convenient spot for Center City residents, since it’s accessible via the Walnut Street Bridge, Race Street crossing and other connectors.
• Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park: There’s a a gorgeous mansion, and lots of space to set up your lawnchairs. One advantage of this site is the elevation. Bring a BBQ!
• Kelly Drive: There are many places along the river with great views of the display, including Boathouse Row and the open field at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Sedgley Drive.












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