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Wawa Welcome America July 4: Free concert, fireworks, road closures, SEPTA, and more

LL Cool J, Jazmine Sullivan to headline Philly’s July 4 concert and fireworks

People raise their phone lights as they watch Demi Lovato’s performance at the Wawa Welcome America Festival on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. This year, LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan take the main stage.
People raise their phone lights as they watch Demi Lovato’s performance at the Wawa Welcome America Festival on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. This year, LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan take the main stage.Read moreAllie Ippolito / Staff Photographer
    by Henry Savage
    Updated 
    Published 

Philadelphia’s official Fourth of July celebration is bringing out the big stars — and the big booms — this year.

Where to enter
🎒 What you can and can’t bring
Weather
Schedule
How to watch from home
Road closures
Parking
🚊 Public transportation
Fourth of July celebrations elsewhere in the Philly area

Thousands are expected to gather along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Wawa Welcome America Festival on July 4, featuring performances by hip-hop icon LL Cool J, Grammy-winning Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan, Puerto Rican trap artist Álvaro Díaz, and R&B singer JoJo. The evening ends with the city’s largest fireworks display, set to light up the skies above the Art Museum.

Fireworks over the Art Museum during the Wawa Welcome America Jam on the Parkway, Friday, July 4, 2014.
Fireworks over the Art Museum during the Wawa Welcome America Jam on the Parkway, Friday, July 4, 2014.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Steven M. Falk

It’s an evening of fun for all ages with local food vendors, live music, and an exciting way to spend a July 4 in Philadelphia. Plus, a new beer garden experience is welcomed this year for those 21 and over.

Center City and neighborhoods near the Parkway will see heavy traffic and road closures throughout the event.

Here’s everything you need to know for the Wawa Welcome America Festival concert and fireworks show.

Fans react to the music as the Wawa Welcome America Festival concluded July 4, 2023 with a free concert featuring Ludacris on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. There is added security for this year's concert following a shooting incident last year.
Fans react to the music as the Wawa Welcome America Festival concluded July 4, 2023 with a free concert featuring Ludacris on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. There is added security for this year's concert following a shooting incident last year.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer

Where to enter

Enter the festival through the security checkpoint at Logan Circle and 20th Street, near the Franklin Institute and Parkway Central Library.

All attendees will pass through metal detectors, and bags are subject to search.

Jazmine Sullivan, a Philly native, performs at the Roots Picnic at the Mann Center in Philadephia on Saturday, June 4, 2022.
Jazmine Sullivan, a Philly native, performs at the Roots Picnic at the Mann Center in Philadephia on Saturday, June 4, 2022.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer

🎒 What you can and can’t bring

Attendees are welcome to bring:

  1. Personal food and nonalcoholic beverages

  2. Small personal coolers

  3. Pets on leashes

  4. Chairs and blankets (not permitted in the ticketed front section)

For everyone’s safety, the following are prohibited — regardless of permits:

  1. Weapons of any kind

  2. Fireworks, firecrackers, and explosives (including sparklers)

  3. Open flames

  4. Alcohol

  5. Illegal substances (excluding prescribed medication)

  6. Flyers, handbills, posters, or stickers

  7. Full face coverings such as ski masks or balaclavas (faith-based and COVID-19 masks are allowed)

  8. Unauthorized sales or solicitation

  9. Drones or other remote-controlled devices

  10. Glass containers

  11. Laser pointers or selfie sticks

  12. Items that block views, such as large signs or banners

  13. ATVs, dirt bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles, Segways, hoverboards, and similar items

  14. Coordinated performances or demonstrations

  15. Any item deemed unsafe by security

All bags and belongings are subject to search. Confiscated items will not be returned.

Weather

Accuweather predicts that Friday, July 4, will be “sunny and less humid; nice weather to celebrate Independence Day,” with high temperatures of 88 degrees, with little to no chance of rain at the time of publishing.

Schedule

  1. Gates to the festival open at 4 p.m., where vendors, pre-show live music, and a beer garden await.

  2. The concert kicks off at 7 p.m. with performances by JoJo, Álvaro Díaz, Jazmine Sullivan, and LL Cool J.

  3. The fireworks show begins at 9:30 p.m.

The 6-day Wawa Welcome America celebration ends with a grand finale fireworks display on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Tuesday night.
The 6-day Wawa Welcome America celebration ends with a grand finale fireworks display on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Tuesday night.Read moreMARGO REED / Staff Photographer

How to watch from home

The concert and fireworks will be broadcast live from 7 to 10 p.m. on:

  1. NBC10

  2. NBC Sports Philadelphia

  3. COZI TV

You can also stream the event on NBC10 Philadelphia News through these services:

  1. Peacock

  2. Roku

  3. Samsung TV Plus

  4. Amazon Fire TV

  5. Pluto

  6. Xumo Play

Or watch live at nbcphiladelphia.com/watch or the NBC10 mobile app on the App Store and Google Play.

Road closures

Extensive road closures will be in place for the Wawa Welcome America July 4 concert and fireworks. Unless otherwise noted, closures begin around 5 a.m. on Friday, July 4, and extend into the early morning of Saturday, July 5.

From 5 a.m. July 4 to 2 a.m. July 5:

  1. 1900 Race Street

  2. 1800–1900 Vine Street

  3. I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street

  4. I-676 on-ramp at 22nd Street

  5. I-76 eastbound off-ramp at Spring Garden Street

  6. Spring Garden Tunnel

  7. Park Towne Place between 22nd and 24th Streets

  8. 20th Street between Arch Street and Pennsylvania Avenue

  9. 19th Street between Callowhill Street and Cherry Street

From 5 a.m. July 4 to 4 a.m. July 5:

  1. Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 18th Street to Eakins Oval (all lanes)

  2. Eakins Oval (all lanes)

  3. Kelly Drive between Eakins Oval and Fairmount Avenue

    1. Note: Kelly Drive inbound will close at Fountain Green Drive starting at 5 p.m.

  4. Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive (rear of the Art Museum)

  5. 2000–2100 Winter Street

  6. MLK Drive from Falls Bridge to Eakins Oval

  7. Spring Garden Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and 31st Street

  8. 23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Eakins Oval

From 5 a.m. July 4 to 8 a.m. July 5:

  1. 22nd Street between Winter Street and Pennsylvania Avenue

  2. 21st Street between Winter Street and Pennsylvania Avenue

From 1 p.m. July 4 to 1 p.m. July 5:

  1. All roads from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street, 18th Street to 22nd Street

  2. All roads from Arch Street to Fairmount Avenue, 22nd Street to Corinthian Street(Local access for residents will be maintained)

  3. 16th and 17th Streets between Arch and Spring Garden may be closed if conditions require

  4. 1600–1700 block of the Parkway may also close based on crowd size

From 8 p.m. July 4 to 1 a.m. July 5:

These roads will be closed due to the fireworks display:

  1. Kelly Drive from Fairmount Avenue to Fountain Green Drive

  2. Lemon Hill Drive

  3. Sedgley Drive

  4. Waterworks Drive

  5. Poplar Drive

🚨 Note: Parkway closures may begin earlier depending on crowd conditions.

Parking

Parking will be prohibited on all closed streets. Temporary “No Parking” signs may also be posted in neighborhoods surrounding the Parkway. Be sure to read posted signage carefully to avoid being ticketed or towed.

If you’re driving into Center City, your best bet is to park farther from the Parkway — such as near Broad Street or 30th Street Station — and walk or take SEPTA to the event area.

Fans dance to Jason Derulo during the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert on the Parkway in Phila., Pa.
Fans dance to Jason Derulo during the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert on the Parkway in Phila., Pa.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer

🚊 Public transportation

SEPTA

  1. Running a regular Sunday schedule on July 4.

  2. Bus routes 204, 310, and LUCY will not operate.

  3. Extra service will be added after the fireworks on the Broad Street Line, Market-Frankford Line, and these Regional Rail lines:

    1. Airport

    2. Chestnut Hill West

    3. Fox Chase

    4. Lansdale/Doylestown

    5. Manayunk/Norristown

    6. Paoli/Thorndale

    7. Trenton

    8. Warminster

    9. Wawa

    10. West Trenton

    11. Wilmington/Newark

SEPTA bus detours:

  1. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 4:Routes 4, 5, 7, 9, 16, 17, 21, 23, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 42, 44, 45, 47, 47M, 48, 57, 61, 124, and 125.

  2. From 3 p.m. on July 4 to 5 a.m. on July 5:Routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43, 48, and 49.

PATCO

Operating on a holiday schedule with six-car trains throughout the day and 20-minute service during peak hours. Visit ridepatco.org for details.

Fourth of July celebrations elsewhere in the Philly area

Looking for other ways to celebrate on July 4? Here are more events happening around the city that night:

  1. Independence Week Fireworks from the Battleship🕙 7:30 p.m. | 📍62 Battleship Place, Camden, N.J. 08103Watch fireworks over the Delaware River from the Camden waterfront or aboard the Battleship New Jersey. 🌐 battleshipnewjersey.org

  2. Philadelphia Fourth of July Signature Dinner Cruise🕙 7:30 p.m. | 📍401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106Celebrate on the water with dinner, dancing, and a view of the fireworks from the Delaware River. 🌐 cityexperiences.com