FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PHILADELPHIA’S WAWA WELCOME AMERICA!
ANNOUNCES 2016 FESTIVAL CELEBRATING JULY 4TH
35 Events with 350 performers and 100 hours of free family-friendly fun—June 27 to July 4th
PHILADELPHIA (MAY 20, 2016) —Welcome America, Inc. formally announced the 2016
Wawa Welcome America! presented by Comcast NBCUniversal eight-day festival beginning
Monday, June 27 running through Monday, July 4. Citywide events highlight America’s
Independence and will celebrate everything Philadelphia—from history to entertainment. 2016
will see more live music than ever before with free performances from a wide range of artists
including Philadelphia’s own Tony-nominated Hamilton star and recording artist, Leslie Odom
Jr.
The festival features 35 events, 350 performers and 100 hours of fun in Center City and in the
neighborhoods. All events are free and curated to be family-friendly and inclusive. Fifty-six
Philadelphia partners have come together under the Wawa Welcome America! umbrella to offer
events tied to Philadelphia’s celebration of our city’s history and the USA.
Through the combined assets of Comcast NBCUniversal, including multiple live broadcasts on
NBC10 and Telemundo62, plus extensive content available on Xfinity On Demand,
Philadelphians across the region will be able to experience the festivities on television and online
like never before. The festival will be broadcast regionally on NBC10, Telemundo62, Cozi TV,
TCN, and TeleXitos. Events will also be live-streamed on the NBC10 and Telemundo62
websites. Festival guides that will help residents and visitors navigate the events throughout the
week will live on the NBC10 and Telemundo62 mobile apps.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
What’s new in 2016:
•
Three nights of jaw dropping free fireworks shows. The first two will occur at the
Delaware River Waterfront on Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2 at 9:30 p.m. and a July
4th grand finale (starting earlier this year) at 10:00 p.m., presented by Comcast
NBCUniversal and Pyrotecnico.
•
The City of Philadelphia’s Office of the City Representative will produce the July 4th
Celebration of Freedom Ceremony at Independence Hall with a tribute “Everyday
Heroes.” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney will present a new award, the Philadelphia
Magis Award (A Latin word meaning more or better).
•
During the City’s Celebration of Freedom Ceremony on July 4 at 10 a.m. the Wawa
Foundation will present The Wawa Foundation “Hero Award”, an honor given to nonprofit organizations serving the greater Philadelphia area that assists others and helps to
advance communities through preserving our freedom, protecting our safety, inspiring
learning, and encouraging and empowering others to become better citizens and
community members. $80,000 in financial grants will be awarded including a $50,000
grant to the finalist recognized during the Celebration of Freedom.
•
Wawa associates, Food Network Chef, Robert Irvine, WMMR’s Preston & Steve and
hoagie fans from across the region will join in celebration of the 24th annual Wawa
Hoagie Day on Thursday, June 30, a day dedicated to honoring our troops and building
on The Wawa Foundation’s partnership with the USO.
•
Eight days of free museums for residents including The Barnes Foundation (courtesy of
PECO), the National Constitution Center (2 free days courtesy of Wawa), the African
American Museum in Philadelphia, the Ben Franklin Museum, Museum Without Walls,
the National Museum of Jewish American History and the Rodin Museum.
•
Seven free Philly @ the Movies screenings under the stars in neighborhoods across the
city. Locations include: Franklin Square, Xfinity Live!, steps at Philadelphia Museum of
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Art, Penn’s Landing at Delaware River Waterfront, The Piazza at Schmidt’s, Tustin
Recreation Center and a special movie preview experience.
•
A very special free daytime family concert event on the 4th of July at Eakins Oval
featuring performances by Kidz Bop Kids Live – the No. 1 Kid’s Album Artist in the
U.S. – plus an opening DJ set and beatboxing with the kids with hip hop legend Biz
Markie who has toured extensively as a fan favorite on the Yo Gabba Gabba Live Tour.
•
A citywide simultaneous book reading held at all 54 Philadelphia Free Libraries as part
of the Go 4th & Learn series, led by Mayor Jim Kenney. Children will also enjoy 10,000
free books, thanks to Duffy Books in Homes USA.
•
Our Flag Unfurled Mural on Columbus Blvd. Rededication with Mural Arts and
Philadelphia STYLE Magazine.
•
A rousing Independence Day Parade featuring 4,000 marchers in Historic Philadelphia
on July 4th
•
A first-ever Meet Your Neighbors festival experience on July 4th
•
Wawa will retain the exclusive title sponsor role through 2017 and new festival partners
include Comcast NBCUniversal and an expanded partnership with Live Nation
Philadelphia, Visit Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau as
tourism and convention partners.
•
The new partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal will offer festival attendees a digital
guide to all the festivities on the NBC10 and Telemundo62 mobile apps and live
broadcast of the festival streamed on the NBC10 and Telemundo62 websites.
•
For the first time in Welcome America Inc. history Telemundo62 will broadcast the
festival live in Spanish.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Celebrity performances on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will headline the largest free concert
in America – the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert. The five-hour, non-stop live
concert begins at an earlier time, 5 p.m., (with two more hours of continuous live music)
cumulating with a massive fireworks display at 10:00 p.m. The celebration will be broadcasted
live throughout the Philadelphia area on NBC10 and broadcasted for the first time in Spanish on
Telemundo62.
Performers include:
•
Leslie Odom Jr. – of the year’s breakout Broadway musical Hamilton. This Tony
Nominated, award-winning actor and musician was raised in West Philadelphia and
debuts a new album in June.
•
Yazz the Greatest – star of Fox’s hit TV series Empire. This American actor and rapper
was born in West Philadelphia.
•
Brotherly Love – five-member a cappella group whose fame soared after their impromptu
backstage performance for President Obama. All group members are all from
Philadelphia.
•
A high-energy celebration of the “Sound of Philadelphia” with a tribute to music icons
Gamble & Huff with performances by The O’Jays, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes and
The Intruders with the Urban Guerrilla Orchestra.
•
The Philly POPS return with “POPS on the Parkway” featuring the full a 65-piece
orchestra and patriotic performances with Philadelphia-native guest vocalists,
Broadway’s The Lion King’s, Allison Blackwell, and international Opera star Justin
Hopkins.
More festival information will be announced in early June. Welcome America Inc. is still
accepting applications for vending opportunities. Interested craft and food vendors can send an
email to information@welcomeamerica.com or visit welcomeameria.com under “Get Involved.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
2016 sponsors of the festival include Wawa, Comcast NBCUniversal, Live Nation Philadelphia,
Philadelphia International Airport, Visit Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors
Bureau, Pyrotecnico, 500 Walnut, Philadelphia 76ers, Duffy Books In Homes USA, PECO,
Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Tastykake, T.Mobile, Sonesta Philadelphia, The Logan
– Philadelphia’s Hotel, Cozen O’Connor, Nature’s Path, and the Independence Visitor Center.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, contact us at information@welcomeamerica.com
for more information on how to market your brand to our 500,000 festival visitors.
Welcome America, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1993 with a mission to
produce Philadelphia’s official July 4th celebration with free events for residents and visitors.
The festival is produced in partnership with the City of Philadelphia. Welcome America Inc. has
produced this official July 4th commemoration for the City of Philadelphia since 1993. For more
information, please visit welcomeamerica.com. Join the conversation by liking us on Facebook
(Facebook.com/WawaWelcomeAmerica) and following us on Twitter and Instagram
(@July4thPhilly) #JULY4THPHILLY.
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Media Contact:
Laura Krebs Miller, Cashman & Associates, on behalf of Welcome America, Inc.
215-627-1060 // 610-715-1096 Laura@cashmanandassociates.com