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. ### Media Contact: Laura Krebs Miller, Cashman & Associates, on behalf of Welcome America, Inc. 215-627-1060 // 610-715-1096 Laura@cashmanandassociates.com