Philadelphia Welcome America Festival
philadelphia welcome america festival annual series celebration leading independence day held philadelphia pennsylvania currently sponsored convenience store chain wawa coverage event july air nbc channel telemundo canal day festival feature multicultural multigenerational event including free concert firework display block party parade educational activity philadelphia main independence day celebration started welcome america inc nonprofit organization first event highlighted opening pennsylvania convention center series event relied heavily corporate sponsorship enables organization keep event free attend sunoco became title sponsor event referred sunoco welcome america company continued main sponsor wawa paid million sponsor following three year wawa continued title sponsor may wawa welcome america organizer announced festival would virtual experience due covid pandemic wawa welcome america festival officially extended programming day day celebrating starting juneteenth ending fourth july shooting two policeman end concert start firework caused widespread panic thousand attendee due rise mass shooting united state highland park parade shooting happening earlier day every year free outdoor concert held benjamin franklin parkway front philadelphia museum art concert followed firework free live performance philadelphia tradition two decade past performer included notable hometown act topselling artist concert broadcast nationally vh addition local network broadcast nbc demi lovato ludacris ava max jason derulo torus kelly cam anthony bebe rexha flo rida camila cabello virtually due covid pandemic philadelphia jennifer hudson meghan trainor pitbull mary j blige boyz ii men mandy gonzalez tony desare leon bridge along leslie odom jr yazz greatest ojays gamble huff tribute root along jennifer nettle miguel mkto zella day pop star nicki minaj ed sheeran ariana grande aloe blacc jennifer hudson voice finalist vicci martinez joined root stage root special guest included john mayer neyo jill scott host comedian kevin hart root special guest daryl hall queen latifah common lauryn hill joe jonas root special guest earth wind fire michael mcdonald estelle sara bareilles dj jazzy jeff aaron neville gerald veasley root goo goo doll sheryl crow root john legend alumnus philadelphiabased university pennsylvania hall oates lionel richie fantasia elton john patti labelle isley brother musiq peter frampton brian mcknight baha men garth brook earth wind fire dionne warwick boyz ii men ray charles patti labelle beach boy smokey robinson peter nero philly pop pointer sister philly pop official website