Every Fourth of July, Philly, and surrounding area residents look forward to the Wawa Welcome America Festival. They flock to the parkway and enjoy live music from some of the biggest singers and local artists.
However, due to the Corona Virus pandemic, for the first time in 28 years, the festival will be held virtually. Philadelphia continues to remain on a stay-at-home order with more than 200 confirmed cases every day. Many major concerts and events in Philadelphia have been canceled or postponed.
Festival CEO, Michael DelBene, and Mayor Jim Kenney announced the changes on May 12th. The change is designed to protect the community during this time.
“It is a challenging time, and while we may not be able to gather in our city’s great public spaces this year, we are eager to celebrate in a new way through interactive, virtual experiences,” DelBene said in the release.
In the past, the festival was over a week-long and has over 50 free events, including live performances, movie showings and block parties. It ends with a huge party on the parkway with a major concert and fireworks show. Last year, Jennifer Hudson and Meghan Trainor headlined the festival.
The 2020 event will be broadcasted on NBC10 and its related digital platforms. The virtual events will be spread out over multiple days and they will be focused on the city’s culture, art, and history.
The schedule and who will perform will be announced in June, according to organizers. If you are not doing anything during the week of Independence Day, which you probably are not, be sure to tune in to celebrate America’s birthday with a virtual Wawa Welcome America Festival.
