June 9, 2010

More Entertainers for Welcome America

By Vanessa Martinez

Inquirer Staff

The Roots, R&B singer Chrisette Michelle, and jazz musician Chuck Brown will join the Goo Goo Dolls July 4 on the Parkway for the city's Wawa Welcome America festivities.
Mayor Nutter and other officials announced the additional acts at a news conference Tuesday on Logan Square.

The Fourth of July will have "something for everyone," said Melanie Johnson, city representative and Wawa Welcome America executive director, who gave a look at events scheduled across the city from June 25 through July 5.

"By the time I conclude my remarks, the Fourth of July celebration will have started, given the length of this news conference," Nutter joked.

The list of events includes the Taste of Philadelphia, Go 4th and Learn, the Independence Day bell-tapping ceremony at the Liberty Bell, and Wawa Hoagie Day on June 30, which will have a 11/4-mile-long hoagie that will stretch around the apron of the Art Museum. Half of the hoagie will go to Philabundance, and the rest will be for the public to eat at 7:30 p.m. after Rocky is screened.

Fireworks shows will take place June 26 and July 3 at Penn's Landing and July 4 on the Parkway.

"We're going to have one really big bang-up party," Nutter said.

This year also has the first contest for fireworks spectators. The June 26 fireworks will be choreographed with a soundtrack called "Heat." Spectators may keep count of the words fire, hot, burn, or burning in the music for a chance to win four tickets to the Goo Goo Dolls and a Wawa gift card.

"This year, we're going to prove once and for all that Philadelphia is the only place to celebrate the Fourth of July," Johnson said.

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