Delaware

DE 250 Celebration

• Where: The Riverfront, Wilmington, Del.
• When: Saturday, July 4, 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• How much: Free

Wilmington’s free waterfront semiquincentennial celebration combines history, culture and community along Wilmington’s Christina River. From live music across three stages, including performances by the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and local faves, to family-friendly attractions including mini golf and hot-air balloon rides, the event is festive and immersive. Guests can explore local artisans in the Delaware Made Village, tour the historic Kalmar Nyckel, enjoy food and drinks from Riverfront restaurants and beer gardens, and take in special tributes to the state’s role in America’s story, leading up to a fireworks finale set to live orchestral music.

New Jersey

Borough Block Party & Drone Show

• Where: Downtown Haddonfield
• When: Friday, July 3, 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• How much: Free, pay as you go

Downtown Haddonfield hosts a free holiday celebration that transforms Kings Highway into a community festival. The day kicks off with a parade in the morning before rolling into a block party at night with live music, food trucks, games and shopping in the borough’s historic downtown. As part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, the traditional fireworks are traded for a choreographed drone show blending technology and patriotism for a unique holiday event.

Special Events

The best of the July Fourth holiday weekend

The Semiquincentennial Birthday Cake Float makes its debut at the Philadelphia Fourth of July parade. The float, a series of five cakes, each representing 50 years of United States history, will return next year for the celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

• Where: Multiple venues
• When: Through Sunday, July 5
• How much: Free, various prices

This Fourth of July weekend should go down in Philadelphia’s already rich history. Queen Latifah, Christina Aguilera, Idina Menzel, The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, Kathy Sledge, and Seal will all be onstage for the big bash celebrating America’s 250th birthday. And there’s a picnic, parades and other special events. You can find the local full calendar at Welcome America and the national calendar at America250.  Here are our highlights for the holiday weekend. Please note: The All-American Block Party has been cancelled.

• Red, White and Blue To-Do – It’s a parade, a party, a flag-raising, concerts and more as John Adams originally conceived it back in 1776.
• Salute to Service – Queen Latifah performs with the U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus at Independence National Historic Park. Note: Start time moved to 8 p.m. due to the heat.
• Valley Forge National Park 50/250 Celebration – A series of events from Friday to Sunday to honor the park’s 50th anniversary on July Fourth, and America’s 250th. Events will end earlier than originally scheduled due to the forecast.
• Pops On Independence – Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel sings with the Philly Pops on Friday night.
• America Celebrates 250 – Neighboring cities Lambertville, New Jersey, and New Hope, Pennsylvania, host a joint celebration Friday through Sunday.
• Birthday Party in the USA – Five thousand free cupcakes, face painting and several Miss Philadelphias. Need we say more?
• Sky High 4th of July – Sunset Social hosts a free party with daytime family-friendly fun, $10 meals and a deejay.
• Washington Crossing Independence Day 2026 – Living history, concert and fireworks at the historic crossing.
• Red, White and Views @ Loews – Fireworks display, unlimited buffet and drinks at the newly revamped bar on the 33rd floor. Note: This is a ticketed event.
• Fourth of July FreedomWorks Fireworks Festival – Fireworks, food and a Ferris Wheel at Pleasant Hill Park.
• Fourth of July Signature Dinner Cruise on City Cruises –  Fourth of July cruises include buffet and open bar with several upgrade packages. Note: We can attest that food is one of the main attractions here, it’s delicious.
• Bocce Club 4th of July Celebration – Chestnut Hill’s annual party, going on for six decades, includes a bike parade and a magic show.
• The City of Philadelphia’s One Philly Unity Concert for America – The big finale with Christina Aguilera headlining and performances by DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, The Roots, Kathy Sledge, Seal, and State Property.

Arts and culture

‘Franklin! The Sound of America’

Philly is certainly the best place for the world premiere of an original rock opera that reimagines the life of Benjamin Franklin. Staged at FringeArts as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, the production follows Franklin’s journey from runaway to global icon, blending real-life history with music, romance and political intrigue.

The five-week run is led by Philly native and Temple grad Kohl Pilgrim, a self-professed history buff who embodies the newly crafted version of Franklin’s story. The unique finale takes the audience from the stage to the streets on a walking tour near where Franklin lived and died.

‘Clue: A Walking Mystery’

• Where: Multiple locations, starting at the Kimmel Center
• When: Through Sunday, July 5
• How much: $53

We can safely say, this is not your grandfather’s Clue. The popular board game turns into an immersive production where theatergoers, instead of sitting passively watching actors on a stage, are sent out on missions to figure out who did what to whom. In this version, Tudor Mansion has been sold and its contents scattered around the city. But there’s still a murder, and attendees have to follow the evidence to find the killer. Think upscale mystery play and you have the gist of this unusual night out.

First Bank of the United States Museum Festival

You’ve seen “Hamilton” right? Well, this is where he made history. The reopening of the First Bank of the United States brings new access to a cornerstone of early American financial policy. Originally established in 1791 as part of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton’s vision to stabilize the young nation’s economy and manage federal debt, it was the first national bank in the country. The building, part of Independence National Historical Park, has been closed to the public for decades, but now visitors can now experience its newly restored interior and exhibitions featuring rare financial documents, historical artifacts and interpretive displays that examine the economic debates of the era. Read more on the reopening from billypenn.com.

Culture Fest

The festival brings together people from the African diaspora for a day of music, fun, food and community. It’s taking over the massive Liberty Point restaurant, which boasts over 28,000 square feet over multiple levels with five bars. Kabila Events, the organizers behind Liberty Fest, also puts on the perennially sold-out annual Black Wine Festival, so expect a highly Instagrammable experience.

SurREAL World: Film Festival for the Terminally Weird

• Where: Tattooed Mom, 530 South St.
• When: Sunday, July 5, 3 p.m.
• How much: Free

One thing about being weird in Philly is that you can always find your people. On Sunday, they’ll gather at this afternoon showcase of the strange and surreal, with a lineup of short films from Philly creatives, paired with stand-up from comedian Alyssa Al-Dookhi and a panel discussion. Laura Ornella and Liz Weist are the co-hosts.

Kids

Dino-Mite Summer

Here’s something for the kids to do throughout the summer as the museum turns into a hands-on science playground that blends education and entertainment. Interactive highlights like “The Big Dig,” where young visitors can unearth and identify dinosaur fossils, along with live animal encounters, expert scientific conversations and immersive exhibits exploring everything from biodiversity to evolution, are part of the offering. Inspire a budding paleontologist while they’re still young enough to absorb the information.

Sports

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship: Liberty Brawl

 

Let’s get ready to rumble, and we mean really, really rumble. This championship pits bare-knuckled challengers with great nicknames against each other to determine two titles – men’s middleweight and women’s strawweight – along with a men’s middleweight showcase and a middleweight bout. The main event pits Austin “No Doubt” Trout against U.K. pugilist  Ben “The Bomber” Bonner. With names like that, you know they’re putting on a show. Pro tip: The show is billed as family-friendly and all ages are welcome, but make sure you’re clear on your kids’ comfort level.

Comedy

Fifty First Jokes About America

The concept is simple: 50 comedians tell 50 jokes using the 250 years of American history we’re celebrating this weekend. That’s certainly a wealth of material to draw from. Peggy O’Leary hosts. We should remind you that 25 cents of every ticket sold for most, not all events, goes to Comedy Gives Back, a charitable organization that supports comedians in need. Hey, it adds up.

Music

Molly Tuttle & Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country

• Where: Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, Pa. (moved from Heuser Park)
• When: Thursday, July 2, 6 p.m.
• How much: $62.10

Molly Tuttle and Daniel Donato roll into the Philly area with a guitar-driven show that’s as much of a jam session as it is a concert. Though it’s part of the Concerts Under the Stars series at Heuser Park, the concert moves indoors to Ardmore Music Hall. The duo is on a co-headlining summer tour that added festival stops extending into the fall. Donato continues to build with his 2025 album “Horizons” and his psychedelic “cosmic country” sound, while Tuttle has already racked up two Grammy wins in the bluegrass genre. Together, they bridge bluegrass, rock and Americana as an integral part of a roots music renaissance.

Prince Tribute feat Johnie Jupiter’s Controversy – Celebrating “Kiss” 40th Anniversary

Forty years ago, Prince and The Revolution released “Kiss,” which became one of his biggest hits, winning him a Grammy for best R&B performance with duo or group. Prince tribute band Johnie Jupiter‘s Controversy head to City Winery to recreate Prince’s legendary stage shows while celebrating the song’s longevity.

Paul Simon: A Quiet Celebration Tour

Paul Simon performs at the 10th annual Love Rocks NYC concert benefiting God’s Love We Deliver at the Beacon Theatre on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

After taking a break due to hearing loss, Paul Simon is back on the road at age 84 on the aptly titled A Quiet Celebration tour. The show is split into two segments: he’ll play his critically-acclaimed, continuous track 2023 album “Seven Psalms” in its entirety, then launch into a rendering of newly arranged versions of his extensive catalogue of folk/rock classics. He’s at The Mann on Sunday night.