Tanglewood Presents 2017 Season, June 16-Labor Day Weekend

Tanglewood— Summer Home Of The Boston Symphony Orchestra Since 1937—Presents Its 2017 Season, June 16-Labor Day Weekend; Tickets On Sale At WWW.TANGLEWOOD.ORG And 888-266-1200

BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons—expanding his commitment to Tanglewood—leads ten programs over four weeks, including the opening and closing BSO concerts—Mahler's Symphony No. 2 on July 7 and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, August 27—as well as the BSO's first full-length concert performance of Wagner's Das Rheingold, an unprecedented undertaking for the Festival, on July 15

Detailed Tanglewood 2017 Season Announcement 
Tanglewood 2017 Season HighlightsTanglewood 2017 Season Program Listing

(New details since November 18, 2016 announcement indicated 
throughout the release and listing in green)

Tanglewood will feature several new initiatives complementing the Festival's beloved traditions of weekly performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including Summer Sundays— a new program designed to give visitors a variety of activities to enjoy pre- and post-concert hours around the BSO’s Sunday afternoon 2:30 p.m. concerts; activities include lectures and musical demonstrations for all ages, food, wine and beer tastings, face painting, yoga, Qigong, sing-alongs, and games. Highlights of the 2017 Tanglewood season also include an extraordinary lineup of guest artists from the worlds of classical, Broadway, dance, and pop culture, free family fun activities and adult education programs, on-site cafes and fine dining, a wide variety of discounted ticket programs, free tickets for patrons 17 years and younger, and free tours of the iconic grounds.

Additions to the 2017 Tanglewood Season Since Original Season Announcement in November 2016
Popular Artists added to the 2017 lineup since the November 2016 season announcement include: The Hot Sardines, who open the 2017 Tanglewood season in Ozawa Hall on June 16; “Four Voices,” featuring Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Amy Ray, and Emily Saliers, June 17; Joey Alexander, June 23; Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald, June 30; John Mellencamp with Emmylou Harris and Carlene Carter, July 1; Natalie Merchant, July 2; James Taylor and his All-Star Band, July 3 & 4; Sting, August 29; Diana Ross and Rhonda Ross, August 30; The Avett Brothers, September 1. These concerts join the originally announced Popular Artist program on August 20 featuring comedian David Sedaris. Boston Pops concerts added to the original 2016 November announcement include: Chris Botti and special guest conductor Lawrence Loh on June 24; guest conductor Ted Sperling leading a program in celebration of the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, on June 25; and Keith Lockhart leading a program featuring Melissa Etheridge on September 3. Baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky has had to withdraw from the opera gala program on Saturday, August 26, for reasons of health. Another vocal soloist will be announced at a later date. Additional changes to the 2017 Tanglewood classical music offering appear in green type throughout the attached updated concert listing. 

One of the premier summer music festivals in the world and summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937, Tanglewood is located in the beautiful Berkshire Hills, between Stockbridge and Lenox, Massachusetts. Tickets for the 2017 Tanglewood season, $12-$124, are available through Tanglewood’s website, www.tanglewood.org, SymphonyCharge at 888-266-1200, and at the Symphony Hall Box Office at 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston MA. Full season details of the 2017 Tanglewood season, including downloadable photos and video, program listings, and artist photos and biographies are available here.

José Andrés' ThinkFoodGroup Announces Plans To Open Its Jaleo Spanish Flagship at Disney Springs

Andrés' ThinkFoodGroup is proud to announce that its popular Jaleo brand will be opening a new location at Disney Springs in 2018, bringing the spirit and flavors of Spain to the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The new Jaleo at Disney Springs will be Andrés' biggest and most spectacular location yet, housed in a dynamic, multi-level space at the iconic resort.

 

First opened in downtown Washington, D.C. in 1993, Jaleo represents the very best of Spanish cuisine and design, seen through the creative lens of Chef Andrés and his team. Jaleo offers an unparalleled tapas experience in a lively setting befitting its name, which means "revelry."  Its menu highlights the many facets of Spanish cuisine, both traditional and cutting-edge, featuring authentic wood-fired paellas and other Spanish favorites in addition to sangrias and a premier selection of Spanish wines.  With five locations currently in the Washington D.C. area, Las Vegas and Mexico City (named J by José Andrés), Jaleo opens for the first time in Florida, in the heart of internationally-renowned Disney Springs-the retail, dining and entertainment district inspired by Florida's charming waterfront towns, historic architecture and natural beauty.

 

Jaleo at Disney Springs will feature an extensive menu of tapas reflecting the rich regional diversity of traditional and contemporary Spanish cuisine. Highlights will include a variety of authentic paellas cooked over the wood fire, Spanish specialties such as hand-carved Jamon Iberico de Bellota and wood-grilled Iberico pork, as well as signature dishes such as Gambas al ajillo, shrimp sautéed with garlic and chili and Pollo Croquetas, classic, Spanish chicken fritters. On the restaurant's ground level, a grab-n-go storefront will offer signature Spanish-style sandwiches, or bocatas, of José's native Spain.  Jaleo at Disney Springs will also feature a robust wine program, sangria and a selection of cocktail offerings including modern interpretations and tableside preparations.

 

Designed by renowned Spanish designer Juli Capella, the multi-level space will feature a breathtaking new exterior architecture as well as a vibrant, theatrical décor representing the colorful, dynamic culture of Spain.

 

 

 (www.thinkfoodgroup.com)

Named one of Time's "100 Most Influential People" and "Outstanding Chef" by the James Beard Foundation, José Andrés is an internationally recognized culinary innovator, author, educator, television personality, humanitarian and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup. A pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, he is known for his avant-garde cuisine and his award-winning group of 27 restaurants throughout the country and beyond. His innovative minibar by José Andrés earned two Michelin stars in 2016 and with that, José is the only chef globally that has both a 2-star Michelin restaurant and 4 Bib Gourmands. Andrés' work has earned numerous awards including the 2015 National Humanities Medal, one of 12 distinguished recipients of the award from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

 

About Jaleo (www.Jaleo.com)

Since its debut in Washington D.C.'s Penn Quarter in 1993, Jaleo has evolved to represent modern Spain at every moment. With each extension in Maryland, Virginia, Las Vegas and most recently with J by José Andrés in Mexico City, it embraces the local community while staying true to its roots: providing a comfortable, welcoming space in which to explore, discover and share the incredible spirit of Spain. Renowned for its award-winning assortment of tapas, the traditional small plates of Spain, as well as savory paellas, sangrias and a fine selection of Spanish wines and sherries, Jaleo celebrates these flavors in a festive, inviting atmosphere. Jaleo is located in Washington, DC; Bethesda, Maryland; Arlington, Virginia; Las Vegas; Mexico City and will debut at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida in 2018.

 

About Disney Springs

Disney Springs is a one-of-a-kind retail, dining and entertainment district located in the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. With its namesake springs, beautiful open-air promenades and lakefront setting, Disney Springs evokes the charm of Florida waterfront towns at the turn of the 20th century. It's also home to a collection of more than 150 shops and restaurants, including top-name retail brands, specialty boutiques and dining experiences created by celebrity and award-winning chefs.  Located in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Disney Springs is open daily. 

Passengers Affected By British Airways IT Problems Eligible For Compensation

The airline was forced to ground all flights in Heathrow and Gatwick airports on Saturday after it experienced an IT system outage around the world. The disruption has continued to cause flight irregularities over the past few days.

Eve Buechner, founder and CEO of refund.me, strongly urges affected travelers to claim compensation from the airline. According to EU Regulation 261/2004, airlines are obliged to pay compensation to passengers who are delayed by more than three hours on arrival at their final destination, unless they can prove the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances.

“An IT failure is most likely the responsibility of the airline, and it is therefore legally required to compensate its passengers,” says Eve Buechner. “A situation like this cannot be regarded as an extraordinary circumstance beyond BA’s control.”

Delta experienced a similar incident in August last year, when a computer failure delayed tens of thousands of passengers. Unlike British Airways, Delta is not a European carrier and therefore not bound by EU law. However, refund.me was able to successfully secure compensation for passengers whose journeys departed from EU member states.

Airberlin Launches New Service To San Francisco From Berlin-Tegel

Airberlin has added its new non-stop connection from Berlin-Tegel to San Francisco. Flight AB7396 took off at 9:40 am with about 200 passengers and 12 crew members on board. It is scheduled to land after about 12 hours in the air at 11:55 am local time at the San Francisco International Airport. airberlin now offers four connections per week between the capital of Germany and the California metropolis, whose trademarks include the Golden Gate Bridge and the historic cable cars.

“Alongside Los Angeles and Orlando, San Francisco is the third of the three new routes to the United States we are launching this summer, completing our long-haul expansion strategy. We are the largest provider of long-haul flights in Berlin and Dusseldorf and continue to strengthen our position,” said airberlin CEO Thomas Winkelmann.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, CEO of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH, Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, Chairman of the Management Board of Berlin Brandenburg GmbH Airport: “airberlin has today launched its second long-haul service from Berlin-Tegel to San Francisco on the US West Coast and its fifth to the US overall. The Pacific Coast city – not far from Silicon Valley – is not only an attractive, diverse destination for tourists visiting the US, but also an important destination for business travelers. We wish airberlin every success with the new route and excellent capacity utilization.”

All airberlin flights to the United States will be operated by long-haul A330-200 jets. Each of the aircraft is equipped with a Business Class that includes 19 FullFlat Seats. Passengers in the Business Class will enjoy exclusive service as well as a selection of premium food and drinks. airberlin also places great emphasis on maximum comfort in Economy Class as well. airberlin’s passengers sitting in one of the 46 XL Seats benefit from 20 per cent more legroom and thus the largest seat pitch on transatlantic flights compared to other airlines.

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Travelore Report, Monthly In Print Since 1971: Travelore Tips: 70 Cities You Can Visit On The Che...: © Bastos - Fotolia.com You can save $193 a night on your next vacation to Miami Beach by simply traveling in September instead of March. ...

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Trump’s Luxury Hotel In New York, Once Hot, Now Is Not

Discount property. (Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi)

First went the professional athletes. Then went the sushi restaurant. Now employees and a fixture of a five-star hotel—turndown service—are the latest to go from a five-star Trump hotel in lower Manhattan.

The 391-room Trump SoHo in lower Manhattan is laying off staff amid a slump in business and asking for less than $400 a night from previous rates of around $700, according to WNYC.

The five-star property, which gets high marks from many guests, is taking its downmarket turn just four months after Donald Trump, whose company runs the hotel, took the US presidency.

Trump opposers such as basketball star LeBron James and even entire NBA teams have refused to stay at Trump-branded properties. WNYC reported a downturn in corporate event bookings at the hotel, which had booked events for companies like Amazon and GE. Celebrities and regular diners have stayed far enough away from hotel sushi restaurant Koi that the eatery last month announced it would close. A server told Grub Street that “the Kardashians stopped coming.”

A hotel spokeswoman told Quartz that “as is common in the hotel industry, and in any business, we continually assess our offerings and services.”

It isn’t entirely clear what is the source of the hotel’s woes. Trump’s new hotel in Washington, just steps from the White House, is humming despite protests about potential conflicts of interest.

But others in Trump’s hometown have shown an aversion to his name. Residents of the Trump Place complex on Manhattan’s West Side petitioned for the president’s name to be removed from the buildings’ façades. And, of course, Trump lost all but Staten Island to Hillary Clinton in voting during the presidential campaign.

A slide in the SoHo hotel’s popularity defies lodging trends in New York City. The number of hotels in the city by the end of 2016 was 631, up nearly 30% from 2011, the year after the Trump SoHo opened, according to data from hotel-analysis firm STR. Occupancy is also up, to 86% last year from 82% in 2011, even as the popularity of home-and-room-sharing platform Airbnb has surged.

Things could get worse for Trump SoHo. In the wake of Trump’s ban on travelers from several majority-Muslim countries, New York’s tourist agency forecast the city’s first decline in foreign visitors since the 2008 financial crisis.

WRITTEN BY Leslie Josephs

Philadelphia's July 4th Celebration Features 50 Free Events

WAWA WELCOME AMERICA 2017 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 50 FREE EVENTS CELEBRATING

THE NATION’S INDEPENDENCE DAY, JUNE 29 – JULY 4, 2017

New Events, Time Honored Traditions and a Few Surprises for 2017

The Honorable James F. Kenney, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, and Welcome America, Inc. today announced 50 free events that will create the 2017 Wawa Welcome America six-day festival Thursday, June 29 through Tuesday, July 4. The Wawa Welcome America festival celebrates American history, education and Philadelphia. The 2017 festival will encompass free, patriotic events throughout the City and concludes with 12 hours of non-stop commemorations and celebrations on July 4th. The theme of this year’s 25th Anniversary Wawa Welcome America is “Everyone is a History Maker.”

Every day of the festival, there will be a Philadelphia museum open to all for free and simultaneous free events all around town for all ages designed with wide-appeal: families, the 21+ Millennial crowd, multicultural, multigenerational, and all are inclusive and open to all. Events include free major concerts, block parties, art exhibitions, movie screenings, and educational events.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 29 at noon at Independence Mall in Philadelphia’s Historic District with the annual Wawa Hoagie Day honoring U.S. troops and concludes on July 4 with the most patriotic events right where it all began at Independence National Historical Park plus the Wawa Welcome America July 4^th Concert and Fireworks starring Mary J. Blige and The Philly POPS® BIG Band on the stage in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Wawa Welcome America July 4^th Concert will honor Philadelphia hometown icons Boyz II Men, the best-selling R&B group of all time with an astounding 64 million albums sold.

The festival schedule has not-to-be-missed events and they are all FREE.  A festival schedule and event details can be found at the brand new WelcomeAmerica.com.  Festival brochures can be found at local Wawa stores in five states – PA, NJ, DE, MD and VA. Downloadable festival guides are available at NBCPhiladelphia.com. Festival guides in Spanish can be found at both WelcomeAmerica.com and  Telemundo62.com. Wawa Welcome America offers hotel packages and travel offers at WelcomeAmerica.com. Another great comprehensive travel resource for planning a trip is VisitPhilly.com.

Wawa Welcome America 2017 festival highlights:

A BIG KICK-OFF TO THE 25^TH ANNIVERSARY

It all starts with Wawa Hoagie Day – Kicking off the festival on Thursday, June 29 at noon at the National Constitution Center at Independence Mall is the crowd-favorite Wawa Hoagie Day. The 25^th annual Wawa Hoagie Day honors U.S. troops. Witness a 6-ton hoagie salute, enjoy free Wawa hoagies, a performance by the USO Show Troupe, and a hoagie building competition of enormous proportions between police and firefighters. In addition, the National Constitution Center is open for free courtesy of Wawa. Thursday, June 29 from 12 – 2 p.m.

Wawa Welcome America Debut! Culture on Tap presented by the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture and Parks & Recreation that together developed a pop-up beer garden with cultural entertainment in City Hall’s Courtyard. Culture on Tap is Philadelphia’s highly popular mobile beer garden. Thursday, June 29 from 4 – 9 p.m.

Wawa Welcome America Debut! Food Trust's Night Market Spruce Hill: Independence Day Weekend Edition at 40th & Walnut Streets will offer a unique family-friendly culinary experience with street eats, live music and neighborhood pride. This is the Food Trust’s debut in West Philadelphia. Thursday, June 29 from 6 – 10 p.m.

NEW EVENTS FESTIVAL-WIDE

More Fireworks! Four Fireworks Shows including two July 4^th Shows around 9:30 p.m. on the Delaware River and at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Schuylkill River – Three fireworks shows, presented by NBCUniversal and Pyrotecnico, will paint Philadelphia’s skies red, white and blue. In 2016, USA Today named Philadelphia’s Wawa Welcome America Fireworks on their list of “10 of the nation’s Best 4^th of July Fireworks Shows.”

• Wawa Welcome America Fireworks presented by NBCUniversal and Pyrotecnico will take place over the Delaware River Waterfront. Official viewing areas include the Delaware River Waterfront, SugarHouse Casino, and One Liberty Observation Deck. Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1 at 9:30 p.m.
• The grand finale includes two simultaneous shows, the Wawa Welcome America Fireworks presented by NBCUniversal and Pyrotecnico over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the Schuylkill River partners with The Freedom Festival Fireworks at Wiggins Park over the Delaware River Waterfront sponsored by the Camden County Chosen Board of Freeholders. Official viewing areas include the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Schuylkill River, the Delaware River Waterfront, SugarHouse Casino, and One Liberty Observation Deck.  Tuesday, July 4 at 9:30 p.m.

New! Events for Millennials 21+

SugarHouse Casino’s Red, White & Brew will feature an evening of great food, drinks, and entertainment by Mo Lowda and the Humble along the Delaware River Waterfront. Following the food and music, attendees can enjoy the spectacular fireworks show as SugarHouse Casino is an official viewing area for fireworks. Saturday, July 1 from 5 – 9 p.m.

New! Red, White and Blue Happy Hours & Brunches – A new version of the previous Wawa Welcome America event called “Taste of Philadelphia” returns in a brand new format of Fourth of July themed happy hours and brunches with food, crafty cocktails, and live entertainment at individual restaurants.  Participating restaurants include: Moshulu, Art Bar | Sonesta, City Tap House Logan, Cafe Cret, Midtown Continental. For a complete list of restaurants and bars, visit WelcomeAmerica.com.

• Friday, June 29 from 4 – 7 p.m. kick off the holiday weekend at a featured happy hour location for the chance to grab some July 4th swag and enter to win two tickets for a VIP experience at the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert and Fireworks. Visit  WelcomeAmerica.com for a complete list of happy hour locations.
• Sunday, July 2 enjoy a Red, White and Brunch at featured Philly favorite brunch spots. Visit WelcomeAmerica.com for a complete list of brunch locations.

New! The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Independence Weekend Salute to Musical Theater at Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Party on July 3 on the Freedom Stage – For the first time during Wawa Welcome America, Broadway shows will be performed in Philadelphia’s Historic District. The star-studded lineup gives audiences a sneak peek at the 2017-2018 Broadway Philadelphia season featuring performances from some of Broadway’s hottest shows coming straight to Philadelphia. Monday, July 3. Time TBD.

New Twist!  A Wawa Welcome America Favorite Returns, the Sand Sculpture Spectacular – 2017 will see the return of the art of sand sculpting. Beginning June 20, world-renowned sculptors will transform the Rotunda at The Shops at Liberty Place into a Sand Sculpture Spectacular with hand-carved scenes depicting Philadelphia icons and historic figures out of 24 tons of sand. Attendees can also see a pop-up sculpture in the neighboring One Liberty Observation Deck. Debuts June 20 through the month of July.

New Events in More Philadelphia Neighborhoods Presented by Wells Fargo and produced by The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, and Wawa Welcome America – Citywide Community Day Performances in Public Spaces, will showcase ten performers in ten different neighborhoods across Philadelphia as well as a fun activity for attendees to enjoy. Performances are FREE and family friendly ranging from hip hop dancing, jazz, capoeira, and storytelling performed in historic homes, public parks and squares, and plazas that are in the heart of these communities. Saturday, July 1. Times vary.

WAWA WELCOME AMERICA TRADITIONS

PECO GO 4^th & Learn – Wawa Welcome America is about engaging children throughout Philadelphia with educational activities, to encourage learning while school is out for the summer. Courtesy of Books In Homes USA, 9,000 free books will be provided to children. Beneficial Bank and Beneficial Foundation games and activities on financial literacy will travel to all events, and additional free giveaways will be provided for kids to enjoy. Go 4^th & Learn’s fun educational interactive activities and demonstrations highlight American history, financial literacy, STEM, Spanish language, fitness & health, and arts & culture at the Mummers Museum, Fairhill Square, and the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Free Museum Days – Five days of free admission to ten museums including the National Constitution Center (courtesy of Wawa), the Penn Museum, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (evening), the African American Museum in Philadelphia, One Liberty Observation Deck (morning), Philadelphia Museum of Art (pay what you wish), The Barnes Foundation (courtesy of PECO), the National Liberty Museum, the Philadelphia History Museum, and The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University.

Philly @ The Movies presented by St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children – When the sun goes down, the screens go up for free movies under the stars. Three free outdoor movie screenings will take place at The Piazza at Schmidt’s, the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Franklin Square.

Free Concerts – The highlight of every Wawa Welcome America festival is all the free musical entertainment. This year’s concert lineup includes:

• Free family-friendly performances citywide including The Mummers Museums’ Summer Mummers Concert, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” June 29 – July 1 at 8 p.m. Various Locations.
• Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Party on July 3 will feature three performance stages for artists to showcase their freedom of expression; the arts, music and speech. The Block Party will be followed by a performance by The Philly POPS in front of Independence Hall at a new time beginning at 7 p.m. Bring your picnic baskets and your friends.  Monday, July 3 from 12 – 8 p.m.

A BIG TUESDAY, JULY 4^TH TO CONCLUDE THE 25^TH ANNIVERSARY

Celebration of Freedom Ceremony – On the morning of July 4, The City of Philadelphia’s Office of the City Representative will present the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony at Independence Hall at 10 a.m. where Philadelphia’s music icons Boyz II Men will be honored for their achievements in music and philanthropy. The Philly POPS® BIG Band debuts. The Wawa Foundation will also present The Wawa Foundation Hero Award. The award is presented to a non-profit organization that is committed to serving the greater Philadelphia area. Financial grants of $80,000 will be awarded. Mayor Kenney will present the Magis Award to Philadelphia Hometown Hero Ralph Galati. Mr. Galati’s service has been honored with The Silver Star, The Bronze Star with Valor with one Oak Leaf Cluster, The Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Cluster, The Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster and The Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.  Tuesday, July 4 at 10 a.m.

Independence Day Parade – 4,000 marchers will parade through Historic Philadelphia during the patriotic Independence Day Parade. Tuesday, July 4 at 11 a.m.

All-Day Entertainment and Commemorative Events – Enjoy FREE entertainment on Independence Mall while exploring Philadelphia’s Historic District.

• Join Independence National Historical Park for its annual Let Freedom Ring Ceremony which begins at 1 p.m. behind Independence Hall followed by a Bell Tapping Ceremony at 

1:45 p.m. at the Liberty Bell Center (plan to be in line by 1 p.m.).

• 6th Annual Birthday Party at the Independence Visitor Center hosted by Betsy Ross and Termini Bros. Bakery – A spectacular five-tier cake will be decorated and 2,500 cupcakes displayed in the shape of an American flag at the Visitor Center throughout the morning starting at 9 a.m. The birthday celebration begins at 1 p.m. when Betsy Ross will lead the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday.” Stop by after the parade for a slice of cake. First come, first served.
• On July 4, the Betsy Ross House hosts a Children’s Naturalization Ceremony. Sponsored by the Flag House Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, witness 13 children take the Oath of Citizenship in this moving ceremony at 1:30 p.m.

THE PARTY ON THE PARKWAY

Enjoy five blocks of FREE entertainment, food and fun for all ages July 4 from 12 noon to 7 p.m. at Party on the Parkway.  Families can enjoy an interactive kid’s area featuring the Strider Bikes obstacle course, Zipline, games, and make-and-take arts and crafts. Animal lovers can bring their furry friends to enjoy the Amtrak Pet Friendly area. The 21+ crowd can kick back and relax in two beer gardens, and all can enjoy the diverse food and music from the Philly Groove stage.

LIVE NATION PHILADELPHIA PRODUCES THE JULY 4^TH CONCERT ON THE PARKWAY

• For the second year, KIDZ BOP Kids will perform the group’s only free live concert on July 4 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 1 p.m. on the main stage. Bring the kids!

• The Wawa Welcome America July 4^th Concert on Independence Day is free, open to the public and begins promptly at 7 p.m. (a new time). Celebrity performances on the iconic Benjamin Franklin Parkway will headline the non-stop live concert featuring food trucks, beer gardens and fun activities. Performers include:
  • Musical pioneer and “the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul,” Mary J. Blige, her only free concert in America during her “Strength of a Woman” tour.

• A ceremony honoring Philadelphia hometown icons Boyz II Men.

• The Philly POPS® BIG Band joined by Mandy Gonzalez from the Tony Award-winning hit musicals Hamilton, In the Heights and Wicked, and Billboard top 10 jazz singer, pianist and songwriter Tony DeSare. The POPS were the first performers at the very first free concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 1993.

THE POWER OF COMCAST NBCUNIVERSAL AND NBC10 & TELEMUNDO62

Through the combined assets of Comcast NBCUniversal, Philadelphians across the region will be able to experience the iconic celebration on television and online on NBC10, Telemundo62, Cozi TV, TCN, and TeleXitos. NBC10 will broadcast the Wawa Welcome America July 4^th Concert and Fireworks live during primetime in its entirety from 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4 and in Spanish on Telemundo62 from 7 to 8 p.m. The free concert will also be live streamed on NBCPhiladelphia.com and  Telemundo62.com.

SPONSORS MAKE IT ALL FREE!

2017 sponsors/partners of the festival include The City of Philadelphia, Wawa, Comcast NBCUniversal, Live Nation Philadelphia, Philadelphia International Airport, Visit Philadelphia, One Liberty Observation Deck, PECO, Wells Fargo, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, SugarHouse Casino, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Amtrak, Beneficial Bank, Beneficial Foundation, Pennsylvania Lottery, Pyrotecnico, The Schmidt’s Commons, The Shops at Liberty Place, Sonesta Philadelphia, Tastykake, Books In Homes USA, Aetna, Moshulu, Keystone Property Group, Old City District, Kindy’s, and Global Philadelphia. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, emailinformation@welcomeamerica.com for more information. 

About Welcome America, Inc.

Welcome America, Inc. is a 501c3, non-profit organization in public-private partnership with the City of Philadelphia. Welcome America, Inc.’s mission is to promote American history, education and Philadelphia. The organization seeks to enhance the resident and visitor experience through citywide events that provide an economic boost to the local economy. Moving forward, Welcome America, Inc. will produce and assist in the growth of select city events year-round that can increase awareness of Philadelphia as an event destination.

For more information, visit  www.WelcomeAmerica.com. Join the conversation at:

• Facebook – www.facebook.com/WawaWelcomeAmerica
• Twitter – www.twitter.com/July4thPhilly
• Instagram – www.instagram.com/July4thPhilly