Updated Wawa Welcome America Festival schedule for July 2. The following adjustments were announced for events amid extreme heat this week.

Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade (New shorter route) Kicks off at the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, at 11am featuring 13 whimsical red wagon floats decked out with Philadelphia icons and patriotic flair. The Parade also features drill teams, cultural dance troupes, and national and international youth performers representing the diversity of the city. Launching from the National Constitution Center, the parade travels past the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, turning left onto Chestnut Street and ending at Carpenters’ Hall.

The All-American Block Party (Cancelled)

Red, White, & Rosé Picnic (New start time 6pm) On Independence Mall with picnic seating and food trucks along Arch Street, between 5th & 6th Streets. During the picnic, visitors can check out Float Fest, viewing the elaborate floats alongside the Mall which will be used in the July 3rd Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade.

Salute to Service: The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus with superstar Queen Latifah (New start time 8pm) The U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus returns on the Independence Concert Series Stage presented by VISIT PHILADELPHIA® to Independence Mall with a rousing performance honoring our Soldiers and Veterans, while showcasing the talented musicians and artists in the Army.

Independence Illumination Drone Show (New start time 10pm) A spectacular 13-minute drone show viewable from Independence Mall, where hundreds of illuminated drones create breathtaking great moments from the country’s 250 years with flag themed imagery and patriotic animations in the night sky.

Visit Wawa Welcome America’s website for more information on events and follow them on Instagram, X, and Facebook

Services

Office of Emergency Management

Focusing people, plans, and programs to promote a prepared and resilient Philadelphia.

What we do

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) works to ensure the City of Philadelphia is ready for any kind of emergency. OEM works with organizations throughout the City to prepare for possible emergencies in the City, lessen their impact, and recover as quickly as possible.

To meet our mission, OEM:

Teaches the public how to prepare for emergencies.
Develops public safety plans for major events within the City.
Oversees development of the City’s plans for large-scale emergencies and disasters.
Conducts training and exercises to test the effectiveness of plans and policies.
Collects, analyzes, and disseminates incident information.
Coordinates and supports responses to and recovery from emergencies.
Obtains funding in support of preparedness for Philadelphia.