Philadelphia– The City of Philadelphia today released additional details for the 2016 Budweiser Made in America Music Festival, an exciting, two-day music event during Labor Day weekend. Now in its fifth year, the event will be produced locally by Live Nation, Roc Nation and DPS on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  The festival will feature a roster of more than 60 musicians who embody the diverse American musical landscape. The City of Philadelphia will provide operational support for the festival.

“The Budweiser Made in America Festival has become one of Philadelphia’s marquee annual events, drawing more than 100,000 people to the iconic Benjamin Franklin Parkway for a holiday weekend of music and fun,” said Mayor Jim Kenney.  “This festival draws visitors to Philadelphia from every corner of the country, and we welcome our guests to explore and experience all that our great city has to offer.”

Proceeds from the Budweiser Made in America Festival in Philadelphia will benefit United Way of Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Berks County. The festival’s primary goal is to have a positive impact on the communities involved by raising and investing money towards the education and health of the most vulnerable and needy citizens in these regions.

Festival Activities & Information

The 2016 Budweiser Made in America artists will perform on five stages along the Parkway on Saturday, September 3rd and Sunday, September 4th.  Performances are scheduled to begin at 1:00PM and doors will open each day at noon.  Performances will run until approximately 12:00AM on Saturday and 11:30PM on Sunday.  For tickets, lineup and general information about the Budweiser Made in America Festival, visit www.madeinamericafest.com.

Public Transportation and Paid Parking

SEPTA is a convenient, affordable way for festival-goers to get to and from the concert grounds.  SEPTA service changes/alerts include:

Broad Street and Market Frankford Lines: Local train service will operate on a normal weekend schedule throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.  Race-Vine and City Hall Stations on the Broad Street Line and 15th Street Station on the Market Frankford Line provide easy walking access to the festival gates on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Broad Street and Market Frankford Lines will offer overnight service as usual on Saturday.

Regional Rail: Late-night train service will be available on SEPTA’s Regional Rail Lines on Saturday and Sunday nights departing from Jefferson, Suburban and 30th Street Stations. Special schedules will be posted in stations and are also available online at: www.septa.org/events.  If the concert runs late on Saturday or Sunday, these trains will be held for approximately 20 minutes after the concert ends. Parking is free at all SEPTA-owned Regional Rail lots on weekends. Parking lot location information is available online at:  www.septa.org/parking.

Trolley: Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34 and 36 offer convenient service to and from the concert, with 19th and 22nd Street Stations providing easy walking access to Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  Trolley Route 15 connects with Broad Street and Market Frankford Line service at Girard Avenue.

Bus: Due to Festival-related street closures, SEPTA Routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43 and 48 will be detoured from its normal routes through the Benjamin Franklin Parkway area beginning at 10:00am on Friday, September 2nd through 5:00 am on Monday, September 5th. Specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at www.septa.org

SEPTA Customer Service will extend its hours of operation on Saturday and Sunday, with phone and online agents available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Customer service can be reached at 215-580-7800 and directly on Twitter @septa_social. For more information on SEPTA and NJ Transit routes and schedules during Labor Day weekend, visit www.septa.org or call 215-580-7800, and www.njtransit.org or call 973-275-5555.

PHLASH transportation is an inexpensive way to visit key attractions in Center City and the Parkway vicinity, with stops at 22 locations including many in Center City.  Find PHLASH on the go, with live updates at RidePhillyPHLASH.com and visit www.phillyphlash.com for a schedule and route details.

 If driving is necessary, commercial off-street parking lots and garages conveniently are located on or near the Parkway.  Contact individual facilities in advance for rates and availability, or visit the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s website at www.philapark.org for a list of parking options. The Budweiser Made in America Festival is not affiliated with these parking facilities.

Cultural Institutions

Most of the cultural institutions on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will maintain normal hours of operation and, in some cases, even extend schedules during the Festival and throughout Labor Day weekend.

During the Budweiser Made in America Festival, the west entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be open and visitors may obtain access via pathways north and south of this entrance. Art Museum Drive will be open at 25th Street, with access to the museum’s parking garage for museum visitors throughout the weekend.

The Franklin Institute will be open throughout Labor Day weekend, and the parking garage located at 21st & Winter Streets will be accessible.

Parking for other Parkway institutions, either free or paid, is available directly at or near the individual facilities.  Refer to the www.parkwaymuseumsdistrict.org or the institutions’ individual websites for more information on exhibit hours, ticketing, parking, accessibility and accommodations.

 

Venue Details and Public Safety Information

The perimeter of the festival will be firmly secured and protected for maximum public safety. The enclosed event boundaries are:

  • 21st Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Park Town Place
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 20th Street to 25th Street
  • The south side of Eakins Oval from Martin Luther King Drive to 24th Street
  • Park Towne Place from 24th Street to 20th Street

Throughout the event, the City will provide a strong presence of law enforcement and emergency medical services.  The City and Budweiser Made in America Festival officials will utilize a network of prevention and response services, which will be integrated, mobile and in constant communication.

The Budweiser Made in America venue features multiple entrances/exits for ticket-holders during the two-day festival.  The three main entrances are located at 21st Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Another general admission entrance is located at 22nd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.  Re-entry to the venue will not be permitted on either day. 

Access to the venue is limited strictly to ticket-holders, who will be subject to searches before being permitted inside the venue to ensure the enjoyment and safety of everyone at the festival.  Ticket holders should be prepared for additional searches inside the venue at the discretion of festival security staff. Spectators are strongly discouraged from carrying bags, backpacks, or satchels of any kind.  All bags are subject to search.  If you are attending the festival activities, make a plan regarding driving, public transit, parking, supervision of children and wearing comfortable attire.

Leave no bags or items unattended.  In an emergency or to report a suspicious person, activity or item (a backpack, a package, a container), notify a police officer immediately or call 9-1-1.  Do not try to open, move, cover or touch a suspicious item.

 Items allowed inside the venue include: 

  • Factory-sealed plastic water bottles 1 per person up to 1 liter
  • Empty plastic water containers 1 per person up to 64 ounces for re-use at water refill stations (drinking water will be available for purchase and there will be water stations for re-filling bottles)
  • One small non-framed backpack or bag subject to search and re-search (all searched bags will be tagged following search)
  • Blankets and towels
  • Umbrellas (small hand-held only)
  • Non-professional cameras, flip-cams, camera phones
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses, government issued I.D., cash/debit cards/credit cards are encouraged

 

Items NOT allowed inside the venue include but are not limited to:

  • Weapons and contraband of any kind (regardless of permitting, e.g. Right-to-Carry permits will not be honored and weapons will be confiscated)
  • Fireworks or explosives
  • Illegal or illicit substances of any kind
  • Hydration packs of any kind (backpacks, waist bands or other hydration items and inserts)
  • Food and non-water beverages including alcohol taken in from the outside
  • Pets (except trained service animals)
  • Flyers, handbills, posters, stickers (no solicitation allowed)
  • Chairs
  • Glass containers
  • Skateboards, motorized vehicles or scooters
  • Coolers
  • Professional recording devices or cameras (no detachable lenses or tripods meant for   commercial use)
  • Fluorescent plastic lights (glow sticks)
  • Laser pointers
  • Items that would obstruct others’ view of the stages (kites, flag poles, large signs, etc.)

Smoking is not permitted on any Parks & Recreation property including, but limited to, buildings, playgrounds, ice or skating rinks, fields or courts, pools, picnic areas, walking areas and parking lots.

Take missing or lost persons to a security location, which will be identified on the Parkway.

Found items can be taken to various information tents placed throughout the venue.

Alpha-numeric “Location Markers” will be posted to clearly and easily identify a location or section (by letter and number, example: CD-1) to facilitate communication in the event of an emergency.

EMS tents are located at the north and south sides of 23rd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway and near the Rocky Statue to the right of the main stage.

For more information on the venue, concessions, accommodations and directions, visit www.madeinamericafest.com

Emergency Weather Alerts & Heat-related Precautions Information

Budweiser Made in America is a rain or shine event.  In the case of severe weather, listen for announcements and sign up ahead of time to receive emergency texts or e-mail alerts at ReadyPhiladelphia: www.phila.gov/ready.  Plan for a safe, informed holiday.

In the event of high temperatures, be aware of the risk of heat-related health issues.  EMS personnel will be on duty all day at accessible first aid stations and will be on patrol to monitor activities.  Many heat stress or heat exhaustion issues can be avoided by taking simple precautions.

  • Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water; avoid over-indulging in alcoholic liquids, caffeine and avoid wearing excessive layers of clothing.

 

  • Consider the Three L’s Rule: light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting. Wear garments made of natural fibers like cotton.

 

 

For tips and general information about being prepared and ready at special events, read the Special Event Safety Guide before you attend.  Visit: https://alpha.phila.gov/news/oem/office-of-emergency-management-creates-special-events-safety-guide-for-visitors-attending-large-gatherings/

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