Event details

Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Time: 9:50 AM – 10:45 AM

We The People 250: A National Convening of Mayors will bring mayors from across the country to Philadelphia in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Hosted by the United States Conference of Mayors and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, the convening will highlight the role cities play in shaping our nation’s past, present, and future.

As part of the celebration, mayors will participate in the Procession of Mayors on Thursday, July 2, beginning at Philadelphia City Hall and concluding at the Museum of the American Revolution. The procession will celebrate civic leadership and honor Philadelphia’s historic role as the birthplace of American democracy.

Road closures

Closure hours: 9:30 AM – 11 AM

The following streets will be closed to accommodate parade activities:

• Market Street between City Hall and 6th Street
• 6th Street between Market Street and Chestnut Street
• Chestnut Street between 6th Street and 3rd Street

Event details

Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Time: 7 AM – 9 PM

A vibrant display of patriotic celebration, Red, White, & Blue To-Do will bring together museums, historic sites, and local businesses in America’s most historic square mile to honor our nation’s founding. This monumental occasion promises to be a memorable experience for all, featuring the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, festooned decor, concerts, games, extended visitation hours at area historic attractions, restaurant specials, and much more.

• Living Liberty Bell (7 AM) – Gathering 250 people to create an outline of the famous bell on Independence Mall.
• Official Flag Raising at the Betsy Ross House (9 AM) – Bells will ring, museums and historic sites open, and the official flag is raised at the Betsy Ross House.
• Historic District Attractions (10 AM) – Open all day!
• Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade (11 AM) – Launching from the National Constitution Center.
• WXPN Welcomes the Red, White, & Blue Music Series (2 PM) – Free at 11 locations throughout the Historic District.
• Red, White, & Rosé Picnic (5 PM) – NEW for 2026 along Arch Street, between 5th & 6th Streets.
• Wawa Welcome America’s Salute to Service with Queen Latifah (7 PM)  – Next to the Independence Visitor Center.
• Independence Illumination Drone Show (9 PM) – Viewable from Independence Mall.

Traffic impacts

Red, White, and Blue To Do

Road closures 

• Arch Street between 4th Street and 6th Street: 5 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Chestnut Street between 2nd Street and 5th Street: 11 a.m. until the conclusion of the parade
• Walnut Street between 2nd Street and 4th Street: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• 5th Street between Race Street and Chestnut Street: 12 p.m. on July 2 through 5 p.m. on July 3

Rolling parade closures 

• Market Street at 5th Street: Beginning at 11 a.m. until the parade passes
• Chestnut Street at 5th Street: Beginning at 11:15 a.m. until the parade passes

Salute to Service: United States Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus

Road closures (3 p.m. – 9 p.m.)

• Market Street between 5th Street and 6th Street
• 6th Street between Arch Street and Market Street

Lane closure 

• Northbound traffic lane on Market Street between 5th Street and 6th Street closed from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Pedestrian impact 

• North sidewalk on Market Street between 5th Street and 6th Street closed from 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Event details

Date: Friday, July 3, 2026
Time: 12 PM – 4 PM

One of our most beloved traditions returns in 2026 — bigger and more historic than ever. The Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade will take center stage as the largest professionally produced Semiquincentennial (250th) celebration parade in the nation.

This spectacular parade will feature 250 vibrant elements representing all 50 states and U.S. territories, including all 52 Miss America state and territory titleholders, each showcasing their home state or territory through themed performances and visuals.

Parade watch zones

Guests can marvel at the parade throughout the entire route or celebrate at one of the official Cheer Zones:

• Wawa Cheer Zone (6th and Market Streets) – Cool down at the Wawa Cheer Zone with free iced teas and lemonades provided by Wawa (while supplies last). Guests can also enjoy complimentary Sparkling Ice beverages, Herr’s chips,  and free Krimpets courtesy of Tastykake, our Snack Break Partner of the day. JD Sports will bring its Heritage Bus experience to fans on the ground with immersive programming rooted in sport, music, and culture, featuring appearances from creator and cultural voice Tunji Taylor.
• East Market Cheer Zone (Between 11th and 12th Streets on Market Street) – Come by East Market’s Cheer Zone with entertainment by Deejay Jonathan, giveaways, and specials from East Market eateries!
• City Hall Cheer Zone (Northeast side of City Hall) – Make sure to stop by the City Hall Cheer Zone for giveaways starting at noon.Guests 21 and over can enjoy beverages for purchase from 12 PM to 3 PM, including refreshing Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktails and On the Rocks Canned Cocktails

Cooling buses

Two cooling buses will be available along the parade route to provide relief for attendees. Locations include:

• 11th and Market Streets
• Broad and Chestnut Streets

Road closures

Closure hours: 4 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The following streets will be closed to accommodate parade staging and formation activities:

• 3rd Street between Spruce Street and Arch Street
• 4th Street between Spruce Street and Arch Street
• 5th Street between Spruce Street and Arch Street

Parade route closures

Closure hours: Beginning at 11:30 a.m. until the conclusion of the parade

The following streets will be closed to accommodate the parade route and related operations:

• E. Market from 6th Street to 17th Street
• 7th Street between Arch Street and Walnut Street
• 8th Street between Arch Street and Walnut Street
• 9th Street between Arch Street and Walnut Street
• 10th Street between Arch Street and Walnut Street
• 11th Street between Arch Street and Walnut Street
• 12th Street between Arch Street and Walnut Street
• 13th Street between Arch Street and Walnut Street
• John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Juniper Street and 17th Street
• N. Broad Street between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Arch Street
• S. Broad Street between S. Penn Square and Walnut Street
• 15th Street between Cherry Street and Chestnut Street

Event details

Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Times:

• Gates open at 3 p.m.
• Concert begins at 5 p.m.
• Fireworks begin at 11:30 p.m.

The One Philly: Unity Concert For America will have star-studded performances from Christina Aguilera, Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jill Scott, The Roots, Meek Mill, Seal, State Property, Kathy Sledge, Infinity Song, and other special guests. Join us to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary and Philadelphia’s legacy as the birthplace of the nation. The concert will be hosted by Wanda Sykes and include appearances from Gillie Da King and Wallo267.

Road closures

Tuesday, June 30

The inner lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street to Binswanger Triangle will close beginning Tuesday, June 30 at 6 a.m. These closures will remain in effect through Monday, July 6 at 6 a.m.

Please note: The outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will reopen on Tuesday, June 30 at 6 a.m. and will remain open until the full Parkway closure begins.

Friday, July 3

All closures listed below are in effect from approximately 6 a.m. on Friday, July 3 to 6 a.m. on Monday, July 6, unless otherwise noted:

• 1900 Race Street
• 1800-1900 Vine Street
• I-676 Off-Ramp at 22nd Street
• I-676 On-Ramp at 22nd Street
• I-76 eastbound Off-Ramp at Spring Garden Street
• Spring Garden Tunnel
• Park Towne Place between 22nd Street and 24th Street
• 20th Street between Arch Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
• 19th Street between Callowhill Street and Cherry Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 17th Street to Eakins Oval (all lanes)
• Eakins Oval (all lanes)
• Kelly Drive between Eakins Oval and Fairmount Avenue (Kelly Drive inbound closed at Fountain Green Drive beginning at approximately 5:00 p.m.)
• Rear of Art Museum – Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive
• 2000-2100 Winter Street
• MLK Drive from Falls Bridge to Eakins Oval
• Spring Garden Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and 31st Street
• 23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Eakins Oval
• 22nd Street between Winter Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
• 21st Street between Winter Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
• All roads from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street, 18th Street to 22nd Street (local access maintained for residents)
• All roads from Arch Street to Fairmount Avenue, 22nd Street to Corinthian Street (local access maintained for residents)
• 16th and 17th Streets, between Arch Street and Spring Garden Street will be closed only if conditions warrant in the interest of public safety
• 1600-1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed only if conditions warrant in the interest of public safety

Due to public safety interests relating to the fireworks show, all roads listed below will be closed from 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 to approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, unless noted otherwise:

• Kelly Drive from Fairmount Avenue to Fountain Green Drive
• Waterworks Drive

Note: Parkway closures may begin earlier than scheduled based on crowd size and public safety needs.

Additional traffic impacts and increased pedestrian activity are expected due to the overlap of July 4 celebrations and the FIFA Fan Festival. Travelers should allow extra time and consider using public transportation whenever possible.

FIFA Fan Festival closures of Poplar Drive and Lemon Hill Drive remain in effect.

Any changes to the list above will be shared on this page.

Getting to the concert

Philadelphia’s mass transit system, SEPTA, offers two subway lines, regional rail service to and from the surrounding suburbs, and bus service throughout the city.

L, B, T and Regional Rail will have special schedules with enhanced service to support the July 4 events happening throughout the city. Most Regional Rail lines provide additional inbound and outbound service before the fireworks; all Regional Rail lines (except Airport & Cynwyd) provide late-night outbound service from Jefferson, Suburban and William H. Gray III 30th St stations after the fireworks. All other services (D, M, and bus) operate on a Sunday schedule. Routes that do not have Sunday schedules will not operate.

SEPTA Ambassadors will be on-site at select major stations during the evening hours for crowd control and to provide directions after the July 4 FIFA match and July 4 Concert and Fireworks on the Ben Franklin Parkway. Look for them in blue labeled vests, as pictured below. Additional security personnel will also be available at select stations to assist you.

Bus detours

Due to road closures, buses that travel on or near the Parkway will be detoured starting at 5 a.m. on Thursday, July 2 through 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. Routes detoured: 7, 32, 33, 38, 43, 48 and 49.

Check SEPTA’s website for full details on transit options.

SEPTA travel tips

• The Ben Franklin Parkway is best accessed from the 15th Street Market-Frankford Line Station and Race-Vine or City Hall Broad Street Line Station
• Visit the Fares section for fare and SEPTA Key information
• Download the SEPTA App for iPhone and Android devices. Visit the Google Play or Apple App Store.
• View alerts, advisories and detours across the system. To get the latest service news, call Customer Service at 215-580-7800 or follow SEPTA’s X account.

Check SEPTA’s website for full details on transit options.

Weather and heat precautions

With the potential for high temperatures, there is a risk of heat-related health issues. Many heat stress or heat exhaustion issues can be avoided by taking simple precautions.

Attendees should follow all proper precautions to protect themselves and their families against the heat. All festival-goers should stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, and avoiding alcoholic beverages, caffeine, and excessive layers of clothing.

Water misting stations will be available at the following locations:

• 22nd and Benjamin Franklin Parkway (north and south sides)
• Spring Garden and Eakins Oval (T-ball field)

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

For more tips on how to beat the heat, visit the City’s heat guide.

Philadelphia’s FIFA Fan Festival™ is free and open to the public from June 11 to July 19 at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park.

Before you go, visit Philadelphia’s Fan Festival website for more information.

Registration and admission

While general admission is free, all attendees are strongly encouraged to register for the FIFA Fan Festival™

Maximum capacity is 15,000 people. When the venue reaches capacity, admission is done on a rolling basis. To enter the festival, guests must follow security screening protocols, including metal detectors and bag checks.

Check out the full list of prohibited and allowed items.

What to expect

Fans from around the world have come to Philadelphia to experience FIFA World Cup 2026™. Attendees can join energetic watch parties, try out local food trucks, or enjoy the performances and interactive experiences provided by FIFA Commercial Partners and Host City Supporters.

You can find more details on Philadelphia’s Fan Festival website.

There are many ways to get to Fan Festival, including Philadelphia’s mass transit system, SEPTA, and the Philly PHLASH buses.

You can find more transportation and parking details on Philadelphia’s Fan Festival website.

Hospitality Hubs

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Office of Special Events established Hospitality Hubs along the walking routes to and from City Hall and the FIFA Fan Festival. Hubs are located at the following locations:

• Love Park
  • Accessible restrooms, hydration station, seating, vending, and spray park.
• Logan Square
  • Accessible restrooms, hydration station, seating, programming, and visitor information.
• Eakins Oval
  • Accessible restrooms, hydration station, visitor information, and spray park.
• Lloyd Hall at Boathouse Row
  • Accessible restrooms, hydration station, vending, and cafe.

There are major street closures around Lemon Hill, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Notice: Additional closures may be implemented by the Philadelphia Police Department based on conditions in the interest of public safety.

Lemon Hill and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway

There will be two main road closure areas between Center City and Lemon Hill, near Fan Festival and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The local lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed from Memorial Day, May 25, to Labor Day, September 7, with the exception of the July 4th Concert festivities. This local lane closure will provide greater accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists and will encourage people to walk and bike between Center City and Lemon Hill.

For the Philadelphia FIFA Fan Festival™, the following streets within the Lemon Hill area will be closed from Tuesday, May 26 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, July 26 at 8 p.m.:

• Sedgley Drive from Kelly Drive to Poplar Drive
• Poplar Street from Poplar Drive to 30th Street (local access maintained)
• Poplar Street from 29th Street to 30th Street (westbound only; local access maintained)
• Poplar Drive from Sedgley Drive to Girard Avenue
• Sedgley Drive from Girard Avenue to Lemon Hill Drive
• Lemon Hill Drive & N. Lemon Hill Drive (Loop Road)

The above-listed streets will be posted as “Temporary No Parking” zones, with parking restricted after 5 a.m. on May 26. Motorists must adhere to “Temporary No Parking” signs.

Waterworks Drive

Beginning on June 11 through July 19, Waterworks Drive will be closed at 10 a.m. each day for the duration of the Fan Festival, with controlled access for Waterworks and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Waterworks Drive will be available for general parking each morning until 9 a.m.

Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated. If you believe your car has been relocated, call the police district of the area where your car was parked.

Learn more about the City’s plans to support transportation access and festival operations.

• Visit our stadium transportation blog post for important information, like how to get there, public transportation, and rideshare details.
• Visit FIFA’s official know before you go guide for important stadium information, like hours, stadium policies, and prohibited items.
• For more information about general public tickets and ticket sales, please visit FIFA.com/tickets.
• For additional questions related to ticketing, including accessibility and parking, please visit the official FAQ Sheet.

The Office of Special Events manages a list of upcoming road closures that have been issued special event permits. Jump to the posts on this page for details about large-scale events with multiple road closures, parking restrictions, and public safety measures.

StreetsSmartPHL is your go-to portal for viewing information about Streets Department activities. Residents can get up-to-date information on:

• Street and sidewalk closure permits.
• Paving operations.
• Trash and recycling collection.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) web page features helpful region- and event-specific resources, along with event maps dedicated to monitoring traffic conditions on primary travel routes to each event.

As Philadelphia prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 26™ Fan Festival at Lemon Hill, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) is implementing temporary parking measures to help protect residential access during the tournament. Temporary residential parking permits will be required at no cost for all vehicles parked on the street within the Lemon Hill area.

Permit zone and enforcement period

From Thursday, June 11th, through Sunday, July 19, 2026, vehicles parked in the Lemon Hill permit zone must have an approved temporary residential parking permit.

The PPA’s interactive map highlights the permit zone boundaries and streets. If you park in the residential area, you must have an approved temporary permit to avoid being ticketed and towed. Notice: Current residential parking permit holders within the permit zone also need to apply for the Lemon Hill temporary permit.

How to apply and permit details

Affected residents and businesses can apply for the permit:

• Online on the PPA’s Lemon Hill website.
• In person at the PPA Permit Office at 35 N. 8th St.
• At local events with a PPA table for registration.

You may need a specific permit for your event or block party. Some permits are handled by different City departments. Review the following information carefully.

Block party permit

Residents can apply to close their street for a block party. This application requires signatures from your neighbors and is permitted by the Streets Department. You can contact the Streets Department at (215) 686-5500 or (215) 686-5502 Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Block Party Bonanza program

Block Party Bonanza applications are open! Learn more about the program and how your block can be considered by visiting our Block Party Bonanza blog post. Eligible block parties must take place between May 23 and October 3.

Special event application

For larger events in business corridors, including street festivals, a Special Event Application may be required and is permitted by the Office of Special Events. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Special Events at (215) 686-3488.

Other event permits

For events taking place in Parks & Recreation sites, such as parks, fields, or rec centers, you need permits from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

If you have any issues with City services, contact 311. The City will continue to provide day-to-day services for residents throughout the summer during major events. Additional sanitation services and resources will be made available during peak summer months in anticipation of increased visitor traffic.

Emergency contacts

• Medical, police, or fire emergencies: call 911 
• SEPTA Transit Police: call (215) 580-8111 or text-a-tip to (215) 234-1911
• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988

Police and fire stations

• Find a police district
• Find a fire station

Non-emergency and City service information

• Visit Philly311’s website or call 311

Whenever you go to a big event, keep these tips in mind to ensure the safety of yourself and others:

• Look for the nearest exit and alternative options. If you’re with a group, discuss an emergency meet-up location in case you get separated.
• If bringing children, ensure they wear bright colors or distinctive clothing. Take a picture of them before leaving and email it to yourself. Write your phone number on a bracelet, on their wrist, or on a piece of paper in their pocket.
• If you see something suspicious, report it right away. See Something Send Something (See Send) is a nationwide suspicious activity reporting (SAR) tool for citizens to help in the fight against terrorism. Download the See Something Send Something app.

Check out the Office of Emergency Management’s safety guide for special events.

• The City issues different types of heat alerts, depending on the weather. During very hot weather, the City may declare a heat health emergency.
• During very hot weather, the City can declare a Code Red to protect people who are homeless. A Code Red also affects dog shelter requirements.

Human trafficking can happen anywhere, and major transit hubs are often used in trafficking situations. Learn how to recognize signs of human trafficking.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. To contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

• Call (888) 373-7888 (phone interpretation services are provided).
• Send a text to 233733.
• Use the hotline website’s live chat.