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Parades, food, special events: What to see during the "Red, White, and Blue To-Do"
By Joe BrandtRoss DiMattei,
8 hours ago
Philadelphia prepares for the "Red White and Blue To-Do" ahead of Independence Day 05:41
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- While we celebrate Independence Day on July 4 in memory of the Declaration of Independence, founding father and second President John Adams envisioned July 2 as a day of "pomp and parade ." That's the date in 1776 that the Continental Congress voted and officially declared freedom from Great Britain.
Now, Philly is celebrating this pre-Independence Day with the Red, White, and Blue To-Do. Around Old City, museums, historic sites and businesses will honor the founding of the United States with decor, concerts, games and extended hours — plus specials at many Old City restaurants.
"We're getting ready for the 250th birthday in 2026 and we wanted to start this year," said Vince Stango, the National Constitution Center's chief operating officer. "We wanted to bring back the history, we wanted to add to the excitement of Independence Week, and we wanted to give families and tourists a new tradition to start in 2024."
Check out everything planned for the big day below.
Full schedule of events for Red, White, and Blue To-Do in Philadelphia
The festivities begin with a children's naturalization ceremony at the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House at 239 Arch Street. The plan is for 13 children, one for each star of the colonial flag, to take the citizenship oath. Kids will be presented with a flag and a replica Liberty Bell.
The house will host old-fashioned carnival games with patriotic prizes — guests can play for free.
The Betsy Ross House is also hosting a Patriotic Pet Parade on July 4.
There will be musical performances at these four locations throughout the city's historic district.
The Arch Street Meeting House (4th and Arch streets) will host the Philly Suns Lion Dancers performing at 2:15 p.m. followed by the Rubble City String Band at 3:15 p.m. Project Capoeira, a Brazilian Capoeira school, will perform at 4:15 p.m.
The African American Museum in Philadelphia (7th and Arch streets) will host a Mad Beatz Philly Block Party set in the museum's plaza at 2 p.m. and live music by DJ Lady FX in Gallery 3 at 5 p.m.
The National Liberty Museum (4th and Chestnut streets) hosts Indigenous storytelling and dancing group Spirit Wing from 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. followed by Los Bomberos de la Calle, a Puerto Rican bomba and plena group at 3:15 p.m. Dolphin and LaPrelle will perform Appalachian songs and ballads beginning at 4:15 p.m.
6:45 p.m.: A discussion with Lincoln University's Director of the Center for the Study of the Underground Railroad, Larycia Hawkins and Temple University Africology and African American Studies professor Timothy Welbeck.
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