Sheryl Crow Headlines July 4 Concert in Philadelphia

Sheryl Crow Headlines July 4 Concert in Philadelphia

Mayor Nutter Launches Sunoco Welcome America! Festival With Concert Headliner Announcements, Parade Routes Updates

PHILADELPHIA, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirited summer family fun in Philadelphia keeps marching on with the annual Sunoco Welcome America! festival. Visitors to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection will be treated to two consecutive weekends of free, family-friendly activities to ring in our nation's birthday in grand style, including the culinary delights of the Taste of Philadelphia June 26 - 28 and the grand finale July 4 concert and fireworks on Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

On Saturday, July 4, platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow takes the stage. The July 4 concert will be followed by a dazzling fireworks show made even more dramatic by a stage-lit Art Museum backdrop. Crowds gathered at the Great Plaza on Penn's Landing for the annual Taste of Philadelphia culinary sampling event will be treated to live entertainment throughout the weekend.

"The Sunoco Welcome America! festival is a summertime institution here in the city of Philadelphia," said Mayor Nutter. "It's free, it's great for every member of the family, and this year we've made changes that allow us to realize cost savings without cutting back on the visitor experience," he continued. "Having Sheryl Crow with us for 2009 will guarantee big crowds for our final festival night."

The 2009 festival design will provide an enhanced experience for visitors. The grand finale stage has been moved to Eakins Oval, a shift that will allow spectacular views of the concert and ensuing fireworks from any vantage point on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Additionally, the Independence Day Parade has been relocated to Historic Philadelphia for the first time in 18 years and will feature a tapestry of parade elements from around the nation, including Radio Disney recording artist Joey Page, Philadelphia's own Lauren Hart, marching bands, drum and bugle corps, re-enactment organizations, antique cars, fire departments, cultural organizations, active military, floats and more.

Sponsors for the Sunoco Welcome America! festival's 2009 season include title sponsor Sunoco, media sponsor WPVI/6ABC, Southwest Airlines, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia International Airport and Ford. "Fundraising efforts for Sunoco Welcome America! are ongoing and we are committed to keeping this event free to the public," said Melanie Johnson, City Representative and Executive Director of the festival. "Thanks to our sponsors, the festival is self-funded and is a tremendous economic engine for the city."

Following the Taste of Philadelphia weekend, the fun continues during the week of June 29, including "Go 4th and Learn" activities for children of all ages, Philly @ the Movies screenings of cinematic favorites, This We Believe (in conjunction with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program) and the 11th annual All-You-Can-Eat-Super-Scooper Ice Cream Festival at Penn's Landing, benefitting the Joshua Kahan Fund which fights to cure pediatric leukemia.

Brand-new features for the 2009 Sunoco Welcome America! festival include the Patriot Pass, which offers discounts throughout the city at a wide range of retailers, and the "Freedom Is" essay contest, which invites middle schoolers to represent the 13 original American colonies by submitting essays about the meaning of freedom. Winners will be invited to participate in the Independence Day Ceremony at Independence Hall on the morning of July 4.

Sunoco Welcome America! is a multi-day festival that celebrates America's birthday in America's birthplace and is produced by Welcome America, Inc. For more information, please visit www.welcomeamerica.com.

Source: Sunoco Welcome America!

CONTACT: LiRon Anderson-Bell of Sunoco Welcome America!,
+1-215-284-2964, LiRon.AndersonBell@welcomeamerica.com

Web Site: http://www.welcomeamerica.com/

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