Wawa Welcome America Festival brings more than a week of celebrations and road closures.
Philadelphia is entering full celebration mode. The Wawa Welcome America Festival, one of the city’s most beloved annual traditions, is underway now through July 4 and brings with it a packed lineup of concerts, parades, block parties, fireworks and community events spread across more than a week.
With that much activity comes a significant number of road closures and traffic disruptions across several Philadelphia neighborhoods. Whether you’re planning to attend the festivities or simply trying to get around the city, here’s a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect on the roads.
Wednesday, June 24
The festival kicks off with the 5 Points Night Market, which triggers a closure along Rising Sun Avenue between Cottman Avenue and St. Vincent Street. The closure runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, June 25
Stage construction begins at Independence National Historic Park ahead of upcoming concerts. Northbound lanes on Market Street between 5th and 6th streets will be reduced, with the lane closure in effect from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, June 27
Concilio’s Hispanic Fiesta brings several closures to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway area. Drivers should expect the following roads closed from 6 a.m. until midnight: 1) Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 16th and 17th streets, 2) Arch Street between 15th and 16th streets, and 3) 16th Street between JFK Boulevard and Arch Street.
Sunday, June 28
Gospel on Independence draws closures around the historic park area. Market Street between 5th and 6th streets will be closed from 6 to 9 p.m., the northbound lane on that same stretch closes from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the north sidewalk along that block is closed from 6 to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, July 1
Wawa Hoagie Day and a performance by the U.S. Air Force Heritage Band bring one of the busiest closure days of the festival. From 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., the following streets are closed: 1) Arch Street between 4th and 6th streets, 2) 5th Street between Market and Race streets, and 3) 6th Street between Market and Race streets. Additional lane and sidewalk closures on Market Street between 5th and 6th streets run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday, July 2
Multiple events converge on July 2, making it the most complex day for traffic. The Red, White, and Blue To Do parade triggers rolling closures on Market Street at 5th Street and on Chestnut Street at 5th Street beginning at 11 a.m., lasting until the parade passes. Arch Street between 4th and 6th streets closes from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The All American Block Party closes 1) 3rd Street between Chestnut and Walnut streets, 2) Dock Street between 3rd Street and Walnut Street, and 3) Walnut Street between 2nd and 3rd streets, all from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Later in the evening, the Salute to Service concert featuring the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus closes Market Street between 5th and 6th streets and 6th Street between Arch and Market streets from 3 to 9 p.m.
Friday, July 3
The Salute to Independence Parade brings the widest set of closures of the entire festival. Parade formation area closures begin as early as 4 a.m. along 3rd, 4th and 5th streets between Spruce and Arch streets. The parade route itself, closing from 11:30 a.m. until the parade concludes, stretches across large portions of East Market Street, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, JFK Boulevard, North Broad Street, and more than a dozen intersecting streets between Arch and Walnut.
The POPS on Independence concert adds closures on Market Street between 5th and 6th streets from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on 6th Street between Market and Race streets from 1 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
The Celebration of Freedom Ceremony wraps up the festival with traffic impacts from 8 a.m. to noon. Market Street between 5th and 6th streets will be closed to vehicles, and the north sidewalk on that block will be closed to pedestrians as well.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to plan alternate routes well in advance, particularly around the Old City and Center City neighborhoods, which see the heaviest impact throughout the festival run.