Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

CONTACT:

Cara Schneider

GPTMC

(215) 599-0776

AS UNITED STATES TURNS 225, ATTENTION TURNS TO PHILADELPHIA

Two Weekends of Fun in America’s Founding City:

Come and Play, or Simply Pay Tribute to the Nation’s Birth

PHILADELPHIA, March 20, 2001 – Where better to spend Independence Day than the site where the Declaration of Independence was drafted, signed, and read publicly in 1776? (That is 225 years ago this July!) Independence Hall is the symbolic center of Philadelphia’s eight-day Independence festival called "Sunoco Welcome America!" The celebration runs June 27^th - July 4^thand will attract 2.5 million people with 50 free events.

The Declaration of Independence will be read twice, once on July 4, then again on July 8, the traditional day for the public reading. This summer will mark the 225^th consecutive time the Declaration has been read aloud outside Independence Hall on July 8.

Highlights for weekend visitors to Philadelphia during the week-long festival include:

Fort Mifflin Freedom Blast. Authentic Revolutionary War battle reenactment at the site of a pivotal 1777 battle and a Civil War prison; minutes from Center City, Philadelphia. (Saturday, June 30, Noon-5 p.m.)

Two Cities Two States. Concert and fireworks extravaganza featuring music on Penn’s Landing with prime fireworks viewing spots on both sides of the Delaware River in Philadelphia and Camden, NJ. (Saturday, June 30, 7:30-10 p.m.)

Native American Indian Heartbeat Drum Competition. The sights and sounds of a real powwow resonate through Old City, Philadelphia. (Sunday, July 1, Noon-6 p.m.)

Gospel @ the Mann. A soul-stirring concert that will star some of the nation’s best gospel performers in the beautiful amphitheater in Fairmount Park. (Sunday, July 1, 3-9 p.m.)

Let Freedom Ring. The 33^rd annual ceremonial tapping of the Liberty Bell by the direct descents of signers of the Declaration of Independence, setting off a nationwide bell ringing ceremony. (Wednesday, July 4, 2 p.m.)

Sweet Sounds of Liberty Concert & Fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Headline entertainment to be announced. (Wednesday, July 4, 8:30 – 11 p.m.)

Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence. (Wednesday, July 4; Sunday, July 8, Noon.) Readers to be announced. Information at (215) 597-8974.

"I am proud to say that there is no greater or more widely known Independence Day celebration than Philadelphia’s Sunoco Welcome America," said Mayor John F. Street. "This year’s festivities represent Philadelphia at its best! An array of new, exciting and colorful venues will highlight other city initiatives while showcasing the great diversity and multiculturalism that continue to distinguish Philadelphia as the cradle of liberty." Among other activities, the Mayor has initiated a four-day youth bicycle competition called the "Mayor’s City Cycle Challenge" to promote his health and fitness campaign. In addition, families, music lovers, history seekers and the health conscious will find plenty to do among the 50 free events.

Discounted hotel packages will be available after April. At that time, reservation information can be found on Philadelphia’s official tourism Web site, www.gophila.com.

For a complete listing of Sunoco Welcome America events, visit www.americasbirthday.com or call 1-800-770-5883. For more information about travel to Philadelphia visit www.gophila.com or call (888) GO-PHILA.

Welcome America, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a partner with the City of Philadelphia. Created in 1993 to open the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the organization now promotes tourism for the region, civic pride and generates positive attention for Philadelphia around the world. All events are free thanks to the generosity of more than 170 sponsors and partners. For information, call (800) 770-5883.

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties.

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Note to Editors: For photographic images of Philadelphia and its surrounding countryside, visit the photo gallery section of www.gophila.com/pressroom.

March 2001

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