Sunoco Welcome America! Festival
Announces 2006 Headliners and Event Schedule
Fireworks over the Schuylkill River
Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC
PHILADELPHIA, April 24, 2006 –There is no
better place in the nation to celebrate Independence Day and revel
in America’s precious freedoms than Philadelphia. The 14th annual
Sunoco Welcome America! Festival will take place from June 27th to
July 4th, producing the biggest, most exciting birthday party in
the nation.
As the premiere destination city for the nation’s Independence
celebration, Philadelphia is a focus of the nation’s attention.
Dubbed “America’s Next Great City” by National
Geographic magazine, this year’s festival will certainly prove
that claim. From June 27th to July 4th, the Sunoco Welcome America!
Festival and the city’s world-class patriotic and historic tourism
venues, will offer eight days of family-oriented entertainment,
highlighting the best in American music, food and fun. From gospel
to salsa, opera to pop, and jazz to rhythm & blues, the city is
alive with concerts, street festivals, history lessons, and July
4th perennials – great food, patriotic parades and spectacular
fireworks.
“The Sunoco Welcome America! Festival has been an important part
of Philadelphia’s Fourth of July celebrations for many years,” said
Mayor John F. Street. “Under the new leadership of Clifton Davis, I
am confident this year’s festival will attract a multitude of
people, offer world class entertainment and boost our City’s and
region’s economy while celebrating the freedoms and liberties that
make our nation great.”
Stars of the Festival
This year the Sunoco Welcome America! Festival benefits from the
know-how of its newly appointed executive director, Clifton Davis,
celebrated actor, singer and event producer.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to build on the great work that
has made Sunoco Welcome America! one of the world’s biggest outdoor
festivals, attracting nearly a million people,” Davis said. “Being
in Philadelphia on July Fourth is like being in New York on New
Year’s Eve. After 14 years, Sunoco Welcome America! and the City of
Philadelphia are poised to add even more flavor, more fun and more
entertainment in 2006.”
Sunoco Inc. has been title sponsor of the festival for the past
12 years.
“As a Philadelphia based company and along time supporter of the
Philadelphia community, Sunoco is again proud to be title sponsor
of the city’s acclaimed Sunoco Welcome America! Festivities,” said
Jack Drosdick, Chairman and CEO of Sunoco, Inc. “We are excited
about seeing Philadelphia at its best during the nation’s premier
Independence Day event.”
The festival kick-off is an electrifying block party in
celebration of the first anniversary of the lighting of Boathouse
Row. But the highlight of the weeklong summer event is the finale,
the spectacular July 4th Sunoco Sweet Sounds of Liberty
Concert, featuring R&B powerhouse Lionel
Richie, a five time Grammy award winner with a record nine
consecutive years of hits at the top of the charts (All Night
Long, Truly, Hello, Endless Love). Ritchie is a former member
of the classic R & B group, The Commodores (“Easy like
Sunday Morning”) and has sold nearly 100 million albums. He
will be joined in concert by Fantasia Barrino, the winner of the
2004 American Idol competition on Fox television.
An inspirational concert at The Mann Center for the Performing
Arts will spotlight the legendary Shirley Caesar
and contemporary gospel chanteuse Dottie Peoples.
Caesar, who began her singing career at age 10, joined the Caravans
in the 60s. She holds numerous Grammy awards (Stand Still,
Shirley Caesar Live...He Will Come, Sailin', Rejoice,
Celebration and He's Working It Out For You) and is
known as the first lady of Gospel. Caesar has brought her musical
ministry and message of hope and encouragement to people all over
the world.
Fiesta on the Parkway has become a staple of the festival for
the past two years. In 2006, Latin music lovers will be dancing in
the streets to the rhythms of Puerto Rico and Brazil for Fiesta on
the Parkway starring salsa institution El Gran
Combo and Brazilian percussionist Xande
Cruz.
This year, two brand new events are being added to the festival
roster. A fun-filled Day at the Fair will
transform Rittenhouse Park into a Center City neighborhood
carnival, and A Taste of Philadelphia, an eclectic
and diverse culinary adventure, will feature some of the city’s top
chefs and finest restaurants.
Bringing back old favorites, revelers will be again be treated
to the LOVE Park Loves Music concert series; film
classics at Philly at the Movies neighborhood
screenings; the sounds of cool jazz at Arts on the
Avenue; stirring renditions from Opera on the
Square; Philadelphia’s own Peter Nero and the
Philly Pops; and Kid’s Day, featuring
interactive games, “make and take’ crafts and learning activities
that are pure fun for children of all ages.
Historic Philadelphia
Partnering with the Greater Philadelphia Marketing Tourism
Corporation, Philadelphia Independence Visitor Center, Independence
National Historic Park, The National Constitution Center and Once
Upon a Nation — summer attractions in the heart of the Historic
District—this year’s Independence festival will also offer special
events highlighting the city’s distinguished past. For the Fourth
of July holiday season, there will be no other city in the country
where you can literally find history around every corner.
As a premiere destination city for the holiday weekend, the
popular Philly Overnight Hotel Package will return on June 23rd
just in time for summer fun. Available through September 4th at
dozens of hotels throughout the region, the package includes
two-night accommodations, free hotel parking and a gift upon
check-in. The package is available any night of the week and will
be bookable at gophila.com beginning in mid-April.
Philadelphia is home to one-of-a-kind American experiences where
you can spend an evening with George Washington and Thomas
Jefferson, or hear a reading of the entire Declaration of
Independence. Stroll cobblestone streets learning about the city’s
special history from an array of engaging colonial storytellers.
Spend a day with the Continental Army or Hunt for Democracy on a
colonial walking tour. Create arts and crafts at the Betsy Ross
House or stop by the National Constitution Center for a slice of
birthday cake. Brush up on your anthems for patriotic karaoke
events or test your talents at the Lights of Liberty Teen Idol
competition for the best rendition of God Bless America.
There’s so much to see and do, visitor’s hours will be extended
until 9:00 pm each day at Independence National Historical
Park.
Fireworks and Freedom
What would the Fourth of July be without a parade? Southwest
Airlines presents a crowd pleaser again this year. Families
throughout the region bring lawn chairs and flags as the
Southwest Airlines July 4th parade promenades down
the Parkway. Marching bands, floats and inflatables are a hit with
children from 8 to 80! Nearly 100 groups and organizations will be
part of the procession, including representatives from the Mummers
top three string bands and members of the world famous Cirque du
Soleil.
Three spectacular fireworks displays will thrill crowds at the
2006 festival. Evening skies will be filled with dazzling color and
special effects at classic Philadelphia locations: at the
Waterworks on the Schuylkill River on June 27, on
the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing on July 1st and
at the Art Museum on July 4th.
Commemorating the sacrifices made to win and preserve our
freedom has taken on special significance to Americans with so many
of our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters
fighting overseas. On Independence Day 2006, the Sons of the
Revolution will preside over the nation’s premiere commemorative
ceremony—Let Freedom Ring—honoring those soldiers who sacrifice
their lives to protect the liberty we claim as our heritage.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Jr. who will be in
Philadelphia to partake in the city’s historic celebrations said,
“I am looking forward to being in Philadelphia, our nation's
birthplace, this July 4th and speaking at the Let Freedom Ring
Celebration as bells are rung across the nation at 2:00 pm.”
Sunoco Welcome America! 2006 will bring the heritage of the
nation to center stage for the Independence Day holiday. Come Party
With Us this Fourth of July!
For more information about Sunoco Welcome America! visit: www.americasbirthday.com
Come Party With Us!
CONTACT:
Barbara A. Grant, Cárdenas, Grant Communications
(215) 520-8849
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