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July 4th Philly Party Rains Delay, Continues into July 5
5 Jul
Summary
- Philly's July 4th celebration continued into July 5 after a storm delay.
- Will Smith and The Roots performed for the delayed concert.
- The event was managed by the city after previous years by Wawa Welcome America.
Philadelphia's July 4th celebration, One Philly: United for America, was significantly impacted by severe weather. The event, marking the nation's 250th birthday, experienced a delay of over three hours on Saturday night due to storms, causing an evacuation of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The festivities resumed on Sunday morning, July 5th, with thousands of attendees returning. DJ Aktive warmed up the crowd before Mayor Cherelle L. Parker officially reopened the grounds. The Legendary Roots Crew, accompanied by DJ Jazzy Jeff, delivered a 20-minute performance featuring music across genres and their own catalog.
Following The Roots, a lineup of Philadelphia artists took the stage. Kathy Sledge performed hits like 'We Are Family,' followed by the State Property crew including Beanie Sigel and Freeway. Meek Mill also delivered a set, noting his decision to return after initially planning to leave town.
The evening culminated with Will Smith's appearance, joining The Roots and DJ Jazzy Jeff for a rendition of 'Summertime,' celebrating the city and the nation's 250th anniversary.
Earlier on Saturday, the concert began with performances from Seal, Jordan Davis, and Jill Scott. The event, managed by the city of Philadelphia, saw a smaller, more comfortable crowd than projected, with attendance levels far below previous Made in America festivals.
