Sunoco Welcome America Festival

It’s fitting that Independence Day is a huge deal in the city where it all began. You might wonder why a petroleum company has its name on this summer festival, and the answer is quite simple: The people behind the Philly-headquartered megacorp paid millions for naming rights so they can pour gas all over the fires of patriotism, pump up tourist spending, and fuel a sense of city-wide camaraderie—and it actually works quite well.

The week is filled with fun, family-friendly concerts, museum events, outdoor screenings, street festivals, fireworks, and a big parade and concert on the Parkway, which has recently featured Hall and Oates, Elton John, and other somewhat-faded but still-entertaining stars.

While some locals try to escape the mayhem and the heat by heading to the Jersey shore, others embrace the revelry and join the throngs of tourists in the action.