Taste of Philadelphia Kicks Off Wawa Welcome America!

By MARIA MURRAY

Independence Day celebration starts eleven days early for Philadelphians. Starting on June 24th, Welcome America! will kick off a series of events that “showcase what America’s birthplace has to offer.” Sponsored by Wawa, Inc. for the second year in a row, Welcome America! will celebrate the Fourth of July with food, fireworks, and free entertainment.

On Friday, June 24th, Taste of Philadelphia will officially jump start Wawa Welcome America! at Penn’s Landing. From 5-9pm, foodies can enjoy samples of dishes from top Philly restaurants, as well as a performance by jazz musician Gerald Veasley. Admission and entertertainment are free, with samples only costing a few dollars each. Some of the event’s featured restaurants include Chenango, Tiffin, Feast Your Eyes, Marabella Meatball Company, Jamacian Jerk Hut, and Darlings Diner.

On Saturday, June 25th, Taste of Philadelphia starts at 11am for a full second day filled with food and music. Musical genres include jazz, blues, Latin Jazz, and gospel. American Afro-Jazz singer-songwriter Somi is set to play at 8pm, with R&B star Aaron Neville to follow shortly after. Immediately following these performances is one of three Wawa Welcome America! firework displays.

Taste of Philadelphia will wrap up on Sunday, June 26th, with James “JJ” Hairston and Youthful Praise playing the final set of the weekend at 6pm.

After the weekend’s festivities, Wawa Welcome America! continues with a series of events celebrating our Nation’s birthday. If Taste of Philadelphia doesn’t suit you, Wawa Welcome America! is also hosting history-oriented activities for parents and children, as well as multiple film screenings, photo exhibits, and Wawa Hoagie Day.

For a full schedule of events, visit http://www.welcomeamerica.com/category/events/.