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/.

Two Fun and Free Concerts

DEK : By Laura Robb

This past Saturday, the Philadelphia area held two large free events, one in the Northern Liberties area of Philadelphia, the other in New Jersey’s Camden.

Philadelphia’s popular country station WXTU held its 27th anniversary show at the Camden waterfront’s Susquehanna Bank Center.  Performers included American Idols Casey James with Jason Aldean as the headliner.

WXTU throws this massive party each and every year to celebrate its birthday. They make this event free to all, planning ticket runs to raffle off tickets.

They hold the ticket runs all over the The Pennsylvania and New Jersey listening areas where listeners come out by the hundreds to win a coveted pair of these tickets.

Many people of all ages come every year hours before the concert ever starts for the annual country-style tailgate. The parking lots quickly filled up  with cars, pickup trucks, grills, and beer where people celebrated the unofficial start of summer country concerts.

“We come to this show every year, and always get here by 9 AM,” forty-year-old mother of two Beth Wilson said.

Wilson, her husband and a large group of their friends all come to this concert to start off their summer. They all come for the party, and look forward to it all year.

Across the River in Philly, The Piazza at Schmidt’s hosted the  seasons second Summer Block Party show hosted by Radio 104.5.  This alternative rock station hosts several concerts for their listeners free of charge. 

This years first lineup was with the talented Company of Thieves and She Wants Revenge. Just the day prior, Company of Thieves played another free show, live on the radio.

A few thousand people showed up to the Philadelphia event experiencing the beautiful Piazza, in the charming neighborhood of Northern Liberties.

Both events were a great time for anyone who attended. Summer is a time where people love to celebrate life, and there is no better way than to do that with a concert, not to mention a free one!

Check out 104.5′s website to view a lineup of the other Block Parties this summer.

Wildwood Spring Rally

For all you motorcycle lovers out there!

By: Jessica Lista

For all you thrill seekers who love the smell of leather, this upcoming 3-day event is the perfect event for the start of spring.  It is time to ride down to the beach town of Wildwood, NJ, where they are celebrating all things motorcycle.  The 5^th Annual Wildwood Spring Rally begins this Friday, April 23^rd and lasts all weekend until Sunday, April 25^th.  This rally will be held at the intersection of Oaks and Atlantic Avenues packed with the town’s favorite food, vendors, and entertainment.  This event is an all day affair with each day beginning at 10am lasting till 6pm all three days.

Courtesy of http://www.wildwoodspringrally.com

This event will have vendors for all your motorcycle needs and wants including: new motorcycle parts, LED lighting and 12 Volt accessories, hats, silver jewelry, and even motorcycle insurance.  In addition, the Harley Davidson Dealership located on Rio Grande Avenue will be having their annual open house with unbelievable deals on bikes, motorcycle rentals, and motorcycle clothing.

Courtesy of http://www.wildwoodcrestmotelhotel.com

On the final day of the rally, April 25^th, motorcyclists have the opportunity to participate in a great charity event to raise money for the Burlington County 200 Club and the Camden and Gloucester County Hero Scholarship Funds.  These two organizations strive to provide financial aid and support to families of fallen public safety personnel, especially those who lost their lives in the line of duty.  Registration begins at 8am on Sunday with a memorial ceremony at 9:30am.  Once it hits 10 o’clock, the group of motorcyclists will ride from the Camden Waterfront to Wildwood in memory of our fallen heroes.

Courtesy of http://www.wildwoodspringrally.com

So whether you ride a motorcycle, wear lots of leather, or just want to have fun with some friends, check out the Wildwood Spring Rally this weekend.  Oh, and it is free to all!  An even better incentive to head to the beach before Memorial Day weekend!

To contact Jessica Lista email her at: JessicaListaPRH@gmail.com