There are a few staples for summer in Philadelphia: Water ice. Beer gardens. Phillies games. Spotted lanternflies. And Wawa Welcome America.
The beloved free festival is back in full force this summer, and the ChatterBlast team is gearing up for another year handling the event’s social media coverage.
Kicking off on Juneteenth and running 16 days up through the Fourth of July, Wawa Welcome America has a little bit of everything for people of all ages, interests, and abilities. We could spend all day raving about what makes the community-centered festival so special, but since we’re storytellers, we figured we’d follow our own rules and show, not tell.
As you can probably imagine, there’s a ton of buzz surrounding the festival, and it can be overwhelming to know how to keep up with everything. So with that in mind, we rounded up all of the accounts you should follow to catch every magic moment.
Wawa Welcome America
Instagram / Twitter / Facebook
Well, duh! There’s no better source for up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks than the festival’s official social media channels. You can expect to see quick snapshots of the daily event lineup every morning, Instagram Stories chronicling each day’s biggest happenings, previews of what else is to come during the following days, and so much more.
Miguel Martinez-Valle
Instagram / Twitter
As a bilingual reporter for both NBC10 Philadelphia and Telemundo62, Miguel is always on the scene with the scoop! Follow him for on-the-ground festival updates in both English and Spanish and an exclusive look into how the stations bring events like the July 4th Concert to TV for audiences to view from home. (Pro tip: Follow NBC10 Philadelphia and Telemundo62 for even more juicy content.)
Sheila Hess
Instagram / Twitter
Everyone knows that it wouldn’t be a Philadelphia event without the presence of City Representative Sheila Hess! Part of Sheila’s role as City Rep is to “promote Philadelphia, the nation’s first and most historic World Heritage City” — and boy, does she do an excellent job at it. Sheila is a constant presence at Wawa Welcome America events, and her social channels offer a unique perspective on the City of Philadelphia’s collaboration to produce the festival.
Visit Philadelphia
Instagram / Twitter / Facebook
As a top-tier sponsor of the event (and a go-to source for hip happenings in and around Philadelphia), Visit Philly always documents all the excitement of Wawa Welcome America for visitors and locals alike. As a sponsor of the Gospel on Independence concert on July 2nd, the tourism agency’s channels are sure to capture the spirit and talent on display all evening.
And of course… the CBM client highlight reel!
We’d be remiss if we didn’t show some love to the handful of our additional clients who are involved in the event! We’re lucky to partner with so many local businesses and organizations that are committed to community events like Wawa Welcome America.
Rebuild Philadelphia (Instagram / Facebook)
The Murphy Recreation Center groundbreaking was… well, groundbreaking! On June 21, Wawa Welcome America celebrated the first day of summer with a community celebration block party in partnership with Rebuild Philadelphia as part of the revitalization plans for this South Philly rec center (just one of the many projects that make up the program’s historic $4M investment in public spaces). Check out their channels for more about the event, and stick around for updates on all of the remarkable work Rebuild is doing at recreation centers, parks, and libraries around the city.
PECO (Instagram / Twitter / Facebook)
It wouldn’t be a Wawa Welcome America without the family-favorite PECO Go 4th & Learn series! Leave it to PECO to make education absolutely electric—this year’s events will immerse attendees in STEM, music, history, cultural traditions, and more, offering a great way to keep kids learning and engaging with their communities even while school is out for the summer.
Einstein Healthcare Network (Instagram / Twitter / Facebook)
This year, Einstein Healthcare Network is bringing its commitment to the communities it serves to life by hosting a community day at Cherashore Playground, where guests can enjoy entertainment, giveaways, food, games, and more—all while learning about career opportunities and healthcare services available through the organization. Plus, the event marks one of several opportunities to check in with the PA Turnpike and enter for a chance to win access to the front section of the July 4th Concert via the E-ZPass Fast Pass!
If you find yourself at any Wawa Welcome America events this summer (and after reading about how awesome it is, why wouldn’t you?), don’t forget to use the hashtag #July4thPhilly when you share your adventures on social media — who knows, maybe those cool folks behind the festival’s official channels will repost it!
