Join us as we activate our museum and outdoor space for Red, White, & Blue To-Do, a vibrant display of patriotic celebration that brings together museums, historic sites, and local businesses in America’s most historic square mile to honor our nation’s founding. Enjoy live music in the museum’s outdoor courtyard and stick around for extended hours until 7 pm.
Visit the event page here for more information about the day’s festivities in the neighborhood, featuring the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, festooned decor, concerts, games, extended visitation hours at area historic attractions, restaurant specials, and much more.
Los Bomberos De La Calle (bomba y plena) | 3:15 pm – 4 pm
Los Bomberos De La Calle is a musical group who performs traditional and contemporary styles of Bomba & Plena music from Puerto Rico as well as jamming out at local parks for the community. The group also offers many assemblies and workshops throughout the year. Los Bomberos De La Calle has performed and shared this soulful music at many events such as the annual Hispanic heritage festival in Philly, Mummers Parade in 2015, the annual feria de barrio festival, annual sugar cane festival, Kimmel Center/songs left behind, The Mann center, and many more. The group’s mission is to give a piece of Puerto Rican culture to Philly and the surrounding areas. Los Bomberos de la Calle is here to preserve, educate and serve the community with this vibrant, energetic and soulful music from Puerto Rico by collaborating with afterschool and in school programs as well as classes on the weekend for drumming and dancing. This music is the music of the people and brings everyone together young and old.
Austin Marlow Trio (jazz) | 4:15 pm – 5 pm
Austin Marlow is one of Philadelphia’s amazing and multi-talented drummers lifting up the city’s legendary jazz scene. He is currently the drummer for SNACKTIME as well as Omar’s Hat. With SNACKTIME, Marlow served as the house drummer for the pilot season of Late Night with Jason Kelce during the lead up to super bowl LIX. Before all of that, Marlow toured the world with the legendary soul band, The Stylistics. He’ll be joined by a duo of talented Philadelphia based musicians for a magical set in honoring the spirit and long tradition of jazz music in Philadelphia.
Barakka (traditional Turkish music – acoustic) | 5:15 pm – 6 pm
Based in Philadelphia, PA, Barakka is a unique blend of Turkish Folk Rock and Anadolu Rock, mixing eastern and western instrumentation pioneered by artists like Bariş Manço and Erkin Koray. Their specialized brand of music derives its unique sound from a melding of traditional Turkish music, classic Middle Eastern music, and the band’s own original songs. Led by Istanbul native singer/songwriter/guitarist, Bariş Kaya, this multi-ethnic group of seasoned musicians has been playing in the United States and Turkey for the better part of a decade, and is currently working on their second album, due for release later this year.
The Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee’s annual Red, White, & Blue To-Do celebration will take place on July 2, 2025, commemorating a day of “pomp and parade,” as declared by John Adams in 1776, encouraging visitors to celebrate independence in the place where it all began.
The celebration begins with museum and historic site openings and the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, featuring 13 whimsical red wagon floats decked out with Philadelphia icons and patriotic flair along with parade groups such as drill teams, cultural dance troupes, and families representing the diversity of the city. As the parade ends, more free fun ensues with the All-American Block Party, produced in partnership with Wawa Welcome America, on 3rd Street between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, where visitors can enjoy music, games, family-friendly activities, highlights from Historic District attractions, and food trucks and seating. The afternoon and evening will be filled with a carefully curated and culturally diverse lineup of free musical street performances at eight locations (doubled from last year!) throughout the Historic District, festive happy hour specials throughout Old City, and extended hours and special events at various historic sites into the evening.
Throughout the day, Decoration Stations will be available at each of the Philadelphia Historic District attractions and partner organizations with festive gear for visitors to festoon themselves. Plus, the District itself will get a boost of bunting, balloons, and begonias to enliven the holiday atmosphere. A special issue of the Historic Philadelphia Gazette will be available at the Independence Visitor Center and other partner attractions with a map and information about how to participate in the celebration all day long. In addition, the Philadelphia Historic District attractions will encourage visitors to return to Historic Philadelphia throughout the remaining summer months with a Stars, Stripes, and Savings pass.