Philadelphia250 is supporting three social impact projects from now through 2026, for a total of $250,000. The social impact projects, are:
Our Market’s Community Tours
Smith Memorial Playground’s Revolutionary Action Figures
Special Olympics PA’s Cities of Inclusion
These three Philly-made social innovations were selected through the 2022 Leave a Legacy grant competition.
Women have played an influential and outsized role in every one of our nation’s anniversary celebrations since 1876. From building a one-of-a-kind Women’s Pavilion showcasing women’s inventions and innovations at the Centennial World’s Fair, to restoring Strawberry Mansion in 1926 and Laurel Hill Mansion in 1976, women have used their leadership and capital to create a legacy of action and impact.
Building on this tradition, the Women’s Committee for the 250th harnesses the social, intellectual and economic power of women to support transformational legacy projects that elevate the contributions of Philadelphia women to Philadelphia and American history. These efforts underscore the importance of women’s leadership, the power of individual and collective action, and Philadelphia’s role in the past, present and future of U.S. democracy.
As part of a citywide effort to bring economic vitality and visual enhancements back to Philadelphia’s corridors and neighborhoods, 20 commercial corridors are receiving streetscape elements such as custom-designed 250th commemorative benches, planters, neighborhood banners, etc., each designed and tailored to the corridor’s unique character and needs. Over the summer, landscape architects and designers visited each corridor and met with local residents to understand what mattered most in their neighborhood. These enhanced corridors will create clean, safe, and welcoming open public spaces for residents, visitors and shoppers to enjoy.
As the city’s implementation partner for neighborhood events and activations tied to 2026, Philadelphia250, a program of the Philadelphia Visitor Center, has spent the past nine months working in close coordination with more than a dozen city agencies to plan and shape this effort. Through a comprehensive fundraising campaign and ongoing engagement with 20 community organizations and residents across Philadelphia, Philadelphia250 has helped develop a framework that supports corridor-based celebrations, community-led programming, and long-term neighborhood investments. This collaborative planning process ensures that the Semiquincentennial is not only marked by major citywide moments, but also by meaningful activations driven by local partners and reflective of Philadelphia’s diverse communities.
The 2026 Community Corridor Celebration Calendar is posted below. This calendar will be updated as additional event details become available.
Neighborhood Jawnts is a citywide tour series celebrating the culture, creativity, and small businesses that define Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. Presented by Fulton Bank and the City of Philadelphia, the tour series invites residents and visitors alike to explore hyper-local experiences across the city—from food and art to history and community leaders, cultures, and traditions—offering an accessible, grassroots way to discover what makes Philadelphia’s neighborhoods special.
The Neighborhood Jawnts series features 20 unique, free experiences, each spotlighting a different community. Tour itineraries have been curated in partnership with local organizations to reflect the true vibrancy and identity of each neighborhood.
Tours are offered weekly, from late May through October 2026:
Fridays at 2:00pm
Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00am and 2:00pm.
Tours are FREE, registration is required. Tickets for the May and June tours are now available. Follow Philadelphia250 on EventBrite to be notified as new Neighborhood Jawnts are added weekly!
Each tour guest will also receive a free Neighborhood Jawnts tote bag, compliments of Fulton Bank. Click on the links below to learn more about each tour and to reserve tickets.
Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal, Block Party Bonanza is a citywide initiative designed to ensure that all Philadelphians have a chance to be a part of the Semiquincentennial celebrations. The summer-long program combines Philly’s love of community and celebration with a commitment to civic action and will reach every neighborhood with a spin on a cherished Philly tradition: the block party.
As part of the Block Party Bonanza, Philadelphia250 will “2026-ify” 250 block parties across the City of Philadelphia with special “Life, Liberty, and Happiness” kits, echoing the famous line from the Declaration of Independence, and designed to spark celebration and civic pride with giveaways, decorations, games, and activities for all ages. In addition to the kits, each block will receive a $250 grocery gift card, donated by ShopRite, to purchase food and refreshments. All elements of Block Party Bonanza will be completely free for residents.
Philadelphia250 partnered with America250PA and Mural Arts Philadelphia to create 23 replica Liberty Bells designed with input from local communities. Each bell celebrates its neighborhood’s unique identity while commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. The bells have been installed in commercial corridors and public parks, forming a citywide “treasure map” for residents and visitors to explore.
Philadelphia250, a program of the Philadelphia Visitor Center, is leading the charge to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday — right here in the birthplace of independence!
Our mission is to ignite the spirit of Philadelphia by uplifting the city’s neighborhoods, cultures, and small businesses, and by giving everyone, from lifelong residents to first-time visitors, fun, meaningful ways to celebrate 2026.
What are we doing for 2026?
In support of Mayor Cherelle Parker's vision for a "united city" and a semiquincentennial celebration that reaches all neighborhoods and residents, we’re turning the semiquincentennial into a citywide celebration of unity, pride, and progress.
Across 20 neighborhoods and commercial corridors, we’re investing in:
Local business growth that fuels economic opportunity.
Community pride projects that strengthen neighborhood identity.
Public space enhancements led by local development organizations who know their communities best.
This is more than a party. We are working collaboratively with the City of Philadelphia, including the Commerce Department, Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, Parks and Recreation, Department of Streets, and City Council, to build something lasting — for 2026 and beyond.
Join Us — Ring It On!
Be part of history in the making. Celebrate our shared story, our united future, and the unstoppable energy of Philadelphia.
Learn how you can get involved, support your neighborhood, and join the 250th celebrations.
In support of Mayor Cherelle Parker's vision for a "united city" and a semiquincentennial celebration that reaches all neighborhoods and residents, the City of Philadelphia is making a series of neighborhood-level investments and supporting citywide cultural programming in 20 locations across the city. The goal of these investments is to expand economic growth for local businesses, enhance civic pride for communities, and build the capacity of community development organizations who steward these spaces.
We are working in close collaboration with several city agencies, including the Commerce Department, the Office of Clean and Green, Parks and Recreation, the Streets Department, as well as City Council, this public-private partnership enables us to leverage funds we have raised from the private sector against City funding committed by the Parker administration and City Council.
A yearlong calendar of cultural festivals, attractions and experiences that celebrate Philadelphia’s diverse communities.
Local event planners are partnering with community organizations to create or enhance cultural festivals along key commercial corridors — showcasing the flavors, sounds, and stories of Philly.
These activations are designed to:
Engage residents and visitors
Boost local small businesses
Strengthen community pride and connections
Enhancing Commercial Corridors with Physical Improvements
Through design-focused improvements and community-led planning, we’re revitalizing commercial corridors to support small businesses, enhance residents’ quality of life, and attract new opportunities.
Design experts are working closely with community partners to set priorities and guide investments — making sure each project reflects the spirit and identity of its neighborhood.
Philly’s Stories, Voices, and Culture on Full Display
It’s time to celebrate Philly’s past, present, and future.
Ring It On brings the Semiquincentennial celebrations directly into neighborhoods through a series of fun, inclusive, and community-centered events that highlight local culture and spark civic pride.
Founding Sponsors
Comcast NBCUniversal
Independence Blue Cross
City of Philadelphia
Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial
Legacy Sponsors
Wells Fargo
BlankRome
Ring it On! Sponsors
Beautifications Sponsor
Aramark
Block Party Bonanza!
Presenting Sponsor
Comcast NBCUniversal
BBQ Sponsor
ShopRite
Most Beautiful Block Parties Sponsor
Jefferson
Life Kit Sponsor
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Liberty Kit Sponsor
The Union League
Happiness Kit Sponsor
KPMG
School Super Block Parties Presenting Sponsor
Temple University
Bells Across PA Co-Sponsors
PCOM
The Bellwether District
Neighborhood Jawnts Presenting Sponsor
Fulton Bank
Our team will review your submission and follow up with more details about current opportunities, training sessions, and next steps. In the meantime, feel free to learn more about City Hall tours and programs on our website.
And nobody represents Philadelphia better than the people who call it home. That's where The Phambassadors come in.
The Visitor Center is building a citywide initiative of Philadelphians—from die-hard sports fans to artists, small business owners, community leaders, and everyday locals—united by one mission: to showcase their favorite Philly experiences with the world.
