Philly Opener
Sponsorships
The 2025 Philly Opener takes place on Monday, May 12th and officially kicks off Philly’s 2025 tourism season—when millions of people from near and far visit Philadelphia between Memorial Day and Labor Day. At the Philly Opener, the PVC will present our Most Valuable Philadelphian (MVP) Award to an individual who has raised Philly’s global profile and exemplifies all that is good about our beloved city.
Join Philadelphia’s tourism, civic, cultural, and business leaders as we kick off the 2025 tourism season with this can’t-miss event!
All credit card transactions will be charged a 3% processing fee if you prefer to remit sponsorship by check, please mail to: Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation, 599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
The Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, EIN 23-2952488, and contributions in support of its operations are tax deductible.
The Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation is a Pennsylvania nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization, which operates in cooperation with the National Park Service, Visit Philadelphia®, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Philadelphia, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia Visitor Center manages the Independence Visitor Center, the official visitor center of greater Philadelphia; LOVE Park Visitor Center; City Hall Visitor Center; Parkway Visitor Center and the visitor-friendly public transit service, the Philly PHLASH® Downtown Loop.
RockyFest
RockyFest is here!
🥊 Big Things Are Coming for RockyFest 2025
Get ready, champ—plans are already in the works for RockyFest 2025 and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Rocky in 2026! 🏆
Philadelphia is gearing up for a once-in-a-generation celebration honoring the city’s most legendary underdog and the iconic Philly locations that made cinematic history. Expect special events, themed experiences, fan meetups, exclusive tours, and more.
👉 Don’t miss a single announcement.
Subscribe to the Rocky Newsletter for the latest updates, ticket releases, and behind-the-scenes previews as we build toward this historic milestone.
Need help planning your trip? Email [email protected] to get started!
Local attractions, restaurants, or organizations interested in taking part? Email us at [email protected] to get involved!
2024 Program of Events:
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Live Signing Events with Official Rocky Artist, John Rivoli
Real Life Rockys with Mural Arts Philadelphia
Rocky Date Night at Penn Ice Rink
Rocky Date Night at Philadelphia Zoo's LumiNature
Rocky Movie Marathon
Rocky Philadelphia Bus Tours
Rocky U
RockyFest Exclusive Poster
SouthPaws Yappy Hour at Cherry Street Pier
RWBTD
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Red, White, & Blue To-Do
July 2 will be a day of ‘pomp and parade’ as envisioned by John Adams
A vibrant display of patriotic celebration, Red, White, & Blue To-Do will bring together museums, historic sites, and local businesses in America’s most historic square mile to honor our nation’s founding. This monumental occasion promises to be a memorable experience for all, 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.
Learn More About:
Decorating Days
Wagon Decorating will take place at the National Constitution Center, free and open to the public. Anyone can help create one of the official wagon “floats” for the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade. The activity is free, but space is limited, so advance registration is strongly encouraged. Sign up here!
Musical Performances
Enjoy live music and entertainment at eight locations throughout Philadelphia’s Historic District during the Red, White, & Blue To-Do! From jazz and funk to classical and patriotic tunes, each performance spot offers a different vibe—perfect for celebrating the spirit of Independence in America’s most historic square mile. See the lineup here!
Pomp & Parade
Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade kicks off at the National Constitution Center, traveling along Independence Mall and ending on 3rd Street, between Chestnut and Walnut Streets. The parade will include a variety of youth performance troupes, miniature, hand-decorated wagon floats, and community members decked out in patriotic flair. Want to participate in the parade? Sign up here!
Schedule of Events
9 - 11 am:
11 am - 12 pm
Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp and Parade kicks off at the National Constitution Center and ends at 3rd Street between Walnut and Chestnut. Click here for the parade route.
11 am - 3 pm
All-American Block Party with Wawa Welcome America- 3rd Street between Chestnut and Walnut.
2 - 6 pm
Free Musical Performances - 8 locations throughout the Historic District. See the lineup here
5 - 7 pm
Extended hours and special happenings at various historic attractions.
7 pm
Wawa Welcome America's Salute to Service: The United States Army Field Band
July 2nd Happenings
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African American Museum in Philadelphia
American Philosophical Society
Arch Street Meeting House
Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Betsy Ross House
Carpenters' Hall
Franklin Square
Historic St. George's Museum & Archives
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Independence Historical Trust
Independence National Historical Park
Independence Seaport Museum
Independence Visitor Center
Liberty Garden
National Constitution Center
Science History Institute
The Richard Allen Museum at Mother Bethel AME Church
Watch Now!
Red, White, & Blue To-Do
Experience the energy and excitement of last year’s Red, White, & Blue To-Do! This lively celebration brought together museums, historic sites, and local businesses from America’s most historic square mile to honor our nation’s founding in true Philly style.
Mark your calendars—The Red, White, & Blue To-Do returns on July 2, 2025!
Mark your calendars—The Red, White, & Blue To-Do returns on July 2, 2025!
Know the History
The official Independence Day—July 2, 1776—came to be when the Second Continental Congress voted in Independence Hall to approve a resolution declaring: “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
John Adams thought July 2 should be marked as a national holiday for generations to come: “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival…It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more,” Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail Adams.
The Declaration of Independence was signed by representatives from the Colonies two days later, on July 4, 1776.
Get all the Red, White, and Blue To-Do information on this fact sheet.