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<\/a>The Philadelphia Museum of Art sets the backdrop for the annual Welcome America fireworks display.<\/p><\/div>\n
Independence Day has arrived and that means it is time for two of Chester County\u2019s longest-running and most popular Fourth of July events — Downingtown Good Neighbor Day (Kerr Park, Downingtown, 610-285-1119, www.goodneighborday.com) and Freedom Fest (Nottingham County Park, 150 Park Road, Nottingham, 610-932-2589, www.chesco.org\/ccparks).<\/p>\n
\nThe 37th Annual Downingtown Good Neighbor Day will be held on July 4 at Kerr Park in Downingtown from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Activities will get rolling with a \u201cPrayer and Flag Ceremony\u201d at 7:40 a.m. and then it will be time for the races. The 37th Annual Run for Life (5K, 10K & 15K) and the 20th Annual 5K Freedom Walk are scheduled for 8 a.m. while the 22nd Annual Kids-K Fun Run starts at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
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\nThe large array of crafts, food and vendors\u2019 booths will open at 8 a.m. and the Turks Head Exchange Club\u2019s \u201cUnited States Flag Distribution\u201d is scheduled for 10 a.m. Carnival rides, amusement games and festival food will be available from 10 a.m. until closing. Other activities scheduled for the pre-noon hours are the Annual Bicycle Decorating Contest at 10:30 a.m., the Big Wheel Race and the Canoe Race at 11 a.m. Then, at 12:30 p.m., it will be time for the 26th Annual Duck Race and music by Brother Bob & Friends Band.<\/p>\n
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\nA number of other music acts are scheduled throughout the day, including the Pennsylvania Surfers from 2-3 p.m., the Moondawgs from 3:30-4:30 p.m., Jeff Domenick with Jeff Byrne from 5-6 p.m., the Rivers Rockabilly Trio from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and the Tom Edwards Productions Entertainment Show from 8:30-9:30 p.m. The \u201cWife Carrying Contest\u201d is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. The day\u2019s festivities will conclude with a grand finale of fireworks at dusk.<\/p>\n
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\nEvery year, Independence Day is also celebrated in a big way when Nottingham County Park (150 Park Road, Nottingham, 610-932-2589, www.chesco.org\/ccparks) presents its annual Freedom Fest. The 24th Annual Freedom Fest will be held on July 4 from 6-11 p.m. at Nottingham County Park, which is located six miles south of Oxford, off U.S. Route 1 just above the Maryland State Line.<\/p>\n
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\nA number of activities are slated to get underway at 6 p.m. Visitors to the event will be able to climb the attraction \u201cJacob\u2019s Ladder\u201d or take a turn at twisting and spinning on one of two Orbotrons. Designed by a former NASA engineer, the Orbotron allows riders to flip, spin and swirl based on their body movements.<\/p>\n
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\nLive music will begin at 7:45 p.m. with a performance by the country band Green Tea Revival. The gala aerial fireworks display is scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. Visitors will be treated to a show that also features ground displays set to patriotic tunes and a grand finale incorporating the traditional raising of the American Flag.<\/p>\n
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\nHerr Snack Trucks and \u201cChipper\u201d will distribute free snacks throughout the evening beginning at 6 p.m. and there will be a wide array of food vendors with festival food items such as hot dogs and ice cream. Visitors may also bring a picnic of their own menu items and are advised that — because of security concerns — all coolers, bags and similar items are subject to being searched. Because it is a county park, no alcoholic beverages or pets will be permitted.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>The Kutztown Folk Festival features many family friendly activities<\/p><\/div>\n
Field seating is available for both the concert and fireworks. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and to bring blankets and lawn chairs. There will be a $10-per-vehicle parking fee at Nottingham County Park and Herr\u2019s Corporate Center.<\/p>\n
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\nIn the event that weather prohibits the setup or safe shooting of the fireworks show, Freedom Fest will be postponed to July 5. Parking vouchers will be distributed at the parking locations.<\/p>\n
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There are also just a few days left to enjoy one of the summer\u2019s most popular annual events. The Kutztown Folk Festival (Kutztown Fairgrounds, off Route 222, Kutztown, 888-674-6136, www.kutztownfestival.com) is running now through July 5.<\/p>\n
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Settlers from Germany played a major role in the early history of Pennsylvania and their influence is still being felt. These pioneers and their customs are honored each summer at a Pennsylvania German folk festival in Kutztown — an event that has been around for more than a half-century and is still growing. The popular annual event, which is billed as a celebration of Pennsylvania Dutch culture, features traditional crafts, food, music and folk life.<\/p>\n
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\nThe festival features country auctions, parades and bands, fiddling, live music and dancing, comedy, storytelling and historical seminars. Daily activities include displays of farming and gardening, churches and weddings, folk life, Pennsylvania Dutch dialect and folklore, furniture, spinning and weaving, country cooks and candle making.<\/p>\n
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\nIt features non-stop entertainment with country auctions, parades and bands, fiddling, live music and dancing, comedy, storytelling and historical seminars. Additionally, over 200 juried folk artists and traditional American craftsmen will be participating with both sales and demonstrations.<\/p>\n
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\nThere will also be a lot of attractions for children including puppet shows, make-and-take crafts sessions, visits with baby farm animals, real-life haystacks, story time sessions, a hay maze, sing-alongs and a variety of hands-on activities. As always, there will be plenty of booths featuring Pennsylvania Dutch food treats and beverages, including family style feasts, shoo-fly pies, sausage sandwiches, pastries, country chicken dinners, strawberry shortcake, funnel cakes, ox roasts, sarsaparilla and chicken potpie. The festival will open its gates each day at 10 a.m. and run until 8 p.m. on July 3 and 4 and 6 p.m. on July 5. Admission to the festival is $14 for adults, $13 for senior citizens and $5 for students (13-17) with children (12 and under) admitted free.<\/p>\n
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\nWawa Welcome America (www.welcomeamerica.com) is a multi-day festival of free events in Philadelphia in celebration of our nation\u2019s birthday that reaches a crescendo with an abundance of festivities on Independence Day Weekend.
\nOn July 3, activities will start with the Liberty Block Party, which is scheduled to run from 1-8:30 p.m. on Fifth and Sixth streets between Market and Chestnut streets. Billed as the \u201clargest block party of the summer,\u201d the Liberty Block Party features a diverse array of food vendors and a full schedule of free live entertainment.<\/p>\n
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\nAt 8 p.m., it will be time for \u201cPOPS! On Independence,\u201d a free concert by the Philly POPS! on the steps of Independence Hall at Sixth and Chestnut streets. Featuring Conductor Michael Krajewski and guest soloists Capathia Jenkins and Darius de Haas. Seating is first-come, first-serve and concert goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.<\/p>\n
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\nThe celebration, on July 4, will begin with the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony from 10-11 a.m. on the steps of Independence Hall. Philadelphians and visitors can pay tribute to our nation at the ceremony which features music, inspiring remarks, and a reading of excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. This year\u2019s ceremony commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ protest, the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment.<\/p>\n
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\nNext will be the Independence Day Parade which runs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. throughout the historic district of Philadelphia. More than 6,000 participants will march through the nation\u2019s most historic square mile.<\/p>\n
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\nAt 1 p.m., it will be time for \u201cAmerica\u2019s Birthday Party with Betsy Ross and Termini Bros. Bakery\u201d at the Independence Visitor Center (Sixth and Market streets). Prior to the celebration, the iconic Termini Brothers Bakery, a third-generation family-run business, will decorate a spectacular five-tier cake onsite.<\/p>\n
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