Great Reasons for Media to Stay After Live 8

Great Reasons for Media to Stay After Live 8

Philadelphia's Star-Studded Fourth of July Celebration Continues All Weekend Long

WHAT: Philadelphia's four-day, four-night Independence Day celebration, featuring star-studded concerts, patriotic events and family-friendly fun, continues before, during and after the Live 8 concert, giving media plenty of news to cover throughout the long weekend. In addition to reporting on the many activities around the historic sites on Independence Mall, journalists can cover fireworks, parades and free concerts starring Elton John, Patti LaBelle, Bryan Adams, Rufus Wainwright, Ruben Studdard, Stephanie Mills and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops.

PUBLIC EVENTS: -- On July 3, the National Park Service will unveil a new lighting project so that the American flag can fly 24 hours a day over Independence Hall. John Hart and Philip Livingston, descendants of signers of the Declaration of Independence, will raise a new flag at the end of the Peter Nero and the Philly Pops concert, taking place 8:00-9:30 p.m.

-- The Normandy Bell, a replica of Philadelphia's Liberty Bell that commemorates the 60th anniversary of D-Day, arrives from France on July 4, via a decorated naval warship. A parade and ceremonial tapping of the Liberty Bell is set for 12:30 p.m.

-- The weeklong music festival ends on the Fourth of July with the Sunoco Philadelphia Freedom Concert, featuring Elton John, Patti LaBelle, Bryan Adams, Rufus Wainwright, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops and others to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The two-hour concert, which begins at 8:30 p.m., ends with a fireworks display above the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

PRESS-ONLY EVENTS: -- On July 3, representatives from the City of Philadelphia will conduct a press conference to recap the Live 8 concert and brief media on upcoming events, including the Sunoco Philadelphia Freedom Concert with Sir Elton John and other celebrities. (Time and location to be announced.)

-- A media-only hospitality picnic to celebrate the holiday and to welcome journalists in town to cover the weekend's events will take place on July 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Free Quaker Meeting House, located at 5th and Arch Streets. Hot dogs, hamburgers and all of the fixings will be served before the Peter Nero and the Philly Pops concert, which begins at 8:00 p.m. in front of Independence Hall.

-- A press question-and-answer session will occur on July 4 after the presentation of the first City of Brotherly Love Humanitarian Award to Sir Elton John in front of Independence Hall. (Time, location and participants to be announced).

CREDENTIALING INFORMATION: To request credentials, members of the media must register online at http://www.phillyfirstonthefourth.com/.

CONTACT: Cara Schneider, GPTMC (215) 599-0789, cara@gptmc.com

PRNewswire -- June 22

Source: Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

Web site: http://www.gophila.com/ http://www.phillyfirstonthefourth.com/

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