AceShowbiz - Some of Pennsylvania’s finest performers will ring in America’s 250th birthday in the vicinity of the Liberty Bell this summer as part of an event dubbed One Philly: Unity Concert for America. The six-hour concert, which will take place on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway on July 4, promises to be a massive celebration of the nation’s milestone.

Keystone State representatives include Christina Aguilera, Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff, the Roots, Jill Scott, Kathy Sledge, and State Property. Artists who cannot claim to be “West Philadelphia, born and raised,” include Seal and Infinity Song. Comedian Wanda Sykes, who lives near Philly, will host the event, which producers describe as “a nonpartisan celebration of unity, diversity, and democracy.”

The concert will be free and open to the public. Organizers, which include Questlove, Scott Mirkin, and Shawn Gee, hope for One Philly to be the largest free concert in the country. The official hosts for the event are the City of Philadelphia and ESM Productions. Plans to broadcast the event will be announced at a later date, adding an element of anticipation for those unable to attend in person.

Gates will open at 3:00 p.m., and the concert will begin two hours later. A fireworks show, which will light up above the Philadelphia Museum of Art, will begin at 11:45 to close out the festivities. Full information about the event is available on the City of Philadelphia’s website, allowing attendees to plan their Independence Day around this historic occasion.

“To help create a celebration for America’s 250th anniversary — in Philly, where the country’s story began — is an incredible honor,” Mirkin said in a statement. “Our goal is to deliver a production experience that feels both global in scale and deeply rooted in the spirit of Philly.” The concert aims to blend national pride with local flavor, drawing on the city’s rich musical heritage and its role as the birthplace of American democracy.

With a lineup that spans generations and genres — from Aguilera’s powerhouse pop to the Roots’ signature hip-hop and soul, and Smith’s iconic presence — the event is shaping up to be a standout moment in the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Fans can expect a day filled with music, unity, and a spectacular fireworks finale under the Philadelphia sky.