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Philadelphia Mayor Parker unveils neighborhood plan for America's 250th anniversary in 2026

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Joe Brandt
Digital Content Producer, CBS Philadelphia
Joe Brandt has been a digital content producer for CBS News Philadelphia since 2022. He is a Temple University graduate and was born and raised in Pitman, NJ.
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Joe Brandt,
Nikki DeMentri
Nikki DeMentri
Nikki DeMentri is a general assignment reporter with CBS Philadelphia. The Central New Jersey native is thrilled she is sharing the stories of where she grew up.
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Nikki DeMentri

/ CBS Philadelphia

As Philadelphia, the birthplace of the United States, preps for the country's 250th anniversary in 2026, officials revealed more plans to spread that celebration to neighborhoods across the city.

Local officials, including Mayor Cherelle Parker, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson and 2026 Director Michael Newmuis, spoke at a news conference on Wednesday about the plans. Officials said there will be "neighborhood activations, beautification projects, and celebrations that showcase the unique spirit of Philadelphia's communities and spark civic pride ahead of 2026."

"Ring it On" initiative

The city is calling the plan to involve neighborhoods in the 250th anniversary celebrations the "Ring it On" initiative. It's aimed at making sure all corners of Philadelphia are represented, celebrated and invested in during America's semiquincentennial celebrations.

"You have dreams about these kinds of things. It's good to see we're being included in all of the celebrations. Because sometimes Center City is a focus but Philadelphia is so much more," Jackie Williams, Director of Operations for Lancaster Ave 21st Century Business Association CDC, said.

There will be three components of the initiative: activations, beautifications and celebrations.

  • Activations are "a yearlong calendar of cultural festivals, attractions and experiences rooted in community" and could include new events or enhancing existing events. There will be a community calendar listing all of these events.
  • Beautifications are projects including decorative banners, benches, planters, and "other streetscape improvements to create clean, safe and welcoming spaces for residents, visitors and shoppers to enjoy." These will take place across 20 commercial corridors in the city, selected in partnership with City Council district offices.
  • Celebrations include new public events, including "Bells Across PA," a program that will feature local artists designing 20 large replica Liberty Bells, each being displayed in a different area and reflecting that area's character. Another celebration is the Neighborhood Tour Series, happening over 20 weeks in the spring and summer of 2026 and featuring a different community each time.

City leaders said the initiative is an investment of more than $100 million.

"Ring It On!" is also involving 60 community partners.

"This isn't just about bringing a celebration to one neighborhood or bringing it to a neighborhood, it's also about building it with them," Parker said.

Philly plans for 2026

Philly has been ramping up its Independence Day celebrations in recent years as prep for a large turnout in 2026. The city launched the "Red, White and Blue To-Do" on the day John Adams thought would be celebrated as Independence Day and will celebrate many other firsts that happened in the city, as well as the founding of the Marine Corps and the Navy.

And last but not least, sporting events like the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, March Madness and multiple FIFA World Cup matches are all happening in the city in 2026,

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