How Did Historic Philly Get Ranked Near Bottom of Best July 4th Cities?
Yo, Adrian, this can’t be right.
Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Betsy Ross House. If not for what happened in Philadelphia, there wouldn’t even be an Independence Day.
So how did Philly get ranked near the bottom of the list of best places to celebrate the 4th of July?
The data analysts at WalletHub evaluated America’s 100 largest cities as potential Independence Day destinations based on metrics such as the quality of the celebrations, local attractions and activities, and even the cost of beer and wine.
“The best cities for the holiday help you make the most of your day, with affordable food options, good weather, fun recreation choices and long, spectacular fireworks shows,” said Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo.
At the top of the list? Las Vegas, followed by New York City and L.A.
And down at number 87 — right behind Toledo, Ohio — Philadelphia, PA.
The Philadelphia response: “Puh-leeze.”
“Nobody celebrates the Fourth quite like Philly,” said Angela Val, president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia.
“Philadelphia is the birthplace of our nation, and that history is something we carry with pride. Our annual Wawa Welcome America Fest is a 16-day celebration with one of the largest free outdoor concerts, spectacular fireworks, live music and vibrant neighborhood festivals, all set against the backdrop of the place where it all began.”
Self-declared Philly girl Christine Flowers was in Italy when DVJournal caught up with her to ask about the rankings. She was unimpressed.
“I spent a day in the courts of Brescia, Italy, talking to judges and lawyers who told me that they admired my city for being the birthplace of American justice,” said Flowers. “I don’t care what the uninformed believe. My understanding that, without Philly, the 4th of July wouldn’t be celebrated is shared in Europe. That makes this ranking irrelevant.”
State Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) thinks the city does a bang-up job.
“Philadelphia is the birthplace of our nation and absolutely the best place to spend Independence Day. Every year, the city’s commemoration is fantastic, and I’m especially looking forward to the 2026 celebration for the U.S. semiquincentennial,” said White.
Why, the city of Philadelphia itself is synonymous with freedom.
Independence Hall is the “room where it happened,” to quote the Broadway show “Hamilton.” It was where the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
“Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley played essential roles in our founding,” said local historian Jim Segrave-Daly.
“Experiences at Valley Forge and the surrounding area significantly contributed to the Continental Army’s ultimate victory. As the largest city in the colonies, Philadelphia’s location made it a vital hub of activity. What was created in Philadelphia was truly revolutionary. It ultimately became the nation’s first capital.”
Segrave-Daly, a Havertown resident, teaches history at Haverford Township Adult School. His “fifth and sixth great-grandfathers served in (Revolutionary War) Pennsylvania militia units, with one being wounded at Brandywine and serving as part of the Radnor Picket while Washington was at Valley Forge.”
Vincent Fenerty, chair of the Philadelphia GOP, called the WalletHub ranking “unbelievable.”
“Philadelphia is a beautiful city, with fine restaurants, plenty of history surroundings and fine concerts and fireworks to enjoy,” said Fenerty. “Whoever did the rating obviously has never visited Philadelphia.”
But WPHT radio host Dom Giordano thinks they may be onto something.
“Philadelphia does not embrace the traditional patriotic elements but sees it as an opportunity to just have a party on the Parkway,” said Giordano. “Washington’s celebration is perfect.”
WalletHub used five main factors to determine its rankings for Independence Day. The first was celebrations, followed by affordability, then attractions and activities. The fourth was safety and accessibility, and lastly, the weather forecast for the 4th of July.
They also weighted various aspects in each category, such as whether fireworks were legal, party suppliers per capita, and Google search interest in July 4th celebrations.
WalletHub also released a survey that found 79 percent of Americans polled think our independence is threatened by rising federal debt; 38 percent don’t feel financially independent; 54 percent plan to spend less money this Independence Day; 7 in 10 believe the founding fathers would not be satisfied with the current economy; 48 percent say tariffs are affecting their 4th of July plans; and 1 in 3 Americans said they’re not willing to pay extra to buy goods that were made in America.
