Get ready to have a blast
on the Fourth!

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

Clifton Davis admits that he’s a big kid when it comes to Fourth of July in Philadelphia.
As the executive director of Sunoco’s weeklong Welcome America! celebration, the television and film star got to handpick some new attractions for this year’s 15th annual event.
Some that he’s particularly excited about include the circus and the carnival.
"I want to get on some rides," said Davis, 61, who is known for his role as Rev. Reuben Gregory on the late ’80s TV show Amen and as the mayor in the 1999 film Any Given Sunday. He also appeared on the shows Party of Five and The Love Boat.
Davis, who became director of America’s birthday bash last year, promises that this year’s celebration will be the best ever, with more music, events and attractions, many of which are free, for people of all backgrounds and ages.
Still, planning the nation’s largest birthday party — about 2.5 million people attend, according to an economic impact study done by the International Festivals and Events Association — can prove daunting.
Fortunately, Davis has used his extensive experience in the music industry — he’s a composer who penned the Jackson 5 hit Never Can Say Goodbye and formerly ran Clifton Davis Productions — to attract some star-spangled talent.
"We’ve packed more into seven days than we’ve ever done," Davis said of Sunoco Welcome America! "The result is so much more enjoyment for the citizens of the region and the world. And it’s been so much more focused on media around the nation."
The festival, which spans June 28 to July 4, will include musical performances from homegrown talents like headliners Hall and Oates and 12-year-old Mayfair resident Bianca Ryan — last summer’s million-dollar winner on TV’s America’s Got Talent — plus a host of R&B, gospel, jazz and world musical performers.
"Of course this is a uniquely American holiday," Davis said. "While we invite nations from all over the world to come and visit, the truth of the matter is that when it comes to art we want to highlight those art forms that are native to the United States first."
On Saturday, R&B diva Chaka Khan will perform at Penn’s Landing along the Delaware River with Chante Moore and Kenny Lattimore.
On Monday, renowned jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis headlines at Arts on the Avenue on Broad Street, with a special appearance by Davis.
On Tuesday, the Original Tito Puente Orchestra heads the Fiesta Goya Salsa con Salsa, sponsored by Goya Foods and Coca-Cola. This year, more than 4,000 residents and visitors will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for largest salsa dance ever performed. Since the end of May, aspiring "salseros" have been learning the day’s routine at free lessons throughout the Delaware Valley.
On Wednesday, Hall & Oates dominate the Sunoco Sweet Sounds of Liberty Concert at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Davis also hinted that a "surprise guest" will make an appearance that night, but he declined to give clues as to who it might be.
Besides music, other attractions include the first-ever Sunoco Welcome America! Dreamland Carnival and Victoria Circus, which appears throughout the week and features rides, games and such performances as a strongmen competition. Since all the festival excitement is sure to produce big appetites, Taste of Philadelphia will offer cuisine from some of the city’s top restaurants.
And no Fourth of July celebration would be complete without fireworks. Philly is planning two explosive displays, on Saturday and Wednesday nights.
In looking forward to future Independence Day events in Philly, Davis hopes the city’s next mayor embraces what Sunoco Welcome America! has to offer.
"We’re looking to give both candidates support," Davis said of Democratic candidate Michael Nutter and Republican challenger Al Taubenberger. "We’re looking in terms of the festival moving forward. We want to know (how) each candidate views us.
"This celebration brings in $100 million for the City of Philadelphia. I think that’s a message that needs to go out," Davis said of the celebration’s success. "A foundation that has this kind of economic impact on the community deserves support." ••
For a full list of events, schedules and locations, visit www.americasbirthday.com
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com