Amy Needle, CEO and President of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. discussed the summer activities planned for Franklin Square, the Betsy Ross House and throughout the Olde City historic district.  The brainchild of former Mayor Ed Rendell, Historic Philadelphia was founded to package and promote the tourism impact of the many historic sites and the pivotal events that happened here.  Today it oversees the Betsy Ross House, the home of Betsy, her three husbands and many children and her upholstery business, and the redeveloped and revitalized Franklin Square, one of William Penn’s original green spaces.  It also offers ‘Once Upon a Nation,’ live interactive presentations by costumed reenactors throughout the historic district.  We touched on the plans for this year, and ongoing partnerships with other district museums and sites in anticipation of 2026 celebrations.

Once Upon A Nation will again offer its famous Storytelling Benches in Old City with new free programs for kids.  For adults, they are introducing ‘Cocktails with Congress,’ a Thursday Happy Hour at Carpenters’ Hall. 

At Franklin Square the Chinese Lantern Festival, their major fundraiser, returns June 20 through August 31 with cultural offerings and vendors.  The event is open to the public during the day and ticketed at night when the lanterns glow.  The daily fountain shows in the Rendell Family Fountain, the carousel and Mini Golf and Square Burger restaurant are all open throughout the day and evening. During the day there will be exercise classes, yoga and other offerings at the park which serves as a green anchor for the residents and schools nearby.   

Amy discussed their annual July 2nd celebration, a parade winding from the National Constitution Center to the Museum of the American Revolution, followed by activities and entertainment at eight neighboring historic sites. Amy revealed that an expanded version of this will be the centerpiece for their 2026 plans as well as ‘52 Weeks of Firsts’ – markers celebrating famous firsts of Philadelphia, with one spotlighted every week.

For more information about tours, Once Upon a Nation sites, tickets to the Chinese Lantern Festival and other historic events check the Historic Philadelphia Gazette at historicphiladelpia.org.