As Philadelphia marks 250 years since the founding of the United States, you’re going to hear much more about the important date that John Adams wanted to be Independence Day: July 2.

The city is planning an all-day celebration full of “pomp and parade” as Adams would have wanted, and calling it the Red, White and Blue To-Do. 

Philadelphia political and tourism leaders are holding a news conference at 11 a.m., where they will announce more about the plans for July 2. Watch live in the player above or wherever CBS News Philadelphia is streaming.

What happened on July 2, 1776?

While today we celebrate independence on the Fourth of July, back in the 1700s, there was plenty of support for the holiday to be held on July 2.

That’s the date that the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution calling for independence. The date we celebrate today, July 4, marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Leading up to the 250th anniversary of the U.S. here in Philadelphia, the home of this history, there’s been a push to celebrate on both days and start thinking of the first week of July as “Independence Week.”

Past Red, White and Blue To-Do events

The city celebrated its first Red, White and Blue To-Do in 2024 and brought it back bigger in 2025. There have been parades around Old City with patriotic floats. 

Museums have also had deals or free admission, sometimes with special Independence-themed programming, to commemorate the day.

In: