24-Hour
Millennium Philadelphia Celebration
December 31, 1999 - January 1, 2000
PHILADELPHIA, December, 1999 -- Celebrate the New Year in Philadelphia with 24 hours of free events -- a phenomenal fireworks spectacular, lasting light legacies, dancing, running, events for families, Mummer’s and much more. The public is encouraged to participate in this citywide celebration that begins at 7 a.m. on December 31, 1999, and ends with the Mummer’s New Year’s Parade at 6 a.m. on January 1, 2000. Millennium celebrations will take place in the Pennsylvania Convention Center and throughout the City.
From 7 a.m., on December 31, until 6 a.m., on New Year’s Day, the Pennsylvania Convention Center will be “celebration-central,” where jumbo screens will broadcast the local revels from 24 places different places around the world, each time the clock strikes midnight. Then, entertainment themed to each part of the world will be performed on stage. Meanwhile, events outside and around the city -- all free and most inviting public participation -- will take place hourly: performed on stage. Meanwhile, events outside and around the city -- all free and most inviting public participation -- will take place hourly:
7
a.m. Rocky Run: 2,000 people
run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps.
8 a.m. Ring in the New Millennium: A replica of the Liberty Bell tours the neighborhoods.
9
a.m.
2000 Tree Planting: Visitors
participate in history by planting 2,000 trees in Fairmount Park
10 a.m. Millennium Costume Party at
the Academy of Natural Sciences: Kids 12-years and under parade
11
a.m Time Capsule Dedication:
Franklin Institute Science Museum - to be opened in 2050
12 p.m. Countdown
to Noon: Kids celebrate noon with confetti and a giant Oreo cookie at Please
Touch MuseumÒ
1 p.m. Colonial
Reenactment: Millennium debate between scholars of the past and present at
Carpenter’s Hall.
2
p.m. Millennium
Marriage Ceremony: The Honorable Midge Rendell and Mayor Edward G. Rendell
officiate as 1,000 couples exchange wedding vows at the Pennsylvania
Convention Center.
3
p.m. Original Bandstand
Reunion Sock Hop: Pennsylvania Convention Center.
4
p.m. African American
Museum Celebration: African American Museum.
5
p.m. Philadelphia 2000
Lighting: 2,000 people using flashlights will spell Philadelphia 2000
at Veterans Stadium.
6
p.m. Lights On! William
Penn Legacy: The William Penn statue atop City Hall
will be permanently illuminated.
7
p.m. Luminaire in the
Square: Rittenhouse Square becomes a colorful jewelbox as spinners,
sparklers and gerbs glow with light.
8
p.m. Schuylkill River
Bridge Lighting: From the South Street Bridge to the Spring Garden Bridge,
visitors watch as seven bridges are illuminated forever
9
p.m. Old City Parade: A
lighted procession through the streets of Old City led by the Sun Ra Orchestra
10
p.m. Light and Laser
Show: 12-minute Light and Laser Show choreographed to music on the
Avenue of the Arts
11
p.m. Celebrity
Reading/Procession: A candlelight reading of the
Declaration of
Independence by a famous Philadelphian at Independence Hall and a
candlelight procession
to Penn’s Landing
12
a.m. Fireworks Extravaganza:
Biggest fireworks of the century ushers in at Penn’s Landing. Don’t miss the
brand new effect!
1 a.m. South Street Festival: South Street
2 a.m. Luminaire
in the Square: Rittenhouse Square
3 a.m. Dances of the Century: Visitors learn ten dances from the century at the Pennsylvania Convention Center
4 a.m. Rocky Horror Picture Show 25th
Anniversary: Pennsylvania Convention Center
5 a.m. SCRAPPLE Breakfast: Visitors enjoy an early morning breakfast of scrapple, juice, coffee and toast at the Pennsylvania Convention Center
6 a.m .Mummers Parade: Broad Street
For more information, visit the Millennium Philadelphia web-site at millennium.philadelphia.org or the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation’s web-site at www.gophila.com
*events accurate at time of publication are subject to change