And, boy, did that snake get grilled.
Temperatures pushed 90 most of the day at the Wawa Welcome America celebration Monday, as people ate gyros and cheesesteaks, swayed to music, and reunited with friends and family to party Philadelphia-style.
Organizers had no official crowd count, although Mayor Nutter said, "This might be the largest Fourth of July event ever." The event has been known to draw a million or more people.
With a pink-and-orange sunset in the background and Sara Bareilles and the Roots performing feel-good songs, thousands relaxed on lawn chairs and blankets along the Parkway.
Once the sun went down, crowd-pumping beats such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" had everyone from teeny-boppers to grandparents on their feet singing and dancing. Boyz II Men also had the Parkway denizens dancing and singing.
The line for the dozens of food stations continued throughout the night, as did the flow of beer for many attendees awaiting the dazzling fireworks display - a fitting end to the party.
During the day, attendees could watch the strong-man competition, play on huge inflatable slides, and engage in water-gun fun, among myriad activities put on by businesses, artists, and organizations.
They could even buy a good joke or two, thanks to Jason Schneider, 25, a 2007 University of Pennsylvania graduate who started a street comedy business.
With a cardboard sign that read "$1 Jokes, Laughter Guaranteed," he drew a steady stream of customers.
"What did the green grape say to the purple grape?" he asked a group from New York.
"Breathe, stupid, breathe."
"What do you call a seeing-eye cow for blind people?"
"Hamburger helper."
"Why do Chinese men bring chopsticks to bars?"
"So they can pick up women."
After cracking a few, Schneider reached into his black bag and gave each customer "a joke to go."
