(Minghui.org) Although a major celebration on America’s 250th birthday that was planned for July 3 in Philadelphia, the country’s birthplace, was canceled because the temperature reached over 100°F (37.8°C), numerous groups including Falun Dafa practitioners performed in the city center at Independence Mall. The performances were well received by people who were visiting the Greater Philadelphia area.

Practitioners brought Tian Guo Marching Band, waist drum team, and a float to the celebration. Many people said they liked the message of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Main stream media also covered the event.

The Tian Guo Marching Band performed at Independence Mall in Philadelphia on July 3, 2026. (Minghui.org)

The waist drum team performed (Minghui.org)

Falun Dafa practitioners’ float was especially created for America’s 250th birthday celebration (Minghui.org)

Philadelphia played a pivotal role in American history. The Declaration of Independence was signed at Independence Hall in 1776; the U.S. Constitution was signed and ratified there in 1787; Philadelphia also served as the nation’s capital from 1790 to 1800. The 250th anniversary celebration in Philadelphia is especially meaningful.

For many years, Falun Dafa practitioners have been invited to participate in major celebrations including 4th of July parades. As America marks the historic milestone of its 250th anniversary, Falun Dafa practitioners created a special celebratory float. Featuring vibrant colors and displaying words such as “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance”, the float attracted many onlookers who stopped to watch and take photos or videos.

Falun Dafa practitioners’ performances also garnered widespread attention from mainstream media in Philadelphia. Major outlets such as NBC10, Fox29, and WHYY Public Radio featured photos and videos of the practitioners’ float, the Tian Guo Marching Band, and the waist drum team in their news coverage. Notably, the WHYY website used an image of the Tian Guo Marching Band and waist-drum team as the main header for its news homepage, while Fox29 used the practitioners’ float as the thumbnail image for its video report. Local journalists and social media influencers shared videos of the Falun Dafa group, drawing broad interest from online audiences.

Cherishing Freedom and Liberty

Michelle Mi, a drum major in the Tian Guo Marching Band, said that despite the sweltering heat, the members were delighted to perform at the birthplace of American democracy and freedom. “The spirit in Philadelphia today is wonderful,” she said. “Even though it’s extremely hot, there are many groups performing in different parks, and the spirit here is great.”

Mi arrived in the United States 30 years ago. She expressed gratitude for the environment of freedom in which she has grown, noting that it has made her cherish the country’s culture and values even more. “I really love the culture here,” she said. “People are very kind, and there’s the spirit of freedom. There’s a lot of innovation. There are many things about this country I really appreciate. So I’m very excited to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.”

She also talked about how to carry forward the spirit upon which the United States was founded, and believes that everyone can share their own stories to help more people cherish the hard-won nature of freedom. “Our band is made up of Falun Dafa practitioners,” Mi explained. “Falun Dafa is a spiritual meditation practice, originally from China, and our practice principles revolve around Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, so we strive towards these values in our everyday life.”

Since its introduction in China in 1992, Falun Dafa is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions, and benefits more than one hundred million people physically and mentally. Yet, it has been subjected to brutal persecution by the Chinese Communist Party for 27 years. After arriving in the United States from mainland China, Mi deeply cherishes the freedom here.

She is also deeply concerned about the emergence of pro-communist ideologies within American society. “I lived in a communist country until I graduated from elementary school, so I knew what it was like to be in a communist country, and it’s not what they [the leaders] claim to be,” Mi added.

Ms. Liu, a member of the waist drum team, also said she was thrilled and very proud to participate in the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. “I believe the United States is the home of freedom,” she said. She hopes that more people cherish and pass on traditional American values, and that nations around the world also cherish their own traditional cultures.

Media Coverage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WUYDRWeT_MThe NBC10 report included a video of the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performance.

Link for “NBC_web.PNG”The NBC10 website published a video which contained the Falun Dafa float.

Link for “Fox.PNG”Fox29 featured the Falun Dafa float and used an image of it as their headline photo.

Link for “NBC_reporter.PNG”An Instagram video with thousands of followers contained the Falun Dafa float posted by an NBC reporter.

https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/DMZKOYQg6pVideo report from Gan Jing World: New York Tian Guo Marching Band performs at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/z3aQYnNpBWVideo report from Gan Jing World: A New York waist-drum team performs at Independence Hall Mall in Philadelphia to celebrate the America’s 250th anniversary.