The Betsy Ross House Announces the Return of The Popular Flag Festival and Expanded Hours!
The Betsy Ross House Announces the Return of The Popular Flag Festival and Expanded Hours!
The Betsy Ross House announces the return of its popular Flag Festival, Sunday, June 13 through Saturday, June 19. The event pays tribute to the tradition of Flag Day commemorations that began at the Betsy Ross House more than 100 years ago and resumed with the first modern Flag Festival in 2008.
Flag Fest was paused last year during the height of the pandemic, but organizers are happy to bring back a modified version of the event, featuring many favorites from past years, plus some exciting new additions.
The celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 13 when Betsy Ross, herself, raises the flag in the courtyard to mark the beginning of National Flag Week. Once Upon A Nation Storytellers will entertain from the courtyard stage, telling short, interactive and little-known stories featuring our nation’s flag.
Other highlights of the week will include the ongoing assembly of a larger-than-life American flag made entirely of M&M’s ® . Enjoy free samples provided by Mars Wrigley and photo ops with the completed flag on Saturday, June 19. The moving, annual naturalization ceremony will welcome 13 new citizens on Flag Day and during the week, visitors will meet figures from history, including famous suffragists and, of course, Betsy Ross, herself.
All week, the first 100 visitors to the House each day will receive free admission. Free admission and Flag Fest programming are being made possible with the generous support of a patriotic friend of the Betsy Ross House. To ensure the safety of visitors and staff, guests will be admitted to the courtyard in reduced numbers to allow for social distancing. Masks are required for all visitors. House staff and all performers will also be masked. For those guests who choose to tour the House, limited numbers of people will be admitted at intervals designed to allow at least one room of space between groups. Interactive exhibits have been temporarily removed and surfaces will be sanitized throughout the day.
The Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street, is currently open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday. During National Flag Week, the house will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $7 for adults; $6 for children/seniors/students. Upgrade to an audio guided tour for $9 for adults; $7 for children/seniors/students. For contact-free admission, advance tickets may be purchased at historicphiladelphia.org.
