What’s With All the Special Events in Philadelphia?

It’s an exciting time to be in Philadelphia. It seems like not a month goes by that there isn’t some high-profile special event or visitor in town drawing attention to the city. Last week saw President Barack Obama visiting for the NAACP annual conference. Bill Clinton was also in town recently. The pope and the Dalai Lama are visiting in the fall. The Tall Ships festival came to town last month. And next year will see the Democratic National Convention coming to Philadelphia. That’s just a sample of the many exciting tourism draws that have been happening lately.

The Tall Ships festival was just one of several special events to come to Philly recently.

The question is, why Philadelphia? You and I both happen to know that the city is pretty great, but what is drawing crowds?

One answer has to do with Philadelphia’s deep roots in the annals of American history. The home of the Liberty Bell and the Betsy Ross House just feels American, and people feel like it’s a great place to visit. Special event organizers are drawn there because there are so many hotspots to keep visitors entertained.

Philadelphia’s convenient location on the East Coast doesn’t hurt, either. It has great public transportation and is easy to navigate, making it a strong option along the same lines as New York City or Boston.

A change in demographics has breathed fresh life into Philly, making it a more exciting place to visit. Back in the 1980s, the city’s population was fleeing en masse. But now baby boomers and young professionals have flooded back in, making for a youthful and exciting atmosphere.

In short, there are multiple reasons why Philadelphia is hotter than ever. One thing is for sure – the tide of attention to the city shows no signs of slowing down.