Philly POPS to Give 130 Bikes to Local Kids for CHRISTMAS IN JULY

For the fourth annual Christmas in July, the Philly POPS, in coordination with Comcast NBCUniversal and a number of private donors, will give 130 bicycles and helmets to children of members of the military, Philadelphia police and fire departments.

Christmas in July marks the on-sale date for tickets to the POPS' widely-attended Christmas concert series in December - shows that almost completely sold out in 2015 and 2016. It also serves to announce the fourth annual I'll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders event, on December 1, which opens the Christmas concert season with a free concert for military, veterans, police officers, firefighters and their families at the Kimmel Center.

The ceremony on July 18th will be held at Comcast Center starting at 10 a.m. Expect a holiday atmosphere with Santa Claus, Victorian carolers, POPS musicians performing songs of the Christmas season, Christmas trees, and fun surprises.

This event is part of the POPS' Salute Series - events held in connection with American civic holidays that honor the very American tradition of service.

For more information, go to www.phillypops.org/christmasinjuly2017.

The Philly POPS Salute Series encourages recognition of service and commitment through an expanding set of events and activities-each transformative moments of celebration for our community. Salute performances recognize the service and sacrifice of those dedicated to a collective identity of American values and tradition. Salute Series activities continue throughout the rest of the year with concerts held on American holidays. Both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia partner with the POPS on Salute Series events. The Salute Series is made possible by the support of Presenting Sponsor Comcast NBCUniversal, Major Sponsors EisnerAmper and Archer Law, Key Sponsor Bank of America, Sponsors PARX Casino Visit Philly, PHLCVB, PECO and many other private donors. To learn more, visit phillypops.org/concerts-events/salute-series-events.

The Philly POPS, the largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States, delights audiences with the inspired performance of American popular music. The POPS celebrates this distinctive musical heritage through an expanding repertoire of innovative concert presentations and a robust set of educational and engagement initiatives.

Now in its 39th season, the official POPS orchestra of Pennsylvania serves a consistently growing audience of over 100,000 annually. Music Director Michael Krajewski and the 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra keeps listeners tapping their toes to an impressive repertoire of songs from American traditions of music up through today's chart toppers.

Outside the concert hall, Salute Series performances - including POPS on Independence on July 3 and the I'll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders concert - celebrate the American tradition of service around important national holidays; POPS in Schools enhances music education for Philadelphia School District students; and POPS Outside brings POPS music to local communities.

The Philly POPS performs as a founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region.