Centennial celebration of the Ben Franklin Parkway

BEN FRANKLIN PARKWAY (WPVI) -- It was a party 100 years in the making on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Thursday night.

The unique event took place as part of the centennial celebration of the Parkway.

The Parkway has long had an international component with flags from many countries around the world.

Tonight's celebration kicked off with an international show, featuring the colorful work of a renown Chinese artist, Cai Guo-Qiang. He calls his show, "Fireflies."

There were 1,000 illuminated lanterns in a wide array of colors and shapes.

They were propelled by a fleet ofrickshaw-like peddle vehicles called pedicabs.

The show is being sponsored by the Association for Public Art and the city of Philadelphia.

Beginning Friday night, the public will be able to get free rides on the pedicabs.

The show runs tomorrow through October 8 on Thursdays through Sundays from 6-10 p.m.

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