Crews clean up the Parkway following Philly's America 250 celebration

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Thousands of people celebrated America's 250th Birthday at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

But after the party came the big cleanup, as crews were out Sunday morning to clear the streets.

By early afternoon, only the stage remained as crews hit the streets with collection trucks, backpack blowers and street sweepers.

The One Philly: Unity Concert for America was the city's biggest 4th of July concert to date, and it was all to commemorate the nation's 250th.

The city was determined to have the celebration, despite the uncooperative weather.

The concert had been underway for several hours Saturday evening before attendees were instructed to leave the area due to approaching severe weather.

The celebration resumed just after midnight Sunday, after severe storms delayed festivities for several hours.

"The storm came, it was just raining, raining. We were just sitting for hours waiting on the roof and there were fireworks," said Steven Ortiz of Fairmount.

Crowds returned to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the early morning hours before The Roots and special guests took the stage just after 12:45 a.m.

The event concluded with a fireworks display shortly before 2:30 a.m.

"It was so loud and it was echoing through the streets, I was like these darn kids! No it was the city!" said Claire Mosher, who lives nearby.

Hundreds returned to see the remainder of the show, and as soon as the event was over, sanitation crews moved in.

While workers continue to clear the area, road closures remain in effect.