NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n A hefty backdrop sign toppled toward Pennsylvania<\/a> Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Benjamin Franklin reenactor and a woman portraying Betsy Ross on Thursday as the governor unveiled headliners for the “Commonwealth Concert Series” in anticipation of the nation’s semiquincentennial.\u00a0<\/p>\n Shapiro, Franklin and Ross announced five free, star-studded concerts would take place around the commonwealth leading up to America\u2019s 250th birthday on July 4 \u2013 at a cost of $675,000 from Pennsylvania\u2019s Marketing to Attract Marquis Events program.<\/p>\n As Shapiro joked that state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, would be a good singer for a concert in that city<\/a>, he pivoted to announcing the finale of the series.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Then on June 27th, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the newly refurbished, refashioned, redone Point State Park,” he boomed, before being interrupted by a crashing sound as the large “America250PA” backdrop fell forward, nearly clipping him, Ross and Franklin.<\/p>\n $20M \u2018ONE SMALL STEP\u2019 CAMPAIGN AIMS TO REBUILD AMERICAN PRIDE AHEAD OF 250TH ANNIVERSARY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “You all right, Doctor Franklin?” Shapiro asked.<\/p>\n “I feel like Sandra Day O\u2019Connor<\/a>,” Franklin replied \u2013 referencing a near-catastrophic incident in 2003 in Philadelphia as the Reagan-appointed Supreme Court justice was announcing the opening of the Constitution Center on Independence Mall.<\/p>\n At that event<\/a>, Day O\u2019Connor counted down to the pulling of ribbons to unveil the center, and when her count hit zero, a large horizontal beam crashed down within inches of her head<\/a>.<\/p>\n WASHINGTON MONUMENT TO BECOME \u2018BIRTHDAY CANDLE\u2019 AS US MARKS START OF 250TH YEAR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks during a campaign rally for former Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29, 2024, in Ambler, Pennsylvania.<\/span> (Hannah Beier\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Shapiro announced several acts including Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum), The Fray, Cole Swindell and Gabby Barrett, before the sign crashed down.\u00a0<\/p>\n After ensuring all on the dais were unharmed Thursday, Shapiro finished his announcement, saying that Third Eye Blind would headline that final concert at the park \u2013 which is at the “point” confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks before Punxsutawney Phil’s prognostication.<\/span> (Mostafa Bassim\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “I don’t know if you saw this the other day, we redid the fountain there. Austin Davis, the great lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania<\/a>, y’all should give them a little grief for this. He turned that fountain on so high, he soaked himself and every other guest who was there that day,” Shapiro quipped.<\/p>\n “Third Eye Blind and Nelly<\/a>, that\u2019s going to be a good one.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"America](\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/shapiro-sign-falling.gif\")
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