The Sesame Street Muppets Celebrate America in "A Capitol Fourth"

The Muppets of Sesame Street will help America celebrate its 233rd birthday this summer with a musical appearance in A Capitol Fourth, a national Independence Day concert celebration. The annual concert event is broadcast live on PBS and NPR; it is viewed and heard by millions across the country and around the world, as well as attended by more than half a million people who gather at the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

This year's concent will be hosted by actor Jimmy Smits and feature performances by Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, the Muppets of Sesame Street, Michael Feinstein, the cast of Jersey Boys, Andrew von Oeyen, the Choral Arts Society of Washington, the National Symphony Orchestra, and others. This performers will light up the stage on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol for the 29th annual A Capitol Fourth celebration, followed by one of the most spectacular fireworks display anywhere in the nation.

Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and others Muppets from the cast of Sesame Street will be on hand to celebrate the special occasion. The Muppets will perform a musical medley of patriotic favorites as well as classic songs from their iconic children's television series.

A Capitol Fourth will be broadcast live on PBS on Saturday, July 4, 2009 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check your local listings for details), as well as on National Public Radio and to American troops around the world on the American Forces Radio and Television Network. So be sure to check out this patriotic appearance by the Sesame Street gang this 4th of July and celebrate America with the Muppets.