When It Comes to Marathons and Parades, Philly Has You Covered
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s to Broad Street to a Marathon Named After the City — No One Does It Like Philly.
In Philly, we’ve got great history, great food (wit whiz,) great sports, and great people.
And when it comes to marathons and parades, Philadelphia is once again where it’s at – No one does it like Philly.
Each spring, the longest-running ten-mile road race in the US dates back to the early 1980s and is traditionally held on the first Sunday in May. This year has special meaning for the Broad Street Run, which will again terminate at the Navy Yard. Over its nearly forty-five-year history, Philadelphia’s Broad Street Run has been won by talent from Russia, Morocco, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, and, of course, the United States.
It joins with the Penn Relays, a now internationally recognized event started at Franklin Field since 1895.
But if you want a scenic run around Philadelphia’s historic scenery — the 3rd weekend in November for the Philadelphia Marathon has you covered. Run annually for seventy years since 1954 — the Philadelphia Marathon runs past historic Philadelphia, Old City, and Fairmount Park, just over 26 miles.
PHOTO: WikiCommons
Not even one week after the conclusion of the Philadelphia Marathon is the oldest annual Thanksgiving Parade in America (sorry, Pilgrims).) Started nearly 105 years ago in 1920, Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started outside of Gimbel’s Department Store to attract more customers and highlight Gimbel’s “Toyland.”
Just when you thought we couldn’t get any more historic, here come the Mummers on New Year’s Day, whose roots date back to before 1700—another Philadelphia oldest and continuous (move over, Phillies). The Mummer’s Parade officially started in 1901, is the oldest continuous folk parade in the United States. It’s a New Year’s tradition in Philly.
Oh, did I mention that we also have amazing championship parades down Broad Street?
If fortunes align, you may see one this February.
PHOTO: WikiCommons
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