PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Ditch the candy hearts and red motifs. This Valentine’s Day, we’re going green for the Eagles. The two-time Super Bowl champions will parade up Broad Street on Friday, Feb. 14, starting at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex and making their way to the steps of the Art Museum.
The last — and the first — time the Eagles were gifted the honor of a parade was 2018, when the Birds clinched their first-ever Super Bowl title and gave us iconic moments that went down in franchise history, like Jason Kelce’s Mummers costume and legendary speech, or the now-notorious championship-winning Philly Special play.
The city on Tuesday announced its plans for Friday’s big celebration, including SEPTA service, the parade route and security measures.
Here’s everything you need to know about the parade.
When and where is the parade?
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia, near the Sports Complex. From there, open-air buses carrying the Eagles will make their way through Center City, up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and to the Art Museum.
Officials estimate the buses of players and coaches will arrive at the Art Museum around 12:30 or 1 p.m. The ceremony and speeches are expected to begin on the Rocky steps around 2 p.m. and continue until about 3:15 p.m.
Afterward, the Eagles and their 1 million-plus fans will depart. (At the 2018 parade, there were approximately 1.4 million attendees.)
What is the parade route?
The Eagles will step off from Broad Street and Pattison Avenue at 11 a.m., traveling northbound on Broad Street to South Penn Square, westbound on South Penn Square to 15th Street, northbound on 15th Street to John F. Kennedy Boulevard, westbound on John F. Kennedy Boulevard to 16th Street, northbound on 16th Street to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, westbound on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Eakins Oval, and ending at the Philadelphia Museum of Art apron.
Along the route, there will be about 15 jumbotron screens — starting near City Hall — so fans near and far can watch the ceremony live on the Rocky steps.
For more, visit phila.gov, or view an interactive map here.
How can I get there?
Parade-goers who want to start and end their day at the Linc should think again. The parking lots at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex will be closed.
SEPTA
Scott Sauer, SEPTA interim general manager, said public transit will look “drastically different” than usual come Friday. SEPTA is adding express service on the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines all day long and changing schedules along the Regional Rail.
As a result, most stations will be closed, including the 15th Street/City Hall complex. Sauer said that’s to prevent a crush of people trying to get on or off trains there: “The decision to close the City Hall complex is really based on lessons learned from the 2008 Phillies parade.”
As for the Regional Rail, the only stops open in Center City will be 30th Street and Jefferson stations. “Regional Rail, unlike transit, won’t just run back and forth all day,” Sauer said. “It’s going to be inbound travel in the morning and outbound travel in the evening.”
To see which stations will be closed on your train route, click here, or see the attached below.
Maps of SEPTA stations
The Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines will have express trains every 6 to 8 minutes, Sauer said, starting at 5 a.m. And, it will be free, thanks to a sponsorship by Gran Coramino, a tequila brand founded by Philly native Kevin Hart.
Regional Rail lines will run on limited, modified service from 4:30 a.m. through 10:50 p.m. Most will not have service at all during the parade itself — only before and after. Check your train line’s schedule here.
Regular fares will apply to all other SEPTA transit. In fact, riders without SEPTA Key cards are urged to buy special $10 fare cards that will be sold on Wednesday and Thursday. The cards will not be available for purchase on Friday. Regional Rail riders must have their fare cards in hand before then.
SEPTA buses will be detoured on and around Broad Street beginning late Thursday evening.
For more parade information, visit septa.org.
PATCO
There are big changes in PATCO service, too. PATCO expects 80,000 riders on Friday — four times as many as usual.
PATCO will offer limited service starting at 4 a.m.
From 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., trains will run westbound only; there will be no eastbound service. Trains will depart from stations approximately every 15 minutes, running express to 9/10th and Locust Street after boarding. This results in a train arriving in the city every 5 minutes.
Starting at 1 p.m., trains will run eastbound only; there will be no westbound service. After boarding, all trains will stop at City Hall, Ferry Avenue, Woodcrest and Lindenwold.
Normal weekday schedule resumes at 7 p.m., with eastbound and westbound service to all stations.
More details, including fares, at patco.com.
NJ Transit
An extra train and extra cars will be added to the Atlantic City Line, departing Atlantic City at 7:35 a.m. and arriving at 30th Street Station at 9:14 a.m. An extra train will also leave Philadelphia at 3:54 p.m., arriving in Atlantic City at 5:36 p.m.
The River Line will be operating with extra buses to accommodate more riders.
Bus service will be normal up until 8 a.m. Friday. After that, buses into the city will be rerouted around the parade road closures, with a single stop at Sixth and Race streets. Buses will not go to 30th Street Station like usual either. Departures leave from Seventh and Market streets. Bus schedules go back to normal at 7 p.m.
And, be advised: NJT stressed that there is a strict no-drinking policy on all buses and trains. Disorderly or drunken behavior will not be tolerated.
For more, visit njtransit.com.
Are Philly schools open?
No. Superintendent Tony Watlington said the School District of Philadelphia will be closed on Friday, Feb. 14.
Additionally, Archdiocesan high schools as well as parish and regional Catholic elementary schools in Philadelphia will be closed. Archdiocesan high schools in suburban counties will also be closed. Parish and regional Catholic elementary schools in suburban counties will operate on schedules determined by local school administrations.
All Philadelphia courts and municipal government offices will also be closed.
How should I prepare for the day?
People can sign up for parade updates and information by texting READYEAGLES to 888777.
City Managing Director Adam Thiel said parade-goers should plan how they are going to get to the event and how they are going to get home — “don’t just show up,” he said.
He advised people to designate an emergency meet-up location for their party in case someone gets separated, and don’t depend on cell service. It will likely get overloaded.
Dress for the cold and stay hydrated, though Thiel added, “As I said last time, a beer is not hydration.”
Law enforcement, traffic control, and emergency medical services personnel will be working along he parade route through the day. The Philadelphia Fire Department will staff medic tents at the following locations:
— 24th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway (south side)
— Pennsylvania Avenue and Spring Garden Street
— Aviator Park
Take missing or lost persons to either of the medic tent locations listed above or notify a police officer immediately.
Alpha-numeric location markers will be posted along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to help quickly identify specific locations and facilitate communication in the event of an emergency.
What’s the weather forecast?
Besides the chill, it’s ideal conditions for Friday’s parade. AccuWeather is forecasting sunny to partly cloudy and dry conditions, with a high of about 38 degrees and a low of 25. Dress accordingly.
What roads are closed?
Thursday, Feb. 13
The inner lanes (inbound and outbound) of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from Eakins Oval to 20th Street, top of the Oval, and inbound Kelly Drive will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. This closure will not be in effect during morning and evening rush hours, and cross streets will remain open to traffic throughout.
Friday, Feb. 14
From 7 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m., the following streets will be closed:
• Kelly Drive from Eakins Oval to Fountain Green
• Sedgley Drive from West Girard Avenue to Kelly Drive
• Lemon Hill Drive
• Poplar Drive from West Girard Avenue to Sedgley Drive
• Poplar Street from 30th Street to Poplar Drive
From 5 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m., the following streets will be closed:
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 16th Street and 20th Street (including Logan Circle)
• 17th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
• 18th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
• 19th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
• Race Street between 20th Street and Logan Circle
• 20th Street between Race Street and Callowhill Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th Street and Eakins Oval (all lanes)
• 21st Street between Spring Garden Street and Winter Street
• Local access to Pennsylvania Avenue only (all traffic must turn left)
• 22nd Street between Spring Garden Street and Race Street
• Local access to Park Towne Place only (residents)
• 23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Local access only as conditions allow
• 24th Street between Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Park Towne Place
• Park Towne Place between 22nd Street and 24th Street
• Local access to Park Towne Place only (residents)
• Pennsylvania Avenue/Callowhill Street between 20th Street and 21st Street
• Local access to Barnes Foundation driveway (westbound) only
• Eastbound open from 21st Street
• Spring Garden Street between 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Local access only as conditions allow
• Spring Garden Tunnel
• Waterworks Drive
• I-676 westbound 22nd Street off-ramp
• 2000 Winter Street
• Kelly Drive between Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Strawberry Mansion Drive
• Martin Luther King Drive between Eakins Oval and Montgomery Drive
• Spring Garden Street Bridge at 31st Street
• Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive
• 25th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Kelly Drive
The following streets will be designated “local access only” west of 22nd Street:
• Wallace Street
• Mt. Vernon Street
• Green Street
• Judson Street
• Brandywine Street
From 7:30 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m., the following streets will be closed:
• South Broad Street between Pattison Avenue and South Penn Square
• South Penn Square between Broad Street and 15th Street
• 15th Street between Chestnut Street and Vine Street
• 16th Street between Chestnut Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• 1500-1600 Market Street
• 1500-1600 JFK Blvd.
• All cross streets on Broad Street from Pattison Avenue to South Penn Square, from 13th Street to 15th Street
• Pattison Avenue between 7th Street and 20th Street
From 10:30 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m., the following streets will be closed:
• I-95 northbound and southbound Broad Street off-ramp
• I-76 eastbound and westbound Broad Street off-ramp (Sports Complex)
From 12 p.m. until approximately 9 p.m., the following streets will be closed:
• JFK Blvd. between 20th Street and 29th Street/Schuylkill Avenue
• 29th Street/Schuylkill Avenue between Market Street and JFK Blvd.
• 30th Street between Market Street and Arch Street
• I-76 westbound 30th Street off-ramp
• I-76 eastbound 30th Street off-ramp
• I-76 westbound Schuylkill Avenue on-ramp
• Filbert Street between 10th Street and 12th Street
• 10th Street between Filbert Street and Race Street
• 11th Street between Filbert Street and Race Street
• 12th Street between Filbert Street and Race Street
Cross streets will be reopened south to north on Broad Street, and elsewhere along the parade route, as early as conditions allow on Friday. Most streets should be reopened before 7 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Saturday, Feb. 15
The inner lanes (inbound and outbound) of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from Eakins Oval to 20th Street will be closed from 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 into the overnight hours. Cross streets will remain open to traffic throughout, and all roads will be open prior to noon on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Parking restrictions
Temporary no-parking restrictions along the parade route and on adjacent streets will commence at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13 and remain in place until approximately 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.
Impacted streets include:
• South Broad Street from South Penn Square to Pattison Avenue (both sides of the street including the center median)
• All cross streets on Broad Street from Pattison Avenue to Chestnut Street from 13th Street to 15th Street (both sides of the street)
• South Penn Square from Broad Street to 15th Street (both sides of the street)
• 15th Street from Chestnut Street to Vine Street (both sides of the street)
• 1500 Arch Street (both sides of the street)
• 1400-1600 JFK Blvd. (both sides of the street)
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 16th Street to 20th Street (both sides of the street)
• Kelly Drive along Boathouse Row
• Sedgley Drive between Kelly Drive and Poplar Drive
• Waterworks Drive
• 1500-1600 Market Street (both sides of the street)
• 1600 Cherry Street (both sides of the street)
• Pennsylvania Avenue from 22nd Street to 24th Street (south side of the street)
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street to Eakins Oval (all lanes; both sides)
• 22nd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Winter Street (both sides of the street)
• 21st Street between Pennsylvania Avenue & Race Street (both sides of the street)
• 20th Street from Race Street to Callowhill Street (both sides of the street)
• 19th Street from Arch Street to Vine Street (both sides of the street)
• 18th Street from Arch Street to Vine Street (both sides of the street)
• 17th Street from Arch Street to Vine Street (both sides of the street)
• 16th Street from Market Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway (both sides of the street)
• 1500-1600 Market Street (both sides of the street)
• 1600 Cherry Street (both sides of the street)
• Park Towne Place between 22nd & 24th Streets (north side of the street)
• 2000-2200 Spring Garden Street (both sides of the street)
• 2000 Winter Street
Cars parked in these locations during posted hours will be moved. Metered parking will not be enforced on Friday. However, safety violations — such as parking too close to the corner, fire hydrants, blocking crosswalks and double parking — will be enforced.
Bike lane detours
Several bike lanes along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Broad Street and streets in the vicinity will be inaccessible. There will be no access to the Schuylkill River Trail from the rear of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday, Feb. 14. Westbound travel on the trail will end at Paine Skate Park.
Are Valentine’s Day reservations affected?
A lot has been said about the fact that Friday is also Valentine’s Day, but the mayor promises the city will be back to normal by the evening and people will be able to get to where they’re going. The victory celebration is expected to wrap up by 3:15 p.m., giving time for the city to clear out ahead of dinner reservations. “Nothing will interfere with our restaurant reservations on that evening,” Mayor Cherelle Parker assured. “We will be done well before you are to appear for dinner, so don’t you dare touch any of those reservations.”
Does the parade affect my trash collection?
For some city residents, yes. Residential trash and recycling collection will be suspended on Friday. The Sanitation Department will operate on a holiday schedule and will be delayed by one day. Residents with a normal collection day of Friday should instead place their trash and recycling on the curb on Saturday.