PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia kicks off its first-ever Holiday Parade on Saturday, celebrating all the holidays of the season — Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the Chinese New Year.
It will feature balloons, marching bands and themed floats for each holiday.
In typical Philly fashion, traffic will be a doozy. Here’s what you need to know about getting around town and where to watch the spectacle.
Where to watch
The parade begins at 5 p.m. at Second and Market streets and ends at City Hall. Parade-viewers can watch anywhere along Market Street.
Attendees can pick up a free Wawa hot chocolate and other coffee giveaways before the parade between Second and Third streets along Market.
Primark, inside the Fashion District at 11th Street, is designated as an “official watch zone,” featuring an in-store DJ and giveaways.
Parade attendees must be masked.
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Road closures: Avoid Old City
The following streets will close starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and reopen after the parade:
• Second Street, from Race to Market streets
• Second Street, from Market to Chestnut streets
• Chestnut Street/Market Street Viaduct, beginning at Front and Chestnut streets and ending at Second and Market streets
Front Street, between Walnut and Market streets, will be closed from 3 to 5 p.m.
The following streets will close starting at 4 p.m. until the end of the parade:
• Market Street, from Front Street to City Hall
• Third Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• Fourth Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• Fifth Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• Sixth Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• Seventh Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• Eighth Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• Ninth Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• 10th Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• 11th Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• 12th Street, from Race to Chestnut streets
• JFK Boulevard, from Market to 15th streets
• North Broad Street, from JFK Boulevard to Vine Street
• City Hall area from South Broad to East Market streets
• South Broad Street (eastside) from Chestnut Street to City Hall
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Where you can’t park
Temporary “no parking” signs will be posted and enforced between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday along both sides of the following streets:
• Second Street, from Market to Race streets
• Second Street, from Market to Chestnut streets
• Chestnut Street/Market Street Viaduct, from Chestnut to Market streets
• Front Street, from Walnut to Market streets
“No parking” signs will also be enforced between 1 and 9 p.m. on these streets:
• North Broad Street, from Arch to Vine streets
• Vine Street (southside), from North Broad to 12th streets
• Race Street, from North Broad to 13th streets
Check SEPTA’s app or website for more information on bus detours. Detours vary between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday.