PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The classic sports movie “Rocky” was released to theaters on Dec. 3, 1976 — and 48 years later, Philadelphia has its biggest “Rocky” celebration yet, with RockyFest.
One year after Philly’s “Rocky Day” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, the Philadelphia Visitors Center has planned a week of events and activities celebrating the movies and their connection to the city. It kicked off Tuesday at the museum, as 125 kids ran up the famed “Rocky steps” to recreate the training montage from “Rocky II.”
Rocky Balboa wasn’t at the top of the steps, but a statue of him stood there — Sylvester Stallone’s personal statue of his most famous character, on loan for the month. It’s one of three statues of the “Italian Stallion” made from the same cast. Another replica is in the possession of sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg, while the original statue — the one featured in “Rocky III” — stands at the bottom of the Art Museum steps and will remain there.
Among the fans on hand to celebrate the start of RockyFest were Tony DeGennaro and his 10-year-old son, Little Tony, from Montgomery County. Both Tonys say they’ve looked up to Rocky’s example.
“Having five kids, I just wanted to raise them with that Rocky spirit, that Rocky mentality to get them through everything that life throws at you to keep moving forward,” DeGennaro told KYW Newsradio.
And what does Rocky mean to Little Tony? “It’s really inspirational,” he said. “If I have tough times in school or anything, I can use Rocky to inspire me.”
While last year’s Rocky Day featured an appearance from Stallone, no actors from the franchise are expected this year. However, there’s no shortage of things to do and see during RockyFest.
There are daily “Rocky”-themed bus tours, taking fans to sites like Mickey’s gym in Kensington, the Italian Market, and Laurel Hill Cemetery in East Falls, where his beloved Adrian’s gravestone (from “Rocky Balboa”) still stands. There are also happy hours and a marathon of the first six “Rocky” movies, including the “Rocky vs. Drago” director’s cut of “Rocky IV.”
And for those who want to recreate Rocky and Adrian’s romance, RockyFest features a date night at the Penn Ice Rink, where the couple had their first date — and another at the Philadelphia Zoo, where the boxer proposed to Adrian in “Rocky II.” There’s even a deep dive into the creation of the Rocky Balboa statue, if you’re interested. RockyFest runs through Sunday, Dec. 8.