Philadelphia

#WeWonIt: Philly Will Celebrate Eagles Super Bowl Win With 5-Mile Parade and Celebration

Should I drive? How can I get to the parade? Where will the bathrooms be? These questions and many more answered.

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Brian X. McCrone/NBC10

What to Know

  • The celebration will stretch out for 5 hours and extend from South Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
  • The event has two parts: The parade and a rally at the Art Museum. Organizers promise several surprises.
  • SEPTA and PATCO are making major changes to schedules, will close stations, and provide free subway rides in Philly on Thursday.

The Philadelphia Eagles Parade of Champions will be a five-hour, five-mile-long spectacle that could draw a million people or more to the city to celebrate our Super Bowl champions. Schools and businesses are closing, mass transit is running special service, and major streets will be shut down.

So what do you need to know? Here's a complete guide for anything and everything about the parade. We'll continue updating this as new details filter in.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES THE PARADE START AND END?

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Broad and Pattison avenues in South Philly. It'll end at 1 p.m. for a ceremony in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. That event is expected to be over by 3 p.m.

NBC10's coverage of the parade starts at 10 a.m. on TV, on NBC10.com and the NBC10 app. More here.

WHAT'S THE PARADE ROUTE?

There's going to be 5 miles of parade, so you'll have plenty of chances to see everything. Here's the full route:

  • After the Eagles leave the Linc, they will officially kick off the parade at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia,
  • The caravan will travel north on South Broad Street toward City Hall.
  • Then, it'll make a left at South Penn Square, traveling along the west side of City Hall (which is typically against traffic.)
  • Then, it'll make a left on JFK Boulevard, travel by LOVE Park and turn onto 16th Street
  • Next, the parade will travel northwest along the Parkway toward the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
  • The parade will end at the Art Museum where a rally will take place.

You can also set up at the rally early and wait for the parade to come to you.

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HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING?

One million people or more could attend the parade. In 2008, a parade for the Phillies World Series drew about the same amount.

Be sure to pack your patience.

HOW SHOULD I GET THERE? CAN I DRIVE?

Your best bet is taking the subway (more on this below), a train, or walking.

Don't think about driving. The city is shutting down dozens of streets. There won't be any parking available at the Sports Complex and FDR Park will be closed to parking. So even if you make it through the traffic in time, you won't have anywhere to put your car.

WHAT STREETS WILL BE CLOSED?

A lot. Here's a full list.

SO, WHAT ABOUT TAKING SEPTA OR PATCO?

This is going to be your best bet. If you're in the city, you can take the Broad Street Subway and the Market-Frankford El for free. But only certain stations will be open (here's a full list) and expect big delays.

Regional Rail is operating on special ticketing, all of which have already been sold. Trains will also only serve a few stations (Again, info on those here plus bus routes and trolleys.)

PATCO will only be running trains into the city on Thursday morning and, like SEPTA, you'll only be able to get on at a few stations. Tickets, however, for a seat on the trains sold out Wednesday afternoon.

Needless to say, give yourself a lot of extra time to get around. And know that SEPTA says they're only able to serve one-in-four parade attendees.

CAN I RIDE MY BIKE?

That's a great idea. Though be aware that several bike lanes will be closed as part of city street closures. And you may have trouble finding a place to lock up your wheels once you get to where you're going.

Indego, the city's bike share program, is offering a 20 percent discount on "visitor's pass" rentals. You need to use the promo code: FlyEaglesFly.

Additionally, some docking stations will be locked down. Here's a list.

RIDESHARING SERVICES? WILL THEY BE WORKING?

They'll be operating, but it may be slow going to get where you need to be so give yourself extra time.

There are some discounts available too:

Miller Lite is offering $10 discounts off their Uber ride. There are restrictions: You need to be in this zone. The rides must be taken between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday. And once Miller Lite spends $130,000 in discounts, the promo will end.

And Bud Light reps will be handing out $10 Lyft credits at a limited number of bars along and near the parade route.

DO I NEED A TICKET?

Nope! The entire event will be open and there will be no gates — save for barricades along the parade route.

WHAT ABOUT SECURITY? WILL I NEED TO GO THROUGH A METAL DETECTOR?

Philadelphia police will not be screening people heading into the parade viewing areas. There will be uniformed and plainclothes officers among the crowds. Bicycle, homeland security, and mounted police will be on patrol along with the department's tactical air unit.

WHAT'S THE WEATHER GOING TO BE LIKE?

Very cold. Like, biting cold. And the wind is going to make you tear up. So you better layer up.

Lingering clouds will give way to partly sunny skies by the time the parade starts at 11 a.m. Temperatures will climb into the low 30s, but the wind will make it feel like it’s in the 20s through the afternoon.

Here's the full parade forecast from the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team.

WHAT ABOUT WHEN I HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM?

There will be 850 port-a-potties scattered along Broad Street and the Parkway. Though, city officials say most will be concentrated on the Parkway.

That likely will not be enough. For comparison, the city rented around 3,000 toilets for Pope Francis' visit and far fewer people attended those events.

Why so few this time around? There's not enough lead time to get rentals in place.

You may be able to get into a toilet at stores and restaurants that will be open, but don't count on it.

HOW ABOUT FOOD?

Some restaurants, stores and bars will be open along the parade route, but don't count on being able to find food easily along Broad Street.

On the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, however, there will be 40 food trucks offering food for purchase.

Still, you probably want to pack some protein bars or square away a Wawa shorti in your backpack.

WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING?

The parade will be completely open-air with the Eagles standing or sitting on vehicles, organizers said. Where, there's not a median, the caravan will travel in the middle of the street. Where there is one, it'll travel in the northbound, left lane. There will be a few surprises along the parade route as well.

Barricades will separate the crowds from the caravan. Fourteen jumbo-trons and speakers will be placed along the parade route and parkway that will show what's happening in other parts of the route.

WILL MY SMARTPHONE WORK?

Probably. Making calls and sending texts should be fine. Trying to post lots of selfies or using iMessage may be more challenging.

The four primary cell carriers said they're adding capacity to handle the influx of people. A new major event cellular system was installed a few years ago along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to better handle events like this.

If you're an Xfinity customer, look out for free WiFi hotspots around the city to connect and post quickly. Some cell carriers also offer free WiFi in certain spots.

WHAT CAN I BRING?

There are not many restrictions being put in place...as of right now. You may want to pack one of those folding tailgating chairs.

Philadelphia Police Commissoner Richard Ross asked that people not leave bags unattended along the route because that will likely prompt a security response and disrupt viewing.

He did ask that anyone who sees suspicious activity report it to police on the route or by calling 911.

One thing you're being discouraged from bringing is cases of beer. Mayor Jim Kenney in his own words:

"I would tell people do not bring backpacks of beer with you because they'll be taken from you," Kenney said on Tuesday.

SPEAKING OF BEER, I HEARD THAT BUD LIGHT IS GIVING OUT FREE BEER. HOW DO I GET ONE?

Bud Light (finally!) said Wednesday that it will be holding up its end of a bet with Eagles lineman Lane Johnson. They will be offering one free beer for parade attendees who are 21 and over through bars along the route as well as offering a rebate on 6-packs for those not able to attend the parade.

Here's how to get your free beer.

IS THERE A BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE PARADE?

I'm sure there is, but there are so many variables that it would be silly to even suggest a spot.

HOW CLOSE CAN I GET TO THE RALLY AT THE ART MUSEUM?

The parade's producer, Fred Stein, said fans will be able to get very close to the stage on the Art Museum steps. But the spots will be first come, first serve so you may want to post up there early.

IS THERE ACCESSIBILITY ACCESS?

The city is providing ASL translators for the speaking portion of the rally at the Art Museum. The jumbo-trons will show them as well.

On the south side of Eakins Oval, producers have designated a special section for wheelchair access and other ADA accessibility. Space there will be on a first come, first serve basis.

Paratransit drop off will take place at 2300 Pennsylvania Avenue and 20th and Spring Garden streets.

HOW CAN I GET UPDATES ABOUT THE EVENT?

The NBC10 app, of course, will send out alerts and updates before, during, and after the parade that will help you navigate the day. It's free and you can download here.

Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management is texting updates and important updates as well. Just text ReadyEagles to 888-777 to sign up.

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