Thousands expected for No Kings protest, Love Run; Center City roads to close
Center City Philly: protest, marathon prompt road closures
Major events in Center City this weekend will cause significant traffic, parking restrictions, and road closures due to a demonstration on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA - A busy weekend is ahead in Center City as large crowds and major events are set to impact traffic, parking and travel on Saturday and Sunday.
Center City prepares for major demonstration and marathon
What we know:
City officials say the No Kings Three demonstration will begin with a rally at Love Park around noon Saturday, followed by a march up 16th Street to the Ben Franklin Parkway and a second rally at 22nd Street from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m.
Signs are already posted restricting parking in the area.
Mayor Cherelle Parker addressed the upcoming protest, saying, "We're going to do everything that we possibly can to ensure that we have a peaceful protest where Americans will be able to affirm their first amendment rights," said Parker.
The Love Run Half Marathon and 7K will take place Sunday with about 12,500 runners expected.
The race starts at Eakins Oval, moves to 22nd Street and the Parkway, passes Love Park, continues down 16th Street, through Sixth Street, then returns via Arch Street to the Parkway.
Runners will also use Kelly Drive, the Girard Avenue Bridge and MLK Drive to reach the finish line at the Art Museum.
Both days will see numerous road closures and restricted parking zones.
Temporary no parking signs are already up and city officials warn that violators will be towed to another location.
Detours will be posted throughout Center City to help drivers navigate around the closures.
Timeline:
The No Kings Three demonstration begins with a rally at noon Saturday at Love Park, followed by a march and a second rally at 22nd Street from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m.
The Love Run Half Marathon starts Sunday at Eakins Oval and continues through Center City, with thousands of runners expected on the course.
City officials want people coming into Center City this weekend to be prepared for these events and the changes they will bring to normal travel routes.
Road Closures
The following streets will be closed from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 29:
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 22nd Street to Eakins Oval
- Eakins Oval from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- MLK Drive from Eakins Oval to Falls Bridge
- Kelly Drive from Eakins Oval to Fairmount Avenue
The entirety of the half-marathon and 7.6K routes will close around 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 29, including:
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 16th Street to Eakins Oval
- 16th Street from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to John F. Kennedy Boulevard
- John F. Kennedy Blvd. from 16th Street to 20th Street
- 20th Street from John F. Kennedy Blvd. to Market Street
- Market Street from 20th Street to 15th Street
- S. Penn Square to Juniper Street
- Juniper Street to Market Street
- Market Street from Juniper Street to 6th Street
- 6th Street from Market Street to Arch Street
- Arch Street from 6th Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Falls Bridge
- Lansdowne Drive to Sweet Briar Drive
- Black Road to Avenue of the Republic
- Avenue of the Republic to Memorial Hill Drive
- Memorial Hill Drive to S. Concourse Drive
Road closures will be lifted as streets are cleared of pedestrians and serviced. Officials said all roads in Center City are expected to be reopened to cars by 11 a.m. Sunday.
Parking Restrictions
Motorists should take notice and must adhere to posted "Temporary No Parking" signs.
Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated. If you believe your car has been relocated, call the police district of the area where your car was parked.
Public Transportation
SEPTA bus routes 2, 4, 7, 16, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, and 125 will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at 6 a.m. on Sunday, March 29, through approximately 1 p.m.
Detours will be posted, and specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at www.septa.org and @SEPTA on X.
The backstory:
The Love Run Half Marathon is an annual event that draw large crowds and require significant planning from city officials to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.
Both the Half Marathon and the No Kings protest highlight the need for coordination between city agencies, law enforcement and event organizers to keep the city moving during major gatherings.
What we don't know:
It is not yet clear how long specific road closures will last or if additional security measures will be put in place for either event.
The Source: Information from Philadelphia city officials and Mayor Cherelle Parker.