Many of my readers are writing asking if the tents set up on the Parkway this week are for the No Kings March on Saturday, they are not. They are for the Love Run Half Marathon on Sunday March 29th. They will also be utilizing MLK Drive til Noon. See for more road closures and map.
Here’s an additional list of events on the Parkway which will impact traffic this spring.
Parkway April 4th Hot Chocolate Run – Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Fairmount Park April 26th Greek Independence Day Parade – Benjamin Franklin Parkway May 2nd Walk MS – Benjamin Franklin Parkway
What’s Happening on the Drives this Spring
Events happening on Kelly Drive this Spring
March 22nd Flick Regatta Series – Kelly Drive and Schuylkill River March 29th Flick Regatta Series – Kelly Drive and Schuylkill River April 12th Flick Regatta Series – Kelly Drive and Schuylkill River April 19th Flick Regatta Series – Kelly Drive and Schuylkill River April 26th Fairmount Arts Crawl – Fairmount Ave May 2nd and 3rd City Championship Regatta – Kelly Drive and Schuylkill River May 3rd Broad Street Run – Broad Street May 15th and 16th Stotesbury Regatta – Kelly Drive and Schuylkill River
Thanks to the Parkway Council for providing this list, which I will update for the Philly 250th Events and summer events roll out.
MLK DRIVE CLOSINGS
Beginning on Saturday, March 28, 2026, the City will close Martin Luther King Drive to motor vehicle traffic between the East Falls Bridge and the MLK Bridge/Eakins Oval on weekends to increase recreational access for the public.
Closures will begin this weekend – March 28-29, 2026 – and will be in place every Saturday at 7 a.m. through Monday at 7 a.m. until November 29 for runners, cyclists, and walkers to enjoy traffic-free access.
This season, there will be multiple holiday weekend extended closures on MLK Drive, including:
- Good Friday/Easter (Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 5)
- Memorial Day (Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25)
- Juneteenth (Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21)
- Labor Day (Saturday, September 5 to Monday, September 7)
- Indigenous Peoples Day (Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12)
- Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26 to Sunday, November 29)
- Hours for all days listed above are 7 a.m. through 7 a.m.
Times MLK won’t be closed on the weekends.
For planning purposes, this year’s Roots Picnic will be held on May 30-31, 2026, and the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta will be held on the weekend of October 24 and 25, 2026. Please note that MLK Drive will not be closed to vehicles on these weekends due to operational access needs. The side path on MLK Drive will remain accessible to trail users.
Head to the City of Philadelphia website for more information on road closures. And of course subscribe to PhillyChitChat to stay informed on what’s happening in town, as well as follow me on Instagram
Have a great day!! Socially Yours, HughE
