All Large Public Events in Philadelphia Are Canceled Through February 2021

Yes—that includes the Philadelphia Marathon, the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Mummers parade.

The City of Philadelphia announced Tuesday that all large public events will be canceled through Feb. 28, 2021, because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Yes—that includes the Philadelphia Marathon, the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Mummers parade.

According to the city, the moratorium applies to festivals, parades, concerts, carnivals, fairs, and flea markets.

Mayor Jim Kenney addressed the cancelations on Twitter: “I’m disappointed to confirm that we are canceling large public events through February 28, 2021 due to the public health crisis. This was not an easy decision to make. The health and safety of residents, workers, and visitors must be our top priority.”

Philadelphians can, however, continue exercising their First Amendment right to gather in protests. Other exclusions from the city’s moratorium include private gatherings with less than 50 people, outdoor recreational activities, and events that take place on private property.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Thanksgiving Day Parade—the oldest in the country—has only been canceled once in its 100-year history. The Mummers parade has been canceled twice in its 120-year life span.

City health officials announced on Tuesday that there were 148 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, bringing the total count of confirmed cases to 27,723.