The fest will be hosted in partnership with Visit Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Philadelphia Film Society, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Monument Lab, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Zoo.
Philadelphia has announced “RockyFest 2024,” an action-packed celebration of the Rocky film franchise and the underdog spirit embodied by the City of Philadelphia.
The schedule of events kicks off with the second annual “Rocky Day” on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, and continues through Sunday, December 8, 2024, with special events and new opportunities for visitors who take the Rocky pilgrimage to experience the city where it all began.
“Every day at our visitor centers, we meet and talk to fans from all over the world who have come to Philadelphia to run the Art Museum Steps and take their photo with the Rocky Statue. Rocky is a hero for so many people and the message of the film, rising above all odds to become a champion, has inspired a national and international pilgrimage to this iconic site,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, President & CEO, Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation. “Philadelphia is embracing this Rocky-fueled tourism, and we are ready to roll out the red carpet to welcome these visitors and show them the best of what our city has to offer.”
“The City of Philadelphia is proud to support RockyFest 2024,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “The story of Rocky is the story of the underdog, the blue-collar fighter who rises from a neighborhood gym to take his shot at the heavyweight champion of the world. It’s about grit and perseverance and never, ever giving up on your dreams. That’s Philly, and it is why this iconic movie has such enduring appeal here and around the world. We want everyone to come to Philly, enjoy RockyFest 2024, and stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, and enjoy our wonderful City!”
In 2023, the Visitor Center partnered with the Sly Stallone Shop to offer Rocky fans visiting Philadelphia officially licensed Sylvester Stallone merchandise at the Shop’s first and only brick-and-mortar location. The partnership launched a celebration of Philadelphia’s first-ever “Rocky Day” on December 3. Based on the overwhelming success of the inaugural event, the Visitor Center has partnered with organizations across the region to build out an expanded festival that will welcome fans from around the globe to immerse themselves in all things Rocky.
RockyFest 2024 will define the ultimate Rocky experience in Philadelphia, highlighted by the first-ever publicly available Rocky Bus Tours, a Rocky Movie Marathon, and recreated Rocky Date Nights at The University of Pennsylvania’s 1923 Ice Rink and The Philadelphia Zoo.
The fest will be hosted in partnership with Visit Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Philadelphia Film Society, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Monument Lab, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Zoo.
“Rocky and the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be forever connected and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate what he means to the city,” said Sasha Suda, Director and CEO, Philadelphia Museum of Art.
“Rocky is not only immediately identified with Philadelphia, but his indelible spirit – beating the odds – resonates with Philadelphians themselves,” said Gregg Caren, President & CEO, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Our city, and our people, are known for grit and determination, whether in obvious connection to sports or the venerable goals of democracy, liberty and justice, all of which are also tied to the founding of our nation here in Philadelphia.”
The Philadelphia Visitor Center will work with its Philly PHLASH tourism bus service to run the first-ever publicly available Rocky Tours in Philadelphia. The Rocky Bus Tour will be presented in partnership with WeVenture Tours and Laurel Hill Cemetery, where fans can visit the fictional gravesites of Rocky’s wife, Adrian Balboa, and brother-in-law, Paulie Pennino.
The Rocky Bus Tour will take fans to several “must-see” spots from the Rocky series. This 90-minute tour is perfect for Rocky fans who are short on time but want to get an exciting glimpse into the different neighborhoods where the movies were filmed. The Philly PHLASH will allow guests to travel through many small streets and alleys to give guests an up-close look at these sites, including Laurel Hill Cemetery, Mighty Mick’s Gym, the church where Father Carmine gives Rocky a blessing before the big fight, the Italian Market, and many others.
The Philadelphia Visitor Center, in partnership with the Philadelphia FIlm Society, will activate the Philadelphia Film Center with pop-up events, official Sly Stallone Shop merchandise, selfie spots, and Rocky-themed activities throughout the marathon weekend.
The Kennel Club of Philadelphia will offer a pet-friendly happy hour that will feature light refreshments and beverages benefiting the Philadelphia Kennel Club.
“We so appreciate being involved in RockyFest in recognition of the Bullmastiff ‘Butkus,’ one of the movie’s great characters,” said Wayne Ferguson, President of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia (KCP). “Loyal friend and training partner, Butkus enriched Rocky’s life and it’s cool to celebrate the Bullmastiff breed, one of dogdom’s most prominent.”
Dr. Paul Farber, Director of Monument Lab and host of the acclaimed The Statue podcast will have a deep dive session on the biography of the Rocky Statue.
The Philadelphia Visitor Center will partner with University of Pennsylvania’s historic Class of 1923 Ice Skating Rink to host the first Rocky Date Night, featuring signature drink specials, a Rocky and Adrian look-alike contest, film recreation photo ops etc.
The Philadelphia Visitor Center will partner with the Philadelphia Zoo to host the second Rocky Date Night during the Zoo’s LumiNature event, featuring a million twinkling lights across 16 illuminated zones at the Philadelphia Zoo. Recreate Rocky and Adrian’s date at the Philadelphia Zoo.
While Rocky is the greatest Philadelphian who never lived, there are thousands of Philadelphians who embody the Rocky story of an underdog persevering despite the odds. Mural Arts Philadelphia will interpret this narrative with a first-of-its kind mural series highlighting Philly’s “Real Life Rockys.”
“Mural Arts is thrilled to partner with Philadelphia Visitor Center and celebrate the resilience of our city through the ‘Real Life Rockys’ project, which honors everyday Philadelphians who have beaten the odds, just like Rocky,” said Jane Golden, Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “By showcasing these stories next to one of our most iconic landmarks, we are not only celebrating the indomitable spirit of our city but also inspiring visitors from around the world to connect with these powerful narratives of perseverance.”
The fest will include a signature public event to bring together Rocky super-fans, drive excitement and build momentum as we approach the 50th anniversary of the original film release on December 3, 2026.
The Rocky Shop at the Parkway Visitor Center has been a resounding success since its opening in 2023, serving more than 22,200 visitors each month on the Philadelphia Museum of Art apron between the Rocky Steps and the Rocky Statue. In addition to being the only brick-and-mortar retail location of movie apparel and memorabilia from The Sly Stallone Shop—the official brand of Sylvester Stallone—the Visitor Center provides visitors with maps and information, tickets to attractions, museums, and tours, and a selection of Philadelphia souvenirs.
