Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Changing Dates to Accommodate Pope Francis Visit
A visit by Pope Francis forced a change from the traditional weekend.
To accommodate a visit by Pope Francis to Philadelphia, this year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon will take place on Oct. 31. For the past 38 years, the race has taken place on the third Sunday in September.
“We are happy that all parties agreed upon a date to hold this historic event,” said Josh Furlow, Executive Vice President of Global Events for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “We have been in constant communication and cooperation with the City of Philadelphia, Parks & Recreation and all other involved agencies to secure an amiable race date for 2015.”
Pope Francis will be in Philadelphia on Sept. 26-27 for the World Meeting of Families. It’s his first trip to the United States since he was elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013. His trip will also include visits to Washington, D.C. and New York.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia will start at Benjamin Franklin Parkway and run through the historical Center City and along the scenic Schuylkill River before finishing at Eakins Oval near the Philadelphia Art Museum.
The race is offering a special $55 entry to the first 1,000 participants who sign up when registration opens on Thursday.