Philadelphia Will Close Schools for Super Bowl Parade

The victory of the Eagles in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday was a dream come true for children in Philadelphia. Now, they’re getting an extra special treat: a school holiday to join the celebrations at the city’s Super Bowl parade with the champions.

On Tuesday, the School District of Philadelphia announced that all schools would be closed on Friday, allowing nearly 200,000 students to participate in what is expected to be a massive parade with a crowd of up to one million people. Around 20,000 school staff members will also have the day off.https://svtoday.org/

“We are excited to come together as a community to celebrate the Eagles’ win,” the district said, perhaps best described as a formal way of shouting, “Go Birds!”

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Lincoln Financial Field, travel north past City Hall, and conclude at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, according to the city’s official route map.

Parents now face the decision of whether to brave the crowd with their children, knowing that in some sections of the parade route, they might be packed shoulder to shoulder with strangers, all while the temperature is expected to be in the 30s. For others, it could be the perfect excuse for a mini vacation, as Philadelphia schools will also be closed on Monday for Presidents’ Day, giving students a four-day weekend.

Social media has been filled with advice and thoughts about the parade, from optimistic families booking Airbnbs near the stadium to cautious parents urging others to leave their kids with sitters at home.

Public safety officials in Philadelphia have issued some important tips for parents bringing children to the event: ensure they’re wearing bright colors, take a photo of them beforehand, and write down your contact number on a bracelet or a piece of paper in their pocket, just in case they get separated.

Other local institutions followed suit: Temple University, as well as school districts like Gloucester City in South Jersey and Ridley School District in Delaware County, canceled classes. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools also announced closures for its high schools and elementary schools.

Transit officials warned of limited train service starting in the early morning and heavy traffic due to road closures. Additionally, city offices, daytime centers, and courts will be closed for the day.

The timing of the parade on Valentine’s Day, however, has caused some complaints from restaurant and flower shop owners, who are concerned about disruptions to their evening services and deliveries. Mayor Cherelle Parker reassured these business owners at a press conference, saying, “We will ensure everything runs smoothly. Nothing will interfere with your dinner reservations. The parade will be over well before the dinner rush, so keep those reservations safe!”

This is not the first time Philadelphia schools have closed for a Super Bowl parade. They also did so in 2018 when the Eagles won their first Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.

Kansas City’s schools were closed last year for their Super Bowl celebration, which saw a tragic shooting at the parade that left one person dead and several others, including nine children, injured.