Metro Philadelphia

Drivers traveling through Center City and around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway should expect road closures and traffic delays this weekend as several major events take over Philadelphia streets.

The Philadelphia Rathayatra Parade and Festival, Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival, Parkway Run & Walk, Puerto Rican Day Parade and Open Streets: West Walnut are all scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. Motorists are encouraged to avoid affected areas when possible, use alternate routes and allow extra travel time.

Temporary no-parking signs will be posted along streets affected by the closures. Vehicles that remain parked in restricted areas during the posted hours will be relocated. Anyone who believes their vehicle was moved should contact the Philadelphia Police Department district covering the area where it was parked.

Here’s what to know about the road closures and SEPTA detours planned throughout the weekend.

Saturday road closures

The Philadelphia Rathayatra Parade and Festival, also known as the Festival of Chariots, returns to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the parade stepping off at 12:30 p.m. The 1600 and 1700 blocks of the Parkway between 16th and 17th streets will be closed in both directions from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rolling closures will also be in effect from 12:30 to 2 p.m. along the parade route, including both sides of the Parkway from 17th Street to Logan Circle, the north side of Logan Circle and the north side of the Parkway from 19th Street to Eakins Oval.

Over in Chinatown, the 31st annual Mid-Autumn Festival will run from noon to 8 p.m., with lion dances, martial arts, Chinese opera, games, arts and crafts and a mooncake eating contest. For the festivities, 10th Street between Arch and Winter streets will be closed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday road closures

Sunday will bring another round of closures, beginning early in the morning with the Parkway Run & Walk. The 5K run and 2K walk, which benefits pediatric cancer research and care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Eakins Oval will be closed in both directions from 4 to 11:30 a.m. Beginning at 5 a.m., both sides of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from Eakins Oval to Logan Circle and Kelly Drive from Eakins Oval to South Brewery Hill Drive will also be closed through 11:30 a.m.

Later in the day, the Puerto Rican Day Parade will make its way down the Parkway from noon to 3 p.m. The 2100 and 2200 blocks of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rolling closures will also be in effect along the Parkway from 22nd Street to Logan Circle during that time.

Meanwhile, Open Streets: West Walnut returns to Center City, turning eight blocks into car-free public space from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walnut Street between Broad and 19th streets and 18th Street between Locust and Chestnut streets will close beginning at 7 a.m. and are expected to reopen around 6 p.m. Cross streets will remain open to traffic at intersections, including 15th, 16th, 17th and 19th streets.

All scheduled activities are weather-dependent.

SEPTA detours

The weekend events will also lead to detours for several SEPTA bus routes.

Routes 2, 7, 32, 33, 38, 43, 48 and 49 will be detoured beginning at 4:30 a.m. Saturday through approximately 1 p.m. Those same routes will be detoured again from 4:30 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. Sunday. Routes 9, 12, 21 and 42 will also be detoured from 6:45 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. Sunday.

Riders are encouraged to check SEPTA’s system status for the latest service information.

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Keywords

Philadelphia road closures,

Philadelphia traffic,

Benjamin Franklin Parkway,

Center City,

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Puerto Rican Day Parade,

Open Streets,

Chinatown