City to Light Up Boathouse Row for Religious and Cultural Holiday Celebrations

PHILADELPHIA — The  City of Philadelphia will recognize Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa with celebratory programming and special lightings of the City’s iconic  Boathouse Row. The Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation, Office of the City Representative, and Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement are joining together to produce these celebrations.

Christmas Boathouse Row Lighting: Tuesday, December 24 & Wednesday, December 25
On December 24 and 25, Boathouse Row will be red, green, silver, and gold in honor of the Christmas holiday.

Kwanzaa Celebration & Boathouse Row Lighting: Thursday, December 26 
For the third consecutive year, the City will join the Kwanzaa Cooperative to host an event on the first night of Kwanzaa, December 26. The Boathouse Row lights will also honor the holiday. The event will be held at the Fairmount Fish Ladder on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive at 5:30 p.m. The festive program will feature speakers and entertainment, culminating in the illumination of Boathouse Row.

Schedule:
Camera crews should arrive no later than 5:15 p.m. to set up for the photo-op.

  • 5:15 p.m. Drummers begin playing
  • 5:30 p.m. Pouring Libations, led by Kwanzaa Cooperative
  • 5:35 p.m. Song – Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, led by Big Little Sisters
  • 5:35 p.m. Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
  • 5:40 p.m. Mayor Jim Kenney
  • 5:42 p.m. Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, Director of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs
  • 5:43 p.m. Kwanzaa Cooperative remarks on the meaning/mission of Kwanzaa
  • 5:50 p.m. Boathouse row is lit in celebration of Kwanzaa
  • 5:55 p.m. Harambee (closing celebration)

Kwanzaa is a non-religious, cultural African American and Pan-African holiday—celebrated worldwide by people of African descent. The holiday focuses on the cultural, ethical and spiritual visions and values of African culture.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive will be shut down to traffic between Eakins Oval and Sweet Briar Drive beginning at 5 p.m. so that attendees can walk to the gathering spot across from Boathouse Row. Attendees with mobility issues can drive and park closer to the event by accessing Martin Luther King, Jr.  Drive at the outbound entrance off of Eakins Oval.

Hanukkah Celebration & Boathouse Row Lighting: Sunday, December 29
The City will host a brief program, capped by the lighting of Boathouse Row, with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia on the final night of Hanukkah, December 29. The ceremony will take place at the Fairmount Fish Ladder on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive at 5:30 p.m.

Schedule:
Camera crews should arrive no later than 5:15 p.m. to set up for the photo-op.

  • 5:30 p.m. Opening Song – Rising Song Institute, led by Rabbi Yosef Goldman
  • 5:35 p.m. Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, Director of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs
  • 5:38 p.m. Arlene Fickler, Esq., Chair Jewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
  • 5:41 p.m. Song – Rising Song Institute
  • 5:44 p.m. Rabbanit Dasi Fruchter, Spiritual Leader, South Philadelphia Shtiebel
  • 5:49 p.m. Sung Blessings – Rising Song Institute
  • 5:52 p.m. Boathouse Row is lit in celebration of Hanukkah

Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive will be shut down to traffic between Eakins Oval and Sweet Briar Drive beginning at 5 p.m. so that attendees can walk to the gathering spot across from Boathouse Row. Attendees with mobility issues can drive and park closer to the event by accessing Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive at the outbound entrance off of Eakins Oval.

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