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To celebrate Rocky Day – a city tradition honoring the “Rocky” film series that began in 2023 – Philadelphia is hosting its first-ever RockyFest.

WHY “Morning Edition” host Jennifer Lynn jogged down the “Rocky Steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to meet with Kathryn Ott Lovell. The President and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation leads this tribute to the Italian stallion and his story of resilience, 48 years after “Rocky” debuted in 1976.

RockyFest 2024 will take place from December 3rd to 8th.

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Jennifer Lynn: Yo, Kathryn!

Kathryn Ott Lovell: Yo, Jennifer, you did it! (referring to Jennifer climbing the Rocky Steps)

JL: Because “all I want to do is go the distance,” I want to experience RockyFest step by step, starting with what’s happening today: Rocky Day.

KL: Oh, today there’s going to be a really exciting unveiling of a special surprise up here at the top of the stairs. We’ll be doing tours throughout the day and doing a lot of fun stuff so people can experience Rocky Day in Philadelphia, which I think is the second most important holiday here in Philly after the 4th of July.

JL: Well, this festival encompasses many things and I love this idea of ​​special date nights because Rocky is truly a love story. You will experience a special evening at Penn Ice Rink. Remember Rocky and Adrian and the first date scene at a skating rink in Philadelphia?

KL: I do. I completely agree with you. I think “Rocky” is a love story par excellence, and Rocky and Adrian had their first date while ice skating. The Penn Ice Rink, with its 1970s brutalist architectural style, is very reminiscent of the scene in the film where Adrian is skating and Rocky is jogging next to her and they are just getting to know each other for the first time.

Adrian: Don’t you go skating?
Rocky: I haven’t skated since I was 15 years old. You know, that’s when I started fighting. I was 15. Skating is bad for your ankles, you know?
Adrian: Yes.
Rocky: You’re a pretty good skater, aren’t you?

JL: And there’s a beautifully sweet and funny scene at the Philadelphia Zoo where Rocky proposes to Adrian. This is Rocky II. I’m making a little progress, but how cool, you’re having a date night at the zoo.

KL: We’re having a date night at the zoo. “Rocky II” is actually my favorite “Rocky” film because it is the culmination of this love story.

Rocky: I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind marrying me.
Adrian: What did you say?
Rocky: If you wouldn’t mind marrying me.
Adrian: Yes, I would like to marry you.
Rocky: Yes?
Adrian: Yes.
Rocky: Yes?
Adrian: Yes.

JL: And WHYY has a small part in all of this. We are very pleased with the success of The Statue podcast, produced with Paul Farber of Monument Lab. He will give a talk about the iconic Rocky statue and real-life stories surrounding Rocky. This will be a great lecture.

KL: It’s going to be great. In fact, the statue’s sculptor himself, Thomas Schomberg, will stop by to talk about what the statue meant to him and his legacy. And at the end of this lecture, people will receive a certificate that they have attended Rocky U, Rocky University from Dr. Paul Farber, have completed.