A new festival all about Rocky Balboa is coming to Philly

A new festival will bring the first-ever "Rocky" bus tours and other fan experiences to the city this December.

Why it matters: Sylvester Stallone's iconic underdog character Rocky Balboa is practically the patron saint of Philly.

Driving the news: RockyFest will run Dec. 3-8, kicking off with "Rocky Day" to celebrate the release of the original 1976 Oscar-winning film.

• Several organizations are collaborating on the festival, including Visit Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

What they're saying: "Philadelphia is embracing this Rocky-fueled tourism, and we are ready to roll out the red carpet to welcome these visitors and show them the best of what our city has to offer," Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation, said in a statement.

Flashback: In December 2023, the city held its first-ever Rocky Day and opened a Rocky Shop with Stallone-approved merch at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

• The popularity of the event, which included Stallone himself and drew thousands of fans, led to the creation of RockyFest.

What to expect: We're looking forward to these top RockyFest events:

🚌 "Rocky" bus tours

• This 90-minute tour will bring fans to must-see sites from the "Rocky" series, including Mighty Mick's Gym and the Italian Market.
• Nov. 30-Dec. 8
• Tickets: $42-$49

🎥 Movie marathon

• Watch the entire "Rocky" series on the big screen at the Philadelphia Film Society .
• Dec.6-8
• Tickets: $14-$48

🗣️ Rocky Statue discussion

• Take a deep dive into the Rocky Statue's history during a discussion with Paul Farber, director of Monument Lab and host of podcast " The Statue ."
• Dec. 6 and 7 at Independence Visitor Center
• Tickets: $20

❓" Signature event"

• The festival will include a "signature event" that has yet to be finalized, per a release from the city's visitor center.
• The event is expected to drum up momentum for the 50th anniversary of "Rocky" in 2026.

👀 What we're watching: Whether Stallone will make an appearance at this year's festival.