Philadelphia will see a touch of ancient Greece this year at one of the city’s major sporting events. Winners of the Philadelphia Marathon will be crowned with golden olive wreaths cut from the plains of Greece, a symbolic gesture that connects the marathon’s historic origins to the city hosting it.
The wreaths will be presented by the Consul General of Greece in New York as an official gift from the Hellenic Republic and the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley to the City of Philadelphia. Each wreath carries the same meaning it held in ancient times: determination, accomplishment, and victory.
This marks the beginning of a new partnership between Greece and the City of Philadelphia. It becomes part of Marathon Weekend, when more than 30,000 runners and thousands of spectators gather on and around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
VIP Reception and Wreath Ceremony
A Philadelphia Marathon VIP Reception and the inaugural Greek Wreath Ceremony will take place:
Thursday, November 20, 2025
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The Logan Hotel, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Greek officials, city representatives and members of the local Greek-American community will attend the event.
Race Day
The Philadelphia Marathon will start and finish on Sunday, November 23, 2025, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
More details are available at philadelphiamarathon.com.
Please confirm event details with the organizers before attending, as dates, times, locations, and registration information may change.