Philadelphia kicks off 250th anniversary celebration for Navy, Marine Corps

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The fun is kicking off across the region as Philadelphia celebrates 250 years of service by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Festivities began Thursday with the Parade of Ships, and events continue throughout the weekend.

On Friday, sailors and Marines started their day by running up the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. By the afternoon, some of the 2,000 servicemen and women cheered on the players in the Army-Navy Cup at Subaru Park in Chester.

The soccer rivalry returned for its 14th year, and for the first time, featured both men's and women's matches.

READ MORE | Philadelphia's 'Victory at Sea' concert moves to livestream format on 6abc.com due to weekend storm

Crews have been hard at work preparing for Sunday's "Victory at Sea" concert. It was slated to happen at Independence Mall, but Mother Nature changed those plans. The concert will now stream live on 6abc.com beginning at 7 p.m.

George Leone, president of Homecoming 250, has been planning the celebration for five years. He said Philadelphia was the perfect place to host the milestone anniversary.

SEE ALSO | Pa. jazz saxophonist to perform in U.S. Navy and Marine Corps parade

"Philadelphia, besides being the birthplace of our nation, was the birthplace for our armed services, particularly the Navy and Marine Corps. We have worked for five years to bring a celebration here," Leone said. "These young people have been defending us for 250 years. They deserve to be celebrated."

The celebrations continue through the weekend with a Navy Band concert at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a 2.5-mile run at the Navy Yard, the Navy-Temple football game at Lincoln Financial Field, and a performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center.

The festivities will wrap up on Monday with the 250th Parade through Center City.

For those who can't make it downtown, organizers say flyovers by Navy and Marine aircraft will take place daily between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. throughout the Delaware Valley.