Sign in Subscribe
Festivals

Mark Wahlberg to Host Festival of Families with Pope Francis as Headliner

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Mark Wahlberg will anchor the Saturday, September 26, Festival of Families, a celebration featuring soul queen Aretha Franklin, comedian Jim Gaffigan, and rock band The Fray, along with previously announced headliners Juanes and Andrea Bocelli. The event will take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and will be broadcast on TV and shown on 40 Jumbotron screens throughout the city.

Pope Francis is expected to attend and speak at the Festival of Families, which is part of the World Meeting of Families. The festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be broadcast on TV and shown on 40 Jumbotron screens throughout the city. Free tickets closest to the stage were reserved last week, but the portion of the Parkway from 20th Street east is unticketed and open to all.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mark Wahlberg, a devout Roman Catholic, will introduce Aretha Franklin and other performers at the Festival of Families, which will feature 40 Jumbotron screens and a live broadcast.
  • Pope Francis is expected to attend and speak at the festival, which is part of the World Meeting of Families and will be broadcast on TV and shown on 40 Jumbotron screens throughout the city.
  • The festival will feature a diverse lineup of performers, including Aretha Franklin, Jim Gaffigan, and The Fray, in addition to previously announced headliners Juanes and Andrea Bocelli.
  • Mark Wahlberg has credited his faith with helping him overcome a childhood of crime and drug use, and has spoken about the impact of his faith on his life and career.
  • The Festival of Families will be a celebration of faith and community, featuring cultural acts and spiritual organizations from around the region.
  • Jim Gaffigan has said that he does not expect to censor his jokes for the pope and will do a 20-minute standup set, which he will not hold back on "if my wife is comfortable with my jokes."

Statistics:

  • 40 Jumbotron screens will show the Festival of Families throughout the city.
  • The Festival of Families is expected to draw an audience of over 1 million people, according to comedian Jim Gaffigan.
  • Mark Wahlberg has been an executive producer for two hit HBO dramas, Entourage and Boardwalk Empire.
  • Aretha Franklin is the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
  • The Fray's hit song "How to Save a Life" was written after the lead vocalist and songwriter mentored a troubled teen at a Christian camp.

Sources:

  • [c)2015 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.philly.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.]

Read more