Inaugural Festivus Extravaganza Planned In Roxborough Friday

ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA — Festivus was codified as an alternative to religious, gaudy, and materialistic winter holidays in an iconic 1997 episode of "Seinfeld."

And now, Roxborough-area residents are invited to the first-ever (and possibly last) Roxborough Development Corporation Festivus Extravaganza.

The event will be held for exactly 76 minutes from 5:13 p.m. to 6:26 p.m. Friday in Gorgas Park.

Fans of the pop culture cult holiday will be able to enjoy all of its elements. Well, just three elements.

There will be the Airing of Grievances, immortalized by the late actor Jerry Stiller, who portrayed Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld," with the line: "I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it!"

Attendees are invited to air their grievances about anything and everything, but if you're focusing on Roxborough maybe the topics will be the lack of shoveling and salting sidewalks, potholes, and more. Forbidden topics are politics, hate, and "anything that ruins the vibe."

No Festivus celebration would be complete with the Feats of Strength. This event won't feature wrestling, but guests can display their dominance in thumb wars, Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, and rousing bouts of the card game War.

Guests will also be treated to marshmallow roasting and a reading of a Roxborough-inspired poem that organizers say will be "somehow both heartfelt and deeply questionable.

And of course the Festivus pole, adorned with nothing as is tradition, will be on display in the park,

Gorgas Park is located at 6300 Ridge Ave. in Roxborough.