World Series Champion David Ortiz to Serve as Boston Marathon Grand Marshal
BOSTON—The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) is proud to announce the Grand Marshal and a detailed schedule of public events celebrating the 127th Boston Marathon, to be run on Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 17, 2023. This year’s field includes 30,000 entrants from 122 countries and all 50 U.S. States.
Three-time World Series champion and Red Sox legend David Ortiz will serve as Grand Marshal this year, leading the way from Hopkinton to Boston on race morning. Ortiz, whose rousing speech united Boston in the aftermath of April 15, 2013, returns ten years on to ceremonially guide the field of participants along the course. A leader on the Red Sox from 2003-2016, Ortiz embodied the strength and resilient spirit of Boston both on and off the playing field throughout his career.
Ortiz will be driven to the finish in the all-new 2023 Honda Pilot, the Official Vehicle of the Boston Marathon, and reach the finish shortly before race champions break the finish tape on Boylston Street.
127th Boston Marathon Schedule of Events
The B.A.A. welcomes participants, spectators, volunteers, and community members to attend race week events in honor of the 127th Boston Marathon. A detailed schedule of events can be found below. For the 38th year, John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon.
FRIDAY, APRIL 14 THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 16
Boston Marathon Expo | Hynes Convention Center
Friday, April 14 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 15 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 16 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The Boston Marathon Expo will be open to participants and members of the public from Friday, April 14 through Sunday, April 16. Participants will pick up their bib numbers and explore a sponsor pavilion, pose for photo-ops, and shop the largest collection of adidas Boston Marathon merchandise in town.
The Expo also features an extensive panel series, which can be viewed in its entirety here. Guests include Boston Marathon race course director Dave McGillivray, Ali Feller of the Ali on the Run podcast, author and advocate Alison Mariella Désir, professional athletes Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman, running pioneers Marilyn Bevans, Kathrine Switzer, Patti Dillon, and Boston Marathon champions Jon Anderson and Jacqueline Hansen, who celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 1973 victory this year.
Boston Marathon Fan Fest | Copley Square Park
Friday, April 14 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 15 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 16 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Boston Marathon Fan Fest in Copley Square Park will be the place to soak in the race week atmosphere. Fan Fest will play host to live music, entertainment, photo-ops, meet and greets, a final Boston Marathon training clinic, and more. A detailed event schedule, including featured panelists, is available here.
Top contenders within the John Hancock Professional Athlete Field will take part in Q&A’s at Boston Marathon Fan Fest, and will interact with spectators at the finish line following their sessions. Among those scheduled to participate are world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge, Boston Marathon champions Evans Chebet, Daniel Romanchuk, Manuela Schär, Des Linden, Edna Kiplagat, Meb Keflezighi, and Ernst van Dyk, as well as top Americans such as Aliphine Tuliamuk, Sara Hall, Emma Bates, Susannaha Scaroni, Scott Fauble, and Conner Mantz.
The Boston Marathon Light Up the Night Projection Show in partnership with Meet Boston (New for 2023) | Fairmont Copley Plaza
Friday, April 14 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 15 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 16 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
New for 2023, a marathon-themed video projection show will feature three unique shows each evening that will light up the iconic façade of the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel and get participants, spectators, and community members ready for race day. Featuring highlight videos and memorable moments from 127 years of racing, the projection show will celebrate this year’s #oneBOSTON theme and will play every 15 minutes each evening. The show is in partnership with Meet Boston and created in coordination with Hersch Visuals & LuminArtz.
Samuel Adams Run Pub | Intersection of Boylston Street and Dartmouth Street
Friday, April 14 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 15 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 16 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Unwind at the Samuel Adams Run Pub, just steps from the finish line. Enjoy a Samuel Adams 26.2 Brew and explore the marathon-themed beer garden adjacent to Copley Square. The Beer Garden will feature games and have athlete meet & greets throughout the weekend.
SATURDAY, APRIL 15 – ONE BOSTON DAY
2023 B.A.A. 5K presented by Point32Health | 8:00 a.m. | Boston Common
Nearly 10,000 participants will take part in the first race of the 2023 B.A.A. Distance Medley, racing 3.1 miles through Back Bay. A stellar professional field features top American and international athletes. While registration is sold out, members of the community are invited to come out and cheer athletes on. A list of professional athletes competing can be found here.
2023 B.A.A. Invitational Mile | 10:30 a.m. | Boylston Street/Boston Marathon Finish Line
The B.A.A. Invitational Mile features some of the top professional milers in the world, as well as scholastic student-athletes from each of the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route. A list of professional athletes competing can be found here. Fans pack the loop course on Boylston, Newbury, Dartmouth and Exeter Streets.
One Boston Day of Remembrance | 2:30 p.m. | Boylston Street Finish Area
The City of Boston and the B.A.A. will honor April 15, 2013 with two remembrance events on Boylston Street on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The first will be an early morning private gathering and wreath laying at the memorial sites for the families who lost loved ones at the 2013 Boston Marathon. Honor guards made up of first responders from Boston and neighboring areas will be present at the memorial sites throughout the day. After the B.A.A. 5K, the City will open Boylston Street between Dartmouth and Fairfield Streets for members of the public to visit the memorial sites.
At 2:30 p.m., the public is invited to join members of the One Fund Community, Mayor Michelle Wu, Governor Maura Healey, first responders, hospital leaders, B.A.A. leadership, and local running groups at the Boston Marathon Finish Line for a dedication of a new commemorative finish line, the ringing of bells, and the unveiling of a One Boston Day marker on Boylston Street.
A brass quartet from the Boston Pops along with members of Boston City Singers Tour Choir will perform a selection of music in remembrance of April 15, 2013. Community members and the general public are encouraged to attend these events as we reflect, remember, and celebrate the strength and unity of Boston.
2023 B.A.A. Relay Challenge | 3:00 p.m. | Boylston Street between Dartmouth & Clarendon Streets
Middle schools and youth programs from around Greater Boston will gather for the B.A.A. Relay Challenge. In the culmination of a month-long program taught by volunteer coaches, the relay challenge features students racing in relays and learning running tips from B.A.A. athletes and coaches.
B.A.A. Gives Back presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund | 7:00 p.m. | Fairmont Copley Plaza – Ticketed Event
Join us from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Copley Plaza for B.A.A. Gives Back presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, an evening dedicated to raising support for the B.A.A.’s year-round community initiatives. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox legend and three-time World Series Champion, will receive the Patriots’ Award and Adrianne Haslet, Para Athlete and Inclusion Advocate, will receive The Dick & Rick Hoyt Award.
Limited tickets are available for the public to purchase. For questions, contact baagivesback@baa.org.
MONDAY, APRIL 17 – 127th BOSTON MARATHON RACE DAY
127th Boston Marathon | Hopkinton to Boston, MA
A field of 30,000 athletes will participate in the 127th running of the Boston Marathon, covering 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. The world’s oldest annually run marathon celebrates community spirit and the pursuit of athletic excellence each year.
Boston Marathon Mile 27 Post-Race Party presented by Samuel Adams | 6:30 p.m. | Fenway Park
The Mile 27 Post-Race Party presented by Samuel Adams returns to Fenway Park. Finishers can enjoy America’s most beloved ballpark, walk on the warning track, and savor refreshments as they cheers to conquering 26.2 miles. Tickets are available for purchase here.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock. The 127th Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 17, 2023. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.
