From "Good Idea" to 10-Mile Reality: The Making of the Running Liberty Bell.
- phillymagictours
- May 4
- 2 min read
They say some of the best ideas start as a joke among friends. A few years back, a friend mentioned that I should dress up and enter the Broad Street Run to advertise my comedy magic walking tour, Philly Magic Tours. It stayed on the back burner until this past year when I brought it up to a family friend.
His son, Ari, didn’t just like the idea—he was all in.
The Vision
After a quick dinner meeting, a plan was officially hatched. We decided to bring the Philly Magic Tours logo to life by creating a custom Liberty Bell costume. The goal was ambitious: it had to look iconic, represent the tour, and—most importantly—be durable enough to survive a 10-mile run through the heart of Philadelphia.
The Build
Ari took the lead on the engineering and fabrication. We used a hoop skirt as the main scaffold to give the bell its signature flare. From there, Ari worked his magic:
Modeling: He reshaped the frame to get the proportions just right.
Tailoring: He created a custom sewing pattern, then cut and sewed the fabric to fit the frame perfectly.
Detailing: He added the hand-painted lettering and our signature "walking bell" logo.
The Finishing Touch: He even built a custom hat designed to simulate the wooden yoke of the Liberty Bell.
Race Day Success
The result was a stunning success! Not only did the costume look incredible, but Ari actually managed to run all 10 miles in it. It was the ultimate "mobile billboard" and a testament to Ari’s incredible craftmanship.
What's Next
Didn't catch us at the race? Don't worry! Keep an eye out because you may see the bell making a guest appearance during some of our upcoming tours. It’s the perfect chance for an Instagram moment, so have your cameras ready!
Ready for comedy, magic, and mystery, inspired by history?
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