All the Info You Need About the 2018 Mummers Parade

It’s been referred to as “the best holiday parade in the country” by USA Today, and is a beloved staple of New Year’s Day in Philadelphia. The subject, of course, is the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, which is traditionally celebrated on the first day of the year. The parade has been running in some permutation for over three hundred years, but it was officially named and commemorated in 1901. By either definition, it is the United States’ longest-running traditional folk parade.

Sights and sounds will delight your senses at the Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day.
Photo credit: cc Roniannacone

The epic parade, which takes up most of the day, begins at 9 in the morning at the intersection of 15th and Market streets. From there, it meanders south to Broad St., down which it proceeds until the Mummers reach Washington Ave. The final spectacle in the Mummers Parade, the Duffy string band, doesn’t even kick off their part of the procession until 3:30 pm!

From Penn Live, here is the parade schedule:

• 9 a.m.: Golden Sunrise (Fancy Division)
• 9:30 a.m.: Wenches (Oregon, Saints, Americans, O’Malley, Cara Liom, Riverfront, Bryson, Pirates and Froggy Carr)
• 10:30 a.m.: Comics (Goodtimers, Landi, Murray)
• 1 p.m.: String Bands (Greater Overbrook, Fralinger, Quaker City, Aqua, Pennsport, Broomall, Ferko, South Philadelphia, Avalon, Polish American, Greater Kensington, Uptown, Hegeman, Durning, Woodland, Duffy) and Fancy Brigades (Shooting Stars, 2nd St. Shooters, Purple Magic, Clevemore, Golden Crown, Avenuers, Downtowners, Jokers, Saturnalian, Satin Slipper, Vikings, Spartans)

All divisions will perform at “15th and Market street (all divisions), Broad and Sansom streets (String Bands), Broad and Pine streets (Fancy Brigade, Wenches, Comics and Fancy divisions), Broad and Carpenter streets (all divisions).”

Philadelphians who can’t make it to the parade or don’t want to fight the crowds can catch the parade live on PHL17 . Out of town? Watch the livestream of the Mummers Parade at mrmummer.com.

Alternately, you can take in one of the most exciting parts of the parade, the elaborately-choreographed performances of the Fancy Brigades, at the indoor Mummers Fancy Brigade Finale show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.