Ringing In the New Year With Philly’s Mummers Parade!

What will you be doing this New Year’s Day? Tonight is the time for parties and fireworks, but the daytime portion of the holiday is all too often overlooked in lieu of hangovers and taking down the Christmas decorations. Sure, you could spend the day picking at leftover canapes or napping, but allow me to make another suggestion. Here in Philly, there’s one traditional answer: taking in the Mummers Parade! Now in its 114th year, the Mummers Parade is not just a Philadelphia tradition that’s been kicking since 1900 – it’s also one of America’s oldest cultural celebrations!

The Mummers make their way down Broad Street on New Year’s Day 2014. Photo credit: The New Jersey Times

Over 10,000 Mummers will make their way down Broad Street, all bedecked in bright costumes and dancing. There are the sequined and befeathered Fancies, the pop culture and politics-skewing Comics, the crossdressing Comic Wenches, and the costumed String Bands! All the brigades will be judged, so you can bet that everyone will be bringing their best style! As the Strong Bands perform, the Fancies will perform on the heels of their noon performance at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Convention Center performance is family-friendly and goes hand-in-head with the Fancy Bridge Finale at 5 p.m. The 2,500 Fancy Mummers will perform choreographed spectacles for the delight of the crowd!

The parade route will run down Broad Street, starting at City Hall and ending at Washington Avenue. Spectators can purchase grandstand bleacher seats at just $20 for a great view of the action! Otherwise, take in the parade from drill locations at the Union League at Broad and Sansom streets and at Broad and Carpenter streets. There are three separate performance zones. The parade kicks off at 10 am.