Philadelphia, PA
- If you're looking for something to do on New Year's Day, the Mummers Parade is worth checking out. This unique annual event in Philadelphia draws thousands of people to the city's streets.
New Year's Day, The Mummers Parade
The parade will not air on PHL17, ending a 30-year tradition, and will broadcast on WDPN-TV (MeTV2) instead. The parade is divided into five divisions. The String Band Division is the most popular, with amateur musicians performing highly choreographed musical numbers. The fancy division has the same objective, but instead of performing music, they create dazzling displays of color and form.
The Fancy Brigades perform four-and-a-half-minute mini-Broadway-style productions. The costumes are elaborate and display dazzling framing and color. The performances have been moved to the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
In addition to the aforementioned parade, there is a pre-parade festival called MummersFest. Fans can watch the Fancy Brigades build their props and costumes before the parade begins. You can buy tickets for this event at the Independence Visitor Center.
The other significant Mummers Parade news item is that a new drag-queen troop has joined the line-up. You can also check out the Comics Division, which is the original division of Mummers. These performers are known for their satire of current events and sports.
