Mummer’s parade: The final preparations underway ahead of the New Year’s Day celebrations

PHILADELPHIA – It’s almost time to put on your Golden Slippers and start strutting down Broad Street. The final preparations are in full swing for the 125th Mummer’s Parade New Year’s Day.

The sound of saxophone and banjo roared out through an empty parking lot under rented utility lights Monday night in Bridesburg. Around 50 members of the Greater Kensington String Band were doing their final practice before their New Year’s Parade performances.

“There’s a lot of pressure. A lot of stress because all of a sudden you can’t control anything anymore, so you hope you’ve prepared well. You hope people know what they’re doing,” said John Baron, director of Greater Kensington.

In Center City, there was also a hive of activity at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where preparations continued for Wednesday’s Fancy Brigade Finale. This is where indoor ticketed events will feature Fancy Brigade’s and String Bands. Workers and other Mummer’s scurried around the center to put the final touches of paint on the elaborate sets, the final steps into choreographed routines and test firing of confetti cannons for 2 New Year’s Day shows.

“All 10 clubs are putting the finishing touches on their themes and getting everything ready for the glamour, so when it’s time to open the curtains they’re ready to go,” said Anthony Stagliani Jr., business agent for the Fancy Brigade Association.

South Philly friends Adriana and Kennedy show off their Mummers Strut, marching for the Spartans’ New Year’s Brigade. With several parades under their belts, the 8- and 6-year-old are veteran mummers. This year they even got a promotion by appearing on stage with their captain in the performance.

Street crews spent the day erecting barriers and hauling in bleachers along the 1.5-mile parade route that starts at 17th and Markets Streets.

Some of the 10,000 parade marchers are expected to strut down Broad Street in a tradition like no other in the world.

“We have to budget and raise money all year round. We depend on our whole family, we depend on the neighborhood, everything,” said Dan Rudolph of the Saturnalian Fancy Brigade. Rudolph says planning for the parade starts a few days after New Year’s. “We’ll take a few days and then we’ll do it all over again,” said Rudolph, who says Mummery is “in his blood.”

Tori Graser of South Philadelphia is a member of the South Philly Vikings New Years Brigade. She grew up in a neighborhood full of Mummers.

“It’s very important, especially at this time of the year, because you get to see people you know and you have so much fun. Some called it a hobby, but I think it’s a way of life because it is your life,” Graser said.

The parade starts at 9:00 a.m. The route begins at 17th and Market Streets and winds around City Hall and south on Broad Street, ending at Washington Avenue. There will be three performance areas along the route.

On New Year’s Day, SEPTA will operate regional rail, subway and bus services on a Sunday schedule.

All modes will resume normal weekday schedule, starting on service day, Thursday, January 2.

MummersPhiladelphia