The 2025 Mummers Parade steps off as Philadelphia rings in the New Year

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Mummers is helping the city of Philadelphia ring in the New Year on Wednesday!

The participants came in costume and makeup early on New Year’s Day.

Inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Tuesday afternoon, the finishing touches were put on the performances and on the elaborate, sequined costumes that have defined this New Year’s Day tradition that dates back to 1901.

In Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in South Philadelphia, a Mummers Mass was held late Tuesday afternoon.

“Bringing everyone together is special,” said Francis Kelly, member of the Satin Slipper New Year’s Brigade. “We’re all family and friends down here. But on New Year’s Day, we don’t like each other. It’s very competitive.”

Wednesday’s competition will feature more than 10,000 participants.

RELATED: What you need to know about the 2025 Mummers Parade in Philadelphia

It starts at 17th and Market streets and heads toward City Hall before turning south down Broad Street to Washington Avenue.

“We’re actually the first show of the morning, so we’re kind of fired up and ready to go,” said Molly Jozefowski, of Golden Sunrise Nya.

For the Jozefowskis, this parade is a family affair.

“This has been my whole life,” Ellie Jozefowski said. “My dad, brother, cousins ​​and uncles were all with the Shooting Stars. And when the kids were little, my brother said ‘Why don’t you try Golden Sunrise?'”

The family has now been part of Golden Sunrise for more than 30 years – and passes on the tradition from generation to generation.

The Mummers Parade is also a family affair for the McGugans. On New Year’s Eve, Action News spoke with Jim McGugan on the third, fourth and fifth.

Speaking of the Mummers, Jim McGugan IV said, “It’s all year round. It’s not just one day for us. We’re more of a family than anything.”

Next New Year’s Day, the youngest of the pack takes part in the parade for the first time.

“I gave up on it for a couple of years now, but I want to do it with all three of them and have fun,” Jim McGugan V said.

The Mummers Parade started at 9 o’clock on Wednesday. City officials are encouraging spectators to ditch their cars and use public transportation to get to the parade route.

For more, visit our guide to the 2025 Mummers Parade in Philadelphia.