From John Fischer,
Your Guide to Philadelphia / South Jersey.
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It's Mummers time again in Philadelphia. On New Year's Day, the Mummers will once again reign over South Philadelphia and Center City, the Pennsylvania Convention Center and in their own various club headquarters which are scattered throughout the city, Pennsylvania suburbs and South Jersey.

Participating are four parent clubs in the Comic Division; four parent organizations in the Fancy Division; 18 groups in the String Band Division and 11 units in the Fancy Brigade Division.

History

Mummery dates back to ancient Roman laborers who ushered in the festival of Saturnalia by marching in masks while exchanging gifts and satirizing the issues of the day.

Locally, during the 1600s, Swedish settlers to Philadelphia dressed up, chanted and fired weapons in the air to honor Christmas; they entertained their amused neighbors in exchange for desserts and beverages. The tradition eventually moved to New Year's Day and evolved into a series of neighborhood parades.

As immigrants moved to the area from Ireland and Italy, each group added their own cultural flavor to the local customs.

In 1901, the tradition began in earnest with the first recognized and judged Mummers Parade organized by the city on Broad Street. The famous term "Mummer" is German and means "to costume or masquerade." Established with just a few hundred revelers, today more than 10,000 participate in the parade.

2008 Mummer's Parade Fact Sheet

What:
The Mummers Parade is comprised of approximately 10,000 marchers within three divisions: Comics, Fancies and String Bands. The parade features unique costuming, upbeat music and an excitement second to none. View the 2008 Mummers Parade Lineup and Marching Positions.

When:
The parade is scheduled for Tuesday, January 1, 2008. Starting times: Comics - 8:50 a.m. (Broad Street and Washington Ave.), Fancies - 10 a.m. (Broad Street and Snyder Ave.) and String Bands - 10:20 a.m. (Broad Street and Oregon Ave.).

Where:
North along Broad Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania finishing at Philadelphia City Hall (judging area). See our Mummers Parade Route Map.

Performance Areas:
Broad and Shunk Streets, Broad and Ritner Streets. (near Thomas Jefferson University Methodist Hospital Division), Broad and McKean Streets. (near former St. Agnes Medical Center), Broad Street and Washington Ave., Broad and Pine Streets (near University of the Arts), Broad and Sansom Streets (near Union League), and the judging areas (near City Hall).

Food Areas:
Broad and Moravian streets (near Walnut St.), Broad and Bach streets (near Locust St.), Broad and Pine Streets, Broad Street and Washington Ave., City Hall (west side) and at various selected performance areas on South Broad Street in South Philadelphia.

Cost:
There is no cost to view the parade along Broad St., but seating is first come first serve, so come early or bring a lawn chair to mark out your spot. Grandstand seating tickets at 15th and Market Streets for the 2007 Mummers Parade are available at the Independence Visitors Center, 6th and Market Streets, during normal business hours. Ticket cost is $14.50. Call 215-965-7676, for ticket availability.

Mummers Performances

Mummers Fest
Friday, December 28 - 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 29 - 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 30 - 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, December 31 - 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Halls B and C
12th & Arch Streets
215-467-0281
www.fancybrigade.com

A behind-the-scenes look at Mummery. Try on costumes, learn to do the Mummer's Strut, and watch the Fancy Brigades practice their routines. Catch a sneak peak of the performances in store for New Year's Day as Mummers mark time with props and music in a full-scale rehearsal on Saturday, December 29 at 6:00 p.m. Only the costumes are kept secret for the big January 1 reveal. Admission is $3 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Mummers Fancy Brigade Finale
January 1, 2008
noon and 5:00 p.m.
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Halls B and C
12th & Arch Streets
215-467-0281
www.fancybrigade.com

Join the Mummers Fancy Brigades on New Year's Day inside the warmth of the Pennsylvania Convention Center for this colorful and spectacular combination of music and theater. Tickets ($19) for the Fancy Brigade Finale can be purchased at Ticket Philadelphia located inside the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts at Broad and Spruce Streets, online at www.ticketphiladelphia.org or by calling 215-893-1999.

108th Annual New Year's Day Mummers Parade
January 1, 2008 - FREE
Begins at Broad and Washington, goes North to City Hall
(215) 965-7676
www.phillymummers.com (official site) or www.mummers.com

Philadelphia sparkles like no place else on New Year's Day. The Mummers Parade is the oldest folk parade in the United States, featuring more than 12,000 marchers costumed in feathers, glitter, and sequins. As the Mummer's say, See ya on the street! -

Television
My PHL 17 will televise the Broad Street parade including the comic, fancy and string band divisions live in high definition, from 9:00 a.m. to the conclusion (around 6:00 p.m.).

My PHL 17 also will televise the Fancy Brigade Finale indoor show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, in a tape-delayed broadcast, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on New Year's Day.

WGN super station will televise the outdoor portion of the parade live nationally, beginning at 2:00 p.m.

String Band Show of Shows (Annual Event)
Date - February 23, 2008
Time - 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Location - Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City
Price - $18 - $35 including limited "Golden Circle" floor seats
For additional details and pricing information, click here.

See up close the prize winning performances and spectacular costumes of the String Bands from the comfort of your seat at beautiful Boardwalk Hall. Don't wait until after New Year's Day to order your tickets.

Get your tickets at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office or at all Ticketmaster locations, toll free at 1-800-736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Group pricing is also available by calling 609-348-7021.

Additional Information

Check out our photos of the 2007 Mummers Parade

Next Page > 2008 Mummers Parade Lineup and Marching Positions