The Mummers Parade

The Experience

More than 10,000 adults and children twirl, sashay, pirouette and strut down Broad Street.

Where

The Mummers Parade begins at City Hall and continues south to Washington Avenue.

Judging takes place at 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.

— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

When

The outdoor parade begins in the morning on January 1, 2023 at 9 a.m. For sidewalk seating, spectators should arrive early to claim their spots.

Fancy Brigades hold two ticketed competitions at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on January 1, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

What

The Mummers Parade is the country’s oldest continuous folk parade. The parade begins at City Hall and marches south on Broad Street to Washington Avenue.

Each of the four Mummers divisions has a special role: The Comics and Wench Brigades satirize issues, institutions and people; the Fancies impress with glamorous outfits; the String Bands gleefully play banjos, saxophones, percussion, and other instruments; and the Fancy Brigades produce tightly choreographed theatrical extravaganzas. Each club is embroiled in a friendly yet fierce competition for local bragging rights.

But the noisy camaraderie shouldn’t fool the novice spectator, as each club is embroiled in a friendly yet fierce competition for local bragging rights.

— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

After they’ve displayed their floats, costumes, dances and music, there’s more work ahead for members of the Fancy Brigades. The groups put on elaborate Broadway-style performances for ticket holders at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in the afternoon.

Getting There & Tickets

First things first: Spectators are encouraged to leave their cars behind and take public transportation into the city.

The parade route is easily accessible from SEPTA Regional Rail, bus, subway and trolley lines. Those who drive should park in a garage and be mindful of road closures.

Tickets: Outdoor Parade Seating

The Mummers Parade is free to watch along the parade route.

That said, one of the best places to view the spectacle is from the Parade Grandstand (the judging stands near City Hall), where tickets must be reserved in advance.

Tickets for the Parade Grandstand ($25) can be purchased online or in person at the Philadelphia Visitor Center at Sixth and Market Streets.

— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

Tickets: Indoor Shows at Convention Center

There are two Fancy Brigade Shows on New Year’s Day at the Pennsylvania Convention Center: one from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and another from 5 to 8 p.m.

Tickets for both shows ($38 and $28) are available for purchase online and in-person at the Independence Visitor Center at Sixth and Market Streets.

For more information about Mummers event tickets, click the button below.

The History

Who

Mummers are Philadelphians of all ages who belong to more than 40 organized clubs that make up the parade participants.

The clubs, split into five categories — Comics, Wench Brigades, Fancies, String Bands and the Fancy Brigades — function mainly to stage their playful performances on New Year’s Day. But Mummers do perform at other events throughout the year, and for many Philadelphia-area families, Mummery is a tradition that spans generations.

— Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia

Why

Mummery traces its roots 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. In the 1600s, Swedish settlers to Philadelphia’s outskirts honored Christmas by beseeching their neighbors for dessert and liquor by dressing up, chanting and shooting firearms.

The party eventually migrated to New Year’s Day and evolved into a series of neighborhood parades. Then, as immigrants moved to the area from Ireland and Italy, each group added its own cultural flair to the local customs. In 1901, the tradition began in earnest with the first recognized and judged Mummers Parade. The term “Mummer” is German and means “to costume or masquerade.”

For more information about The Mummers Parade, click the button below.