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It’s back! The Mummers Parade in Philadelphia is returning for 2022.
The annual celebration of the New Year was canceled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the killer costumes, hilarious performances, and enchanting dances will return to usher in 2022 with fun and flair. If you aren’t familiar with the Mummers Parade, we’ve got answers to all of your questions about the 2022 Mummers Parade, including what to expect and how to watch it—whether you’re in Philly or at home!
The Mummers Parade takes place annually in Philadelphia on New Year’s Day and can be most likened to Mardi Gras in New Orleans: There are elaborate costumes, floats, and different kinds of entertainment from clubs called New Years Associations, each in the category of Comics, Wench Brigades, Fancies, String Bands, or Fancy Brigades.
There are jokes, dances, and competitions among groups to see who entertains the crowds the most. The Mummers also have a signature “Mummers Strut.”
A common song played is “Oh! Dem Golden Slippers.”
The 2022 Mummers Parade begins at 9 a.m. ET on New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2022).
Related: Hello, 2022! How to Watch the Iconic Times Square Ball Drop and All the New Year’s Eve TV Specials
Immigrants from Scandinavia were some of the first to bring the Mummers tradition to the Philadelphia region, according to the Quaker City String Band, with Swedish immigrants, in particular, having quite spirited and sometimes rowdy New Year’s celebrations. These traditions, combined with the British traditional play St. George and the Dragon, which features elaborate costuming, set the stage for what would become the Mummers Parade in the City of Brotherly Love.
In 1778, the British wished General William Howe well with a send-off parade reminiscent of a modern-day Mummers Parade. When President George Washington resided in Philadelphia, he encouraged Mummers’ New Year’s Day celebrations, and revelers would knock on doors and crack jokes, recite poetry, and impersonate the POTUS in exchange for booze and cake—sort of like grown-up trick-or-treating.
Mummers celebrations were significantly scaled back in the early 19th century when their masquerades were dubbed a “public nuisance,” but by the 1850s, they were back with aplomb—and in 1901, Philadelphia officially adopted the Mummers Parade.
Related: 50 New Year’s Jokes to Crack You Up Long After the Ball Drops at Midnight
Yes, there is! The Mummers Parade will kick off the first morning of 2022.
Nope! The 2021 Mummers Parade was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the 2022 Mummers Parade is slated to go on as planned—so get ready to get fancy!
In January 2020, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney warned that future Mummers Parades may be canceled after some participants showed up in blackface.
Blackface was a common theme in early Mummers Parades, and there are still some recurring issues and themes that many consider problematic and controversial, with some participants using language and images that many find to be racist, sexist, xenophobic, Islamophobic, homophobic, or transphobic—or just outright culturally insensitive.
The Mummers promised it wouldn’t happen again. Sam Regalbuto, president of the String Band Association, told ABC 6 News, “We did bias and awareness training. All of our organizations are obligated to take this training.”
President of the Fancy Brigade Tom Knight added, “It’s been nonstop since COVID to make it right, and do what we have to do to make this parade last another 122 years.”
You can view the Mummers Parade in person for free as the Mummers march from City Hall down Broad Street to Washington Avenue in Philadelphia.
Related: Have a Festive New Year’s at Home With The 37 Best New Year’s Movies of All Time
You can watch the 2022 Mummers Parade on PHL17 in Philadelphia markets. If you live outside the Philadelphia broadcast market, you can stream it online here.
The Mummers Parade is free to the public, but if you’d like to reserve a bleacher seat, you can purchase a ticket for $20. If you’d like to watch a Fancy Brigade competition, you can purchase tickets starting at $25 for the 11:30 a.m. ET show or 5 p.m. ET show.
The Mummers Parade typically ends around 5 p.m. ET.
Next, check out these 50 fun New Year’s trivia questions and answers!
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© 2022 AMG/Parade. All rights reserved.
Your use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Notification, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Media Group. Ad Choices
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