Philadelphia Mummers Parade 2024-2025 in Pennsylvania

The Mummers Day Parade held annually on January 1st is full of humor, fun, and folklore. It's one of the most popular and massive events in Philadelphia with the atmosphere of a street carnival. About 10,000 people dressed in creative and colorful costumes march down the streets lined by thousands of spectators. Mummers sing, recite poetry, and perform on their way.

Philly Mummers' Route

The parade follows a traditional route, which has mostly stayed the same for the past years. The procession usually starts at the intersection of the 17th and Market streets, heads to the City Hall and then goes south on Broad Street to Washington Avenue. On the route, there are a few major performance areas along Broad Street, also labeled the Avenue of the Arts. The entire route spans approximately 1,5 miles (2,4 km) across 13 blocks.

Where to Watch the Parade

Spectators can witness the parade from the bleachers near City Hall. However, these spots require tickets. If you'd like to enjoy the show for free, consider arriving slightly earlier to reserve the spot either at Sansom, Pine, or Carpenter Street near Broad Street. Other than that, you can always find a spot along the route to witness this vibrant spectacle.

Hours & Schedule

The fancy walk starts at about 9 am and lasts through 5 pm, but crowds start gathering quite early, which means that early birds get the best viewing spots. The Fancy Brigade Finale Shows take place at 11:30 am and 5 pm. The parade is traditionally held on New Year's Day but can be rescheduled in case of severe weather.

Tickets

Note that even though the Philly Mummers is a free event, you need to hold a ticket for bleacher seating at the City Hall Performance Zone. If you're interested, admission tickets are available at the Pliladelphia Visitor Center Corp and can be purchased either online or on-site at the Independence Visitor Center. Tickets cost $25 for bleacher seating, $38 for fancy brigade performances at 11:30 am and $28 for fancy brigade performances at 5 pm. Tickets can be picked up starting from December 1st.

Mummers Parade's Participants & Program

The parade participants are divided into five unique divisions—Comic, Fancy, Fancy Brigade, String Band, and Wench Brigade. Each division has a dedicated role to play: the Comics and Wench Brigades satirize social issues and institutions; the Fancies impress visitors with their glamorous outfits with a royal twist; the String Bands bring music to the parade playing saxophones, banjoes, percussion, and other instruments; the Fancy Brigades perform tightly choreographed theatrical shows.

As soon as the Fancy Brigades finish their route, the marchers head to the Pennsylvania Convention Center to perform the Mummers Fancy Brigades Finale. You need to purchase a separate ticket to attend the Fancy Brigade Shows.

History of The Mummers

It is believed that mummers processions date back to the medieval period in Europe, where they entertained commoners on central squares and streets. The tradition was brought to the U.S. by Swedish immigrants in the 17th century. The rivalry between neighborhoods quickly made mummers tradition very popular in Philadelphia. Since the early 1900s, Philadelphia Mummers Parade has become almost an annual tradition drawing lots of visitors to the city.