PHILADELPHIA – It’s the colorful costumes, the stimulating music, the party atmosphere, and of course, the Philadelphia Mummers that brought people to the city’s streets for a grand kickoff in this New Year’s 114th annual Mummers Day Parade.
It’s a Philadelphia tradition that has stuck with the city and its residents for so long, mostly because it’s such a cultural staple to such a cultural area. Involving thousands of dedicated people that work year round for the final production, the day’s events and festivities last all day. Categories such as the Comic Brigades, the Fancies, and of course the string bands, each instill different and uniquely entertaining memories for all ages.
The Comic Brigades are the most raucous. Groups from all over the city form themed marches down the streets of Philadelphia and often in outrageous costumes. These can include as many people as two dozen, to over two hundred in some cases. But once they are finished the near two mile straight shot into center city, it is the floats’ turn to parade up with their impressive and individually made costumes. After that, the string bands perform. One could compare these sights to something a person might see on Broadway; most of these bands take the performance and the competition very seriously. The audiences aren’t at all surprised to see confetti cannons, numerous backdrops, great music and choreography, and creative themes in almost all of the performances. Taking first place in the competition today was Quaker City string band. To top off the night, additional indoor competitions with the Fancy Brigades are held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the ones seeking to make it a mummered-out day.
But to put aside the rankings and titles, each band or brigade, right down to every individual, participated in something that will hopefully be carried on for many years to come. It’s a great day, full of history and culture that makes Philadelphia what it is and always has been. It may be the members of the string band posing with wide eyed kids, or the E-A-G-L-E-S chant that randomly broke out among the entire parade, but the Mummers Parade is something the city can definitely be proud of.
The following is a complete list of the 2014 Mummer’s Parade Results:
String Bands
- Quaker City
- Hegeman
- South Philadelphia
- Woodland
- Fralinger
- Ferko
- Avalon
- Polish American
- Aqua
- Uptown
- Pennsport
- Duffy
- Greater Kensington
- Broomall
- Greater Overbrook
- Durning
- Trilby
Wench Brigades
- Oregon
- Pirates
- Bryson
- Cara Liom
- Riverfront
- O Malley
- Froggy Carr
- Saints
Comics Division
- Murray
- Goodtimers
- Landi
Fancy Division
- Golden Sunrise
- Hog Island
Fancy Brigade
- Shooting Stars
- Jokers
- Downtowners
- South Philly Vikings
- Golden Crown
- Satin Slippers
- Saturnalian
- Avenuers
- Clevemore
- Spartans
- 2nd St. Shooters