Philadelphia Mummers New Year's Day Parade (The)

Description:

• Mummers look, more or less, like a cross between a peacock and a circus clown. Mummer brigades closely guard the secret of their New Year's Parade themes each year, cannibalizing the previous year's costume. Based on the Medieval European tradition of mummery, the Philadelphia version adds banjos, mechanized floats and bright television lights. There are three divisions: Clowns, String Bands and the Fancy Brigades, who perform elaborate sketches. The parade ends at City Hall, where there is a fierce competition and the winner is awarded accordingly. This is a free event. See website for yearly details.
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