Below is the currently available information about the 2020 Mummers Parade. The guide is meant to give you an early look at the 2020 Mummers Parade which will take place on January 1, 2020 in Philadelphia. I’m updating this page frequently with new information as we get closer to New Years Day.
Please share this guide with all mummers fans. Also, be sure to connect with MrMummer on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also, visit MrMummer.com on New Years Day. We will be covering the entire parade and have photos, videos and the results from all 5 divisions.
Please send me an email at: mrmummer1@gmail.com if you notice any errors that you want me to correct or would like me to clarify something on the pages. I hope you enjoy the guide.
How To Watch The Mummers Parade The parade will be televised on PHL17 in the Philadelphia area. Outside of the Philadelphia area, the parade will be streamed live online. Click Here to watch the 2020 Mummers Parade Live Stream
Please share the scoring sheets with all mummers fans. Also, visitMrMummer.comon New Years Day. We will be covering the entire parade and have photos, videos and the results from all 5 divisions. Be sure to connect with MrMummer on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Mummers Parade Results The 2020 Mummers Parade Resultsfor String Band, Fancy Brigades, Comics, Wenches and Fancies will be posted once they come in. Check back throughout the day for updates.
What is the Mummers Parade?
Mummers celebrations in America date back to colonial times when the boisterous Swedish custom of celebrating the end of the calendar year with noise-making and shouting was combined with the tradition of the British mummery play. Reciting doggerel and receiving in return cakes and ale, groups of five to 20 people, their faces blackened, would march from home to home, shouting and discharging firearms into the air while burlesquing the English mummers’ play of St. George and the Dragon. Philadelphia, which had a sizable Swedish population, was the center of America’s mummers’ celebrations.Learn how the Mummers started in Philadelphia
In 1790, Philadelphia became the capital of the United States, and President George Washington initiated a tradition of receiving “calls” from mummers at his mansion. In the early 19th century, the celebrations became so popular in Philadelphia that a city act was passed declaring that “masquerades, masquerade balls, and masked processions” were prohibited with threats of fine and imprisonment.
While the celebrations were quieted, they did not cease, and when the law was abolished in the 1850s, there had been no reported convictions.
In celebration of the American centennial in 1876, what had been an uncoordinated group of neighborhood celebrations turned into an area-wide parade featuring various mummers’ clubs. In 1901, Philadelphia’s city government decided to sponsor the popular parade, and 42 fraternal organizations received permits to stage a parade in which prizes were awarded for Costumes, Music, Choreography and comic antics.
The Mummers’ Parade continues to be a popular Philadelphia tradition.
The Independence Visitor Center is the exclusive location to purchase bleacher seating for the outdoor portion of the Mummers Parade. Keep in mind, the Mummers Parade is free for all other locations. For bleacher tickets contact
Independence Visitor Center
599 Market St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
800-537-7676
Getting To The Parade Many roads around the parade route will be closed on New Year’s Day, so the best option to get to the parade is to take SEPTA into the city. On New Year’s Day, buses, trains, and trolleys will operate on a Sunday Schedule. You can view this Google Map for additional transportation options.
It has not been announced yet, but in past years there has been a Free Shuttle provided by SugarHouse Casino. This autumn Sugarhouse Casino was rebranded as Rivers Casino Philadelphia. It’s likely that a free shuttle will be provided by Rivers Casino Philadelphia that will take spectators to and from the parade route on New Year’s Day. In the past the shuttle has run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a continuous loop from the casino to the intersection of 15th and Arch Streets before returning to the casino. The shuttle is available for Rush Rewards card members who are 21 years or older.
How To Stay Warm
There will be port-a-potties along the parade route, but a great place to get warm and use the bathroom is at the Kimmel Center. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts opens its doors for the 14th consecutive year for its annual FREE New Year’s Day Celebration. The campus will be alive with holiday sights and sounds as patrons are invited to warm up indoors to enjoy panoramic views of the Mummers Parade, performances, and activities from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The Kimmel Center is located at: 300 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Where To Eat There will be food trucks, and other attractions at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, located at 901 S. Broad Street. Also, the Wawa at 201 Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 will be open for a quick bite to eat. Many of the local restaurants and bars around the parade route will be open on New Years Day. Unfortunately, the Reading Terminal Market is CLOSED on New Year’s Day. Bars and Restaurants Near the Mummers Parade Route Gluten Free Food Near the Mummers Parade Route
How To Join The Mummers Each Mummers organization has its own policies and requirements for things like age or musical experience, there are still plenty of opportunities to participate – even if you don’t want to dance, strut, or play an instrument in costume! For example, the Comic, Wench Brigade, Fancy and Fancy Brigade Divisions focus their performances around dance routines and costuming. String Bands have musicians, but they also have non-musical members (Marshals) who play key roles in constructing parade props and assisting performers throughout the year. Some good advice would be to spend a little time learning about the various Mummers Parade groups and individual clubs, and figure out which one best matches your interests. When you are ready, reach out to the appropriate group to find out about its member application process and requirements. Also,the Mummers Museum can help you find the right place for you to get involved.
How To Book The Mummers For An Event String Band performances aren’t limited to parades and concerts at public events. String Bands are also available to preform at wedding receptions, conventions, political events, and various private functions. You can book a string band by contacting a band directly. Here are the bands that are available to be hired for your event.
The first thing I looked for in the 2020 Parade Guidelines was bathrooms. For a parade that lasts all day long, will there be any porta-potties at all? Where? Do we need to find an eatery and beg to use their facilities? Where can we go without incurring the wrath and disgust of restaurant owners? This is the one issue that has kept me away from the parade for many years.
They play in various parades on memorial day and the 4th of July. If you want to see the string bands together again, check out the fancy brigade/string band weekend in Wildwood NJ in June.
I would like to see the scoring breakdown for the stringbands. Is it possible to see these.
I missed the showing of the top 10 bands. Will there be another? By 9:43 of the 2nd most people were back at work! Not a good time!
What division is Jolly Jolly in? Thank you
The first thing I looked for in the 2020 Parade Guidelines was bathrooms. For a parade that lasts all day long, will there be any porta-potties at all? Where? Do we need to find an eatery and beg to use their facilities? Where can we go without incurring the wrath and disgust of restaurant owners? This is the one issue that has kept me away from the parade for many years.
Yes, the city provides porta-potties all over the parade route.
How can we watch the Phila mummers parade on our smart TV? We live in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Can you give me an idea of what time the String Bands will start being shown on TV for the 2020 parade? Thank you!!
Do the Mummers have a 4th of July parade? A best of the Mummers parade one evening would be a highlight of the Philadelphia festivities.
They play in various parades on memorial day and the 4th of July. If you want to see the string bands together again, check out the fancy brigade/string band weekend in Wildwood NJ in June.