PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Music, confetti, glitter, bright colored costumes and people of all ages filled the streets of Philadelphia Sunday for the city’s annual Mummers Day Parade.
The parade kicked off at 9 a.m. outside City Hall and concluded just after 5 p.m. at Washington Avenue.
Attendees excitedly lined the streets to watch the nearly 10,000 mummers, split into five divisions – the Comics, Wench Brigades, Fancies, Fancy Brigades, and String Bands – strut down the streets of Philly throughout the day.
The parade has been a city tradition for families and friends across the region for 123 years.
Loneda Jackson has been attending the parade for as long as she can remember.
“The Mummers parade means everything for me,” she said. “My grandmother brought me, my mother brought me.”
And now, Jackson is continuing their family's tradition by bringing her grandkids to see the spectacle.
Related
Walt ford started coming to the parade when his son, Christian, was born seven years ago.
“It’s a great time, streets are always packed. It’s a lot of fun.”
He said they plan to continue going with each coming year.
Related
While some come for more of the nostalgia aspect, others, like Jane Cappiello, come for the entertainment.
Cappiello said she spent her afternoon walking up and down Market Street, getting a sneak peek of the string bands before they performed at City Hall.
“It is such a great celebration of the city, she said. “It’s a brand new start, and… it’s a riot to watch.”