City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department is Accepting Participants for the 2016 Philadelphia Mummers Parade. Organizations interested in joining the century-old tradition can submit their applications now until Thursday, February 5, 2015.
PHILADELPHIA (January 19, 2015) – For more than 100 years, fans from near and far have kicked off the New Year by enjoying the sights and sounds of 10,000 sequin and feather clad Mummers strutting down Broad Street at the Philadelphia Mummers Parade. In preparation for next year’s festivities, parade producer, the City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department is accepting applications from interested participants.
Mummers organizations who wish to take part in the 116th Mummers Parade can submit requests now until Thursday, February 5, 2015 by mailing a letter to:
Leo Dignam
City Parade Director
Department of Recreation
Program Division
1515 Arch Street, 10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1587
Also, letters of intent can be emailed to Leo Dignam at: leo.dignam@phila.gov
Requests may also be faxed to the Department of Parks and Recreation office (215-683-3593). Faxes must be received by 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2015, and followed by an original mailed submission.
The Mummers Parade features five divisions, each with its own artistry, sound and customs. Starting the festivities are the Comics, who parody hot political issues and pop culture, followed by the men of the Comic Wench brigades in bonnets and bloomers, waving multi-tiered parasols. Next, the Fancies evoke a sequin-studded and feathered glamour with their lavish costumes, followed by the legendary String Bands in glorious costumes and entertaining with intricate musical arrangements combining string, reed and percussion instruments.
For more than a century, the Mummers have marched from South Philadelphia to Center City on New Year’s Day while displaying unique costumes, music and pageantry. The Philadelphia Mummers Parade began in 1900 as a way to celebrate the New Year and is one of the longest running traditions in the country. For more information, visit www.phillymummers.com. For press inquiries, contact Thomas Derr at Simon PR at tderr@simonpr.com or 215-545-4715 x29.
