As most of you know by now, city officials announced in July 2020 that the Philadelphia Mummers Parade would not be held in Philadelphia on New Years Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Jim Kenney announced that all large public events through February 28, 2021 would be canceled due to the public health crisis.
The 120-year-old Mummers Parade has only been cancelled twice (1919 and 1934). The first cancellation happened in 1919 as a result of the aftermath of World War I and the second cancellation occurred in 1934 due to the effects of the Great Depression and a lack of prize money.
Even though the Mummers Parade is canceled, PHL17 said it plans to bring Mummers content to viewers on New Year’s Day 2021. On January 1, 2021 starting at 9am PHL17 will broadcast and stream 13 hours of the best mummers footage from the last 10 years in what they are calling the Mummers Parade of the Decade.
Philly Magazine wrote an article earlier this year suggesting that some Mummers are secretly planning a parade on New Years Day in an unofficial capacity. The thought is that the Mummers who will appear on January 1, 2021 are likely stay close to their clubhouse on New Year’s Day. There have been rumors that some Mummers will take to Broad Street as they traditionally do every year. If some Mummers do go rogue, it would be a return to roots of sorts. Through the 19th century, large groups of disguised working-class young men roamed the streets on New Year’s Day, organizing “riotous” processions, firing weapons into the air, and demanding free drinks in taverns, and generally challenging middle and upper-class notions of order and decorum.
The end of 2020 is something we should all be celebrating, so it’s going to be weird without an official Mummers Parade on January 1. Regardless of what happens, I’m looking forward to the Mummers Parade officially resuming in 2022.
I always watched the mummers day parade. It eventually became a tradition for my mom and I to watch and be on the phone together deciding the top ten winners on the bands. She passed away this year and im so glad there will still be mummers. It will be nice to see what we watched the last 10 years together.
So glad they will show some former footage of past parades!! It’s supposed to rain constantly for days, so that might keep the protesters away. If not, let ’em get soaked. They should be inside anyway, until we get the “all clear” from COVID-19. Hopefully, 2021 will be a year of good health for more of us!
I’m currently in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida does anyone know how I can watch the show? Will it be available online?
I’m so sorry the mrummers won’t strut it’s a tradition for philly & my family I can’t wait for times to get better .I salute the mummers
But you can Google mummers parade and get a live link that streams what PHL17 is broadcasting. We live in Broward and watch every year.
I greatly enjoy watching the Mummers Parade online every ear and look forward to the broadcast even though the actual Parade is cancelled for this year. Everyone, please be safe and have a Wonderful & Healthy New Year.
Keep your eyes on the Mayor’s activities
You are dead on right!