December 24, 2021
Bastiaan Slabbers/for PhillyVoice
The 2022 Mummers Parade returns to Broad Street this New Year's Day, Saturday, Jan. 1, after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Year's Day was going to feel a bit more normal in Philadelphia, but then weather decided not to cooperate. Now the 2022 Mummers Parade returns to South Broad Street on Sunday, Jan. 2, as organizers try to avoid the rainy forecast predicted for Saturday.
The oldest, annual, folk parade in the U.S. didn't officially happen in 2021 after the city canceled all large events and public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, an unauthorized version of the event did take place in South Philly as some mummers strutted in protest of the city's restrictions.
The last city-sanctioned parade happened in January 2020, just two months before the onset of the public health crisis. The event, however, was mired in controversy after two members of the Froggy Carr club were spotted wearing blackface.
The incident led to the South Philly wench brigade being banned from the competition portion of the event and a strong condemnation from Mayor Jim Kenney, who went as far as to threaten that the parade be permanently dissolved.
Since then, mummers leaders have met with city officials to put procedures in place to prevent future incidents and improve the parade. The two men who wore blackface in 2020 were subsequently banned from ever marching in the parade again.
The mummers have been strutting on New Years Day for 122 years. The parade typically brings out more than 20,000 spectators and as many as 10,000 mummers dressed in lavish, colorful costumes.
Here is everything that you need to know about the 2022 Mummers Parade, whether you're attending in person or watching from home.
The Mummers Parade will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, outside City Hall at 15th and Market streets. The mummers will then strut around City Hall and head south down Broad Street to Washington Avenue.
The parade starts with the Fancy Division, followed by the Wenches, Comics and String Bands. The Fancy Brigades will round out the groups.
These are the six spots where the mummers clubs will perform and be judged along the route.
• 15th and Market streets (Judging Station, all divisions)
• Broad Street and South Penn Square (Judging Station, Fancy)
• Broad and Sansom streets (String Bands)
• Broad Street and Bach Place (Judging Station, Comics)
• Broad and Pine streets (Fancy, Wenches, Comics and Fancy Brigades)
• Broad and Carpenter streets (Fancy, Wenches, Comics, String Bands and Fancy Brigades)
The parade should conclude around 6 p.m. After that many of the mummers will make their way to South Second Street, where many of the mummers clubhouses are located, and the festivities will continue, less formally in an event known as the Two Street parade.
The Fancy Brigade will hold its family show at 11:30 a.m. and finale performance at 5 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Tickets for the family show are $38 and for the finale performance are $28. They can be purchased online or in person at the Independence Visitors Center.
Tickets bought online will need to be either be mailed out or picked up at the Independence Visitor Center. Attendees must have physical tickets in order to enter the Convention Center. Electronic tickets will not be accepted.
Below is the forecast for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Philadelphia. Be sure to have a rain jacket or an umbrella if attending the parade in-person, according to the National Weather Service's forecast.
• Friday: Mostly cloudy with a high near 57. Showers expected after 4 a.m. Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy with a low of 48 at night.
• Saturday: Showers with a high around 63. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Rain is expected to continue into the evening hours. Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Low around 53.
• Sunday: Cloudy, with a high near 61 and a 40% chance of showers.
Everyone going to the 2022 Mummers Parade must wear a face mask along the parade route, regardless of their vaccination statuses, according to Philadelphia's COVID-19 protocols. Masks onlt can be removed when eating or drinking.
People are encouraged to stay socially distance from other spectators not in their group. Stay home if you're not feeling well or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
The 2022 Mummers Parade will be broadcast on PHL17 and it also can be streams online via PHL17's website. Coverage begins at 8 a.m.
Many roads in and around the parade route will be shut down, so those attending the 2022 Mummers Parade are advised to take public transportation.
SEPTA buses, trains, subways and trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule. Riders are strongly encouraged to use the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines to access the parade area.
The following bus routes around City Hall and the parade may be detoured: 4, 16, 17, 27, 31, 32 33, 44, 48, 124 and 125.
Monday, Dec. 27
Parking is prohibited from 6 p.m. on Dec. 27 through 6 p.m. on Jan. 2 on the east side of 15th Street from John F. Kennedy Boulevard to South Penn Square.
Tuesday, Dec. 28
Two eastbound lanes on 15th Street will be closed from John F. Kennedy Boulevard to South Penn Square from 7 a.m. on Dec. 28 through 7 a.m. on Jan. 2 for equipment load-in and staging. All of 15th Street may be closed for short intervals during this time.
Wednesday, Dec. 29
Parking is prohibited from 6 p.m. on Dec. 29 through 6 p.m. on Jan. 2 on the west side of 15th Street from Arch Street to Ranstead Street. No street or sidewalk vendors will be allowed to park in the area during that time.
Thursday, Dec. 30
15th Street will be closed to southbound traffic at John F. Kennedy Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for equipment setup and delivery.
Friday, Dec. 31
Parking is prohibited on both sides of Market Street from 15th Street to 21st Street and both sides of John F. Kennedy Boulevard from Juniper Street to 20th Street from 4 a.m. on Dec. 31 through 6 p.m. on Jan. 1.
15th Street will be closed to vehicles from John F. Kennedy Boulevard to Market Street from 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 through 7 a.m. on Jan. 2.
Market Street will be closed to vehicles from 15th Street to 16th Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 31. Market Street will reopen at 3 p.m., and traffic will be permitted to travel eastbound to 15th Street and continue southbound on 15th Street.
Sunday, Jan. 2
The following streets will be closed to vehicles from 3 a.m. Sunday until the 2022 Mummers Parade finishes. Also no vehicles will be able to cross Broad Street while the parade is in progress. Those driving should expect delays, use alternate routes and avoid the parade area. Drivers should also refrain from double-parking:
• 15th Street from Arch Street to Chestnut Street
• Market Street from 15th Street to 21st Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 16th Street to 20th Street
• North Broad Street from Cherry Street to John F. Kennedy Boulevard
• 16th Street from Chestnut Street to Race Street
• 17th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Ludlow Street
• 18th Street from Race Street to Ludlow Street
• 19th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Chestnut Street
• 1500 block of Ranstead Street
• 1300 block of Carpenter Street
• 1000 block of South 13th Street
• Chestnut Street from 15th Street to 18th Street (north side)
• Cherry Street from 15th Street to 17th Street
• Arch Street from 15th Street to 17th Street
• Washington Avenue from 12th Street to 18th StreetThese parking restrictions are in effect from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. These restrictions are in effect for both sides of the street, unless otherwise noted:
• Broad Street from Arch Street to Ellsworth Street
• Juniper Street from John F. Kennedy Boulevard to South Penn Square (east side)
• South Penn Square from Juniper Street to 15th Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 16th Street to 20th Street
• North side of Logan Circle
• North Broad Street from Cherry Street to John F. Kennedy Boulevard
• 16th Street from Chestnut Street to Race Street
• 17th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Ludlow Street
• 18th Street from Race Street to Ludlow Street
• 19th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Chestnut Street
• 19th Street from John F. Kennedy Boulevard to Market Street
• 1500 block of Ranstead Street
• 1300 block of Carpenter Street
• 1000 block of South 13th Street
• Chestnut Street from 15th Street to 18th Street (north side)
• Cherry Street from 15th Street to 17th Street
• Arch Street from 15th Street to 17th Street
• Washington Avenue from 12th Street to 18th Street
Those attending the Mummers Parade are encouraged to arrive early in order to get a good spot to watch. The event is free to attend, but bleacher seating tickets are available for $20. Tickets can be purchased at the Independence Visitor Center or online.
Tickets can either be mailed out or picked up at the Independence Visitor Center. Attendees must have physical tickets in order to be seated in the bleachers. Electronic tickets will not be accepted.
Bathrooms will be available along the parade route too.
Follow Pat & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @Pat_Ralph | @thePhillyVoice
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice
Add Pat's RSS feed to your feed reader
Have a news tip? Let us know.
