Not being from Philly, and having rarely visited, I confess
that I had never heard of the Mummer’s Parade. But a quick read of this Washington Post
article about the event, I have to say my curiosity is piqued. Apparently, like New York, Philly has its own special
brand of New Years celebration, and among the things that happen are two great traditions: the Mummers Parade, and the
"after-parade" along Second Street.
In the Mummer Parade musicians and comic troupes get jiggy in
front of a series of judges and TV cameras. They are dressed to the nines…make the the crazy-8s…in "elaborately
bespangled, sequin-studded, frilly-trimmed get-ups that conjure images of over-the-top Las Vegas shows". Imagine a
mix of Ben Franklin and Siegfried and Roy. Last year’s parade included about 10,000 participants, who made their way
goofily along the nearly two-mile Broad Street route from South Philly to City Hall. The second party then takes place
when everyone heads back to their neighborhoods and the street parties kick in. So, yeah, I gotta say, I had no idea
Philly had such fun shenanigans going on. In a way, given the mess that Times Square becomes, it all sounds pretty darn
fun.