The new year will kick off as it has for over a century in Philadelphia, with the Mummers parade.
The spectacle was recently named the best holiday parade in the country by USA Today and will be celebrating several milestones in 2026, including 125 years of the New Year’s Day proceedings, 50 years of the Mummers Museum and — of course — America’s 250th birthday.
It will also be honored as America’s longest-running folk parade in the Philadelphia Historic District Partners’ 52 Weeks of Firsts, with those festivities kicking off on Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Mummers Museum.
Mark Montanaro, the current curator of the museum, said that the museum and the 52 Firsts organizers agreed to let the first balloon flight in America be the first “First” of the year, which will include a Saturday “Firstival” kicking off each week, because Saturday, Jan. 3 is the alternate date if weather prevents a New Year’s Day parade.
“You don’t know what Mother Nature’s going to pull on you,” he said.
Montanaro, who had paraded for 55 years, recalled some notable years when Mother Nature didn’t cooperate. In 1975, a torrential downpour arrived after only a few bands had finished their routines at City Hall, 1978 had sleet and snow — coupled with a fire on Broad Street diverting the parade route. The 1989 parade saw enough rain to force the bands to go down Broad Street in buses, and 2018 had a bitterly cold wind chill all day long.
How to enjoy the parade
Montanaro’s advice for the parade starts practically: Dress warmly.
After that, he recommended that you come with an open mind and enjoy yourself.
“Let the parade flow to you,” he said. “Especially if you come out to Broad Street, you will see some beautiful costumes and the detail in every aspect of a costume that you will not see on TV.”
Mummers Museum coordinator Cheyenne McClain-Cohen and curator Mark Montanaro. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn)
Shawn Blubaugh, captain of the Greater Kensington String Band, suggests heading into the city earlier than the parade’s 9 a.m. start time, to get a spot and also see how the performers set up and practice their routines before the competitions and the 1.5-mile strut to South Philadelphia.
“Starting at 11 a.m., the string bands are situated along Market and [John F. Kennedy Boulevard], where they’ll be practicing their routines, putting the finishing touches on their shows,” Blubaugh said. “You’ll actually just be able to stand there, up close and personal, and see that happening until they start moving to City Hall for the official judging.”
After the parade and the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the party moves down 2nd Street in Pennsport. It goes by “Two Street,” if you’re a local.
“It’s a really great smaller-scale parade that goes down Two Street, but it’s unique to see because of the community aspect,” Blubaugh said. “The camaraderie amongst all the clubs as they head back to their clubs to hopefully get good news on their prize that night, and then to celebrate the hard work that they’ve done all year.”
But not all Mummers groups, including Blubaugh’s, are based on 2nd Street. Groups including Aqua String Band and Ferko String Band in Bridesburg, Polish American String Band in Port Richmond and the Jersey String Band across the Delaware River in Woodbury Heights, N.J., will likely take the celebrations back to home.
“Various clubs that aren’t located on Two Street will oftentimes get on their bus, get back up into the community and then maybe do like a small little parade down their main street as they make their way back to their club to interact with their neighbors up in those sections of the city,” he said. “So each group has their own little way to celebrate.”
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, don’t think of the parade as an exclusively spectator event.
“Dance like nobody’s watching,” Mummers Museum coordinator Cheyenne McClain Cohen said. “Anyone can do the Mummer’s strut.”
A troupe of Scooby Doo-themed mummers walk along the parade route with a string band during the 124th Mummers Parade on Jan. 1, 2025. The Mummers Parade is one of Philadelphia’s most unique annual traditions, and it is the oldest continuous folk parade in the United States. (Courtesy of Erin Blewett)
Street closures and travel info
These streets will be closed to traffic from 3 a.m. on Jan. 1 till the end of the parade at 7 p.m:
15th Street from Arch Street to Chestnut Street
Market Street from 15th Street to 21st Street
These streets will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. till the parade ends:
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 Ludlow Street to Race Street
19th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Chestnut Street
The 1500 block of Ranstead Street
The 1300 block of Carpenter Street
The 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
Vehicle traffic will be closed off from Broad Street from South Penn Square to Washington Avenue from 7 a.m. till the conclusion of the parade, and will not be allowed across Broad while the parade is happening.
Temporary “No Parking” zones will be in effect from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both sides of following streets, unless otherwise specified:
Broad Street from Cherry Street to Ellsworth Street
Juniper Street from John F. Kennedy Boulevard to East Penn Square
South/East Penn Square from 15th Street to Juniper Street
Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 16th Street to 20th Street
The north side of Logan Circle
16th Street from Chestnut Street to Race Street
17th Street from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Ludlow Street
18th Street from Ludlow Street to Race Street
19th Street from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Chestnut Street
The 1500 block of Ranstead Street
The 1300 block of Carpenter Street
The 1000 block of South 13th Street
The north side of Chestnut Street from 15th Street to 18th Street
Cherry Street from 15th Street to 17th Street
Arch Street from 15th Street to 17th Street
Washington Avenue from 12th Street to 18th Street
SEPTA has its bus detour details on its website, and using the Broad Street and Market-Frankford Line trains is recommended to get to and from the parade.