By Molly Given
The Mummers string band competition, a staple of Philadelphia’s New Year’s Day celebrations, will get a second showing this year after weather forced an unprecedented cancellation on Jan. 1.
High winds reaching nearly 60 miles per hour, along with snow squalls, led organizers to call off the performances during the annual parade due to safety concerns. While string bands still marched along the route, the competition portion was halted. Injuries were reported, and several props were damaged in the severe conditions.
Now, fans will have another chance to see the performances. The string band competition has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. and will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia.
The postponement marks the first time in Mummers’ history that the string band competition has been canceled and rescheduled.
The group is part of one of the city’s oldest and most unique traditions, with roots that date back centuries. Originating in European customs in which people dressed in costumes, masks, or disguises and went door-to-door performing short skits, music, or dances around the holidays, the practice was brought to Philadelphia by immigrants.
It became wildly popular during the 1700s and 1800s, and by the early 19th century, Philadelphians were already celebrating New Year’s Day by dressing up, parading through the streets, and visiting homes. The early celebrations were described as a bit unorganized and chaotic; to package everything together cohesively, the parade was officially organized in 1901.
The string band division of Philadelphia’s Mummers Parade is the most flamboyant and musically eclectic of the New Year’s Day traditions, blending banjos, saxophones, accordions, basses, and drums into a sound that is unmistakably local. Emerging in the early 20th century as working-class musicians adapted popular songs, vaudeville tunes, and Broadway numbers, string bands developed a distinctive style marked by syncopation, humor, and theatrical flair. Their performances are not just musical but visual spectacles, featuring elaborate, often towering costumes that can take thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars to produce.
Unlike other Mummer divisions that emphasize comic skits or traditional marching, string bands are judged heavily on musicality, showmanship, and originality. Each band performs a choreographed routine that weaves music, dance, and theme into a tightly rehearsed presentation, often riffing on current events or classic American pop culture. Over the decades, the string bands have become cultural ambassadors for Philadelphia, preserving a unique folk-art tradition while continuously reinventing it.
Tickets for the Jan. 31 performance are on sale for $12.15 for general admission on the lower level and $24.30 for the club level. For those who can’t make it out in person, the event will also be broadcast on WFMZ-TV and online.
To find out more information, visit pmsba.org