PHILADELPHIA: Despite the chilly weather, thousands of marchers took part in the annual Mummers Parade on New Year's Day in Philadelphia. The march began at 9 am with the Golden Sunrise Club, part of the Fancy Division.
“The Mummers Parade is a New Year’s tradition that dates back almost 100 years,” said assistant city managing director Leo Dignam. “Cold temperatures are nothing new. Over the years, we’ve experienced sub-freezing temperatures and worse. Where we can, we will take appropriate steps to help protect marchers against the elements, but I believe the overwhelming sentiments among the Mummers will be to move ahead, let them march, and keep this incredible folkloric Philadelphia institution alive.”
Crowd size picked up towards the end of the parade, with a solid mass forming on either end of Broad St. near the Union League in the late afternoon.