If you have ever spent January 1st on the streets of Philadelphia with the brisk wind flowing through your hair and the last remnants of the revelry of the night before caressing your aching head, you may have been revived and rejuvenated by the sights and sounds of a parade: but not just an ordinary parade. No, there is no floating Underdog balloon, no Santa making his first appearance of the season and no Al Roker. This one is the oldest folk festival in the United States. And if you have ever seen it, you will remember it the rest of your life. If you could bottle pure joy and energy and put it into a bottle, it would spill out and become the Mummer’s Parade. Once a year does not seem sufficient to witness this exhilarating event. Thankfully the good people at the Mummer Brain Trust have seen fit to take the show on the road. And so it will come to pass this month that the whole kit and caboodle will be coming to Atlantic City, New Jersey’s mecca for entertainment and glitz.
To truly embrace the experience it might help to have a little background information. We know there will be costumes that even Lady Gaga has not worn, music that the Foo Fighters will never record and comic sketches that Jon Stewart, Louis C.K. and the cast of Saturday Night Live have never dreamed of. The word “pageantry” comes to mind. With the stirring strains of “Golden Slippers” filling the air, Boardwalk Hall will be transformed into a world of its own. Let’s look into what all the fun’s about, starting with the Divisions…
COMICS
Clubs with names like Good Times, Landi, Liberty and Murray (if it’s comedy, ya gotta have a Murray) produce skits which can lampoon current political and social landscapes, floats, clowns and my favorite grouping, Dudes and Wenches.
FANCIES
The beauty highlight of the parade includes the four Mother Clubs – Adelphia, Golden
Sunrise, Hog Island and Oregon. (If you’re like me, the logic and reasoning that went
into these names is baffling). They are the group with the most elaborate costumes
and floats.
STRING BANDS
For many people this is the favorite part of the show. The music is stirring and playful and will never be recorded by Nine Inch Nails. Personally I have no idea how these players can play and strut at the same time. I see an appearance on “X Factor” in their future. They have names like Avalon, Ferko, Quaker City, Polish American and Duffy. What, no Blue Ivy?
FANCY BRIGADES
The largest category featuring the largest crews, this relatively new division just flat out “brings it.” The Downtowners, Satin Slipper and Golden Crown crews produce full on Broadway style productions (Just don’t expect any “Spiderman- Turn Off the Dark” numbers. Insurance companies won’t cover that).
THE DETAILS
DATE: February 25
PLACE: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
TIME: 2:00PM
TICKETS: Reserved seats: $25/ $21. Limited number of VIP seats: $35.
Family Block: $80/ $60. Includes 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas and a
program.
(609) 348-7023
boardwalkhall.com