Mummers would march on New Year’s Day despite COVID-19 restrictions

The Mummers would be planning to have their annual parade this upcoming New Year’s Day despite the restriction on public events and gatherings in Philadelphia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Make no mistake. There will be a Mummers Parade,” an anonymous Mummer told Philly Mag.

On July 14th, Mayor Kenney officially declared a moratorium on all big public events through February 28, 2021. On his cancellation list included events like the Broad Street Run, Made in America, Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Mummers Parade.

According to representatives of three prominent Mummers troupes, who spoke with Philly Mag on the condition of anonymity for themselves and their members the New Year´s Day Parade wil take plac despite this ban on major public events. “You’ll definitely see Mummers marching on New Year’s Day,” says one high-ranking member of a string band.

However, the event would have different characteristics. It seems that this Mummers Parade would present a less organized and more modest version. One Mummer said his group would most stick to the neighborhood where they are based, while another said his group and others will take to Broad Street as they do every year, albeit without the TV cameras, judges and prize money.

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The Mummers claim that the event is an exercise of their freedom of speech rights, which would make it exempt from the city’s moratorium on large public gatherings. Demonstrations and First Amendment-protected activities have continued to take place across the city during the public health crisis.

A political event

“The parade has always been a political event,” another anonymous Mummer said to Philly Mag. “And if there can be parties in the streets for Joe Biden and big demonstrations for this and for that, then they can’t stop the Mummers.”

Mayor Jim Kenney’s spokesperson, Mike Dunn, told Philly Mag that hile the City currently discourages large protests and parades, such as the Mummers “we will not stop them unless safety concerns are implicated.”

“The city is not currently issuing permits for special events or gatherings, but we are also not enforcing such permitting requirements,” he continued. “We are currently evaluating our permitting process and hope to announce changes by year’s end.”