The Mummers are making a U-turn of sorts, flipping their parade route and cutting a neighborhood-- long-associated with the iconic "Two Streeters" -- from their path this January, officials confirm.
On Jan. 1, 2015, the colorful, parasol-toting Mummers will begin their parade route at Philadelphia's City Hall and head south along Broad Street to Washington Avenue, according to Tom Loomis of the Philadelphia String Band Association.
The change amounts to a complete route reversal as they started marching in South Philadelphia at Oregon Avenue and headed north along Broad Street to City Hall in past years.
Other changes to the celebration include a shift in performance locations, which took place at four different intersections along the city's main north-south thoroughfare last year.
The brigades and string bands will show off their moves on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this January before they face the judges at City Hall, Loomis said.
Following the performances, the Mummers will march south in a typical parade format, meaning anyone who wants to take in the performances will have to watch at those two stages.
While Loomis acknowledged change can be scary for some, he said this will make the entire celebration more enjoyable for the audience since it gets the judging out of the way and allows the groups to get their props off the streets early.
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"It is going to be a parade now, not a bunch of people waiting in line to be judged," he said.
The reimagined New Year's Day, however, could receive some pushback, particularly from South Philly residents accustomed to lining Broad Street between Oregon and Washington avenues.
"That is one of the main concerns we have," Loomis said. "We are hoping they make the walk up to Washington Avenue to enjoy the parade."
And the second round procession -- south along 2nd Street as many of the bands return to their clubhouses -- will go on, Loomis said.
"We'll still have Two Street, of course," he said. "The bands from 2nd Street are going to go south on Broad, hang a left on Washington and march east, then march south on 2nd Street."
"The Two Street part is not going to go away."
