Philadelphia

What to Know: Mummers Parade Down Broad Street on New Year's Day

The 116th Mummers Parade will make their annual strut down Broad Street on New Year’s Day meaning road closures and extra safety precautions in Center city and South Philadelphia.

The 2016 parade featuring fancy brigades, string bands, comics and, of course, wenches kicks off at 9 a.m. at City Hall then marches south on Broad Street to Washington Avenue wrapping up around 6 p.m. More than 10,000 men, women and children with participate with thousands more watching along the parade route, said organizers.

After marching down Broad Street -- for years the parade went up Broad Street -- the fancies will head to the Pennsylvania Convention Center while spectators and other Mummers head to S 2nd Street in South Philly for post-parade 2nd Street Strut festivities including more performances (at 2nd and Reed streets and 3rd and Ritner streets).

The weather is expected to be in the 40s with mostly sunny conditions. The Union League, 15th & JFK, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia High School for Creative & Performing Arts and plenty of other spots along S Broad will serve as perfect locations to see all the pageantry. The parade is free but some venues may charge to watch including bleachers seats in the Convention Center.

Broad Street will be closed until the parade wraps up after 6 p.m. Also expect road closures at the staging area along JFK Boulevard from 16th to 22nd Street, at Washington Avenue and along S 2nd Street.

Besides the traditional Mummers groups, this year’s parade will feature the more racially- and ethnically-diverse Philadelphia Division.

Expect to see police stationed along the parade route as authorities work to keep everyone safe.

With road closures in effect, SEPTA is a great alternative to get down to the parade. SEPTA will be operating buses, trains, trolleys and subways on a Sunday schedule.

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