They strutted down Broad Street on New Year’s Day with their colorful parasols, makeup glistening, ostrich plume feathers swaying in the January breeze.

They paraded for 7-miles-long, playing banjos and saxophones to old time tunes like ‘Oh Them Golden Slippers’, The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow’ and ‘When Irish Eyes are Smilin’.
Fast paced, organized in uniform lines until they got to the judging stand and the show really began in earnest, the music got louder, the dancing more showy, for four and a half minutes of knock your socks off entertainment.

They were loud, they wore elaborate colorful costumes to themes as varied as Leprechauns, cowboys, vikings and hobo’s.

The Captain always had the most plumes attached to his or her back, that weighed as much as 50 lbs.

These revelers of the new year, these Mummers, smiled, danced backwards and side to side with their arms outstretched, pointing their fingers to the sky.

The energy in the air was palpable. This 107 year old tradition was as alive as ever.