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Vol. 71 No. 7 | Feb. 12, 2020 southphillyreview.com
Mummers coming your way at Xfinity Live! By Mark Zimmaro SOUTH PHILLY REVIEW
M
iss out on the Mummers this year? You can still get your string band fix, as the Mummers 7th Annual Mardi Gras returns to South Philadelphia at Xfinity Live! on Sunday, Feb. 23. The popular entertainment venue in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex will host all 16 string bands across two sessions for a full day of Mummery in February. It promises to be one of the biggest fundraisers for the Mummers, who have traditionally entertained residents with their New Year’s Day Parade since 1901. The Mummers Mardi Gras was created and organized by ADVENT Consulting, which continues to dedicate a large effort to the fundraising cause. “The Mummers need a lot of support,” ADVENT President Joe DeCandido said. “It’s a lifelong tradition for many people and many families and generations. I’ve had guys tell me their father or grandfather was a Mummer, and others say their kid is a Mummer and they’re excited when their kid picks up an instrument because it’s one step closer to being a member of their string band.” The event originated six years ago as a small, 1,200-person ticketed event at the Piazza in Northern Liberties, and included just four of the string bands. It evolved into a parade in Manayunk for the next four years before returning to South Philadelphia last year at the 2300 Arena on Swanson Street. This year, in moving to Xfinity Live!, more tickets will be available and more space will be utilized for a bundle of activities. And it’s all indoors. “We wanted a larger venue where we could sell more tickets and raise more money for the Mummers string bands,” DeCandido said. “And that’s how we landed on Xfinity Live! They’ve been an incredible partner. It’s a venue set up for entertainment events and it seemed like the perfect fit.” The event will be broken up into two separate ticketed sessions. The first session, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3
FILE PHOTO
South Philadelphia String Band won the 2020 Mummers Parade. p.m., will include Quaker City, Woodland, Aqua, Polish American, Duffy, Greater Kensington, Greater Overbrook and Jersey string bands. The second session, which runs from 4-8 p.m., will include South Philadelphia, Fralinger, Avalon, Uptown, Ferko, Hegeman, Durning and
Pennsport. Tickets are $13.91 for each session. Parking is free, and food and drinks will be for sale. Tickets can be purchased at www.mummersmardigras. com. There will be plenty to do away from the
music, too. The Mummers string band captains will take part in a mechanical bull riding contest in the PBR Bar. For a small donation, fans will also have the opportunity to build their own Mummers umbrella with sequins and feathers. A See MUMMERS, page 10>>