Philadelphia, PA – The Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Mummers Parade has been named the Best Holiday Parade in the country in the 2025 USA TODAY 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards as it prepares to celebrate its historic 125th Anniversary on January 1, 2026. Drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators each New Year’s Day, the Mummers Parade is one of the nation’s longest-running and most unique cultural events, featuring dazzling, over-the-top performances from the Fancy, Wench, Comic, and world-renowned String Band divisions.
“Being named the best holiday parade in the nation is the perfect way to kick off a landmark year, not just for Philadelphia, but for the country,” said Jake Joyce, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. “As the Mummers ring in their 125th year, and as our city becomes the focus of the nation’s 250th anniversary, we’re incredibly proud to serve as the title sponsor of this beloved, award-winning tradition.”
Selected by a panel of experts and voted on by the public, the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards recognize the nation’s top attractions and events. This marks the third time the Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Mummers Parade has earned the #1 holiday parade honor.
“This national recognition couldn’t come at a better time as we prepare to celebrate the Mummers’ 125th anniversary,” said Sam Regalbuto, President of the String Band Association. “The Mummers’ history is unmatched, and our New Year’s Day performance will celebrate that legacy while building excitement for this historic year in Philadelphia.”
The Mummers look forward to a spectacular 2026 Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Mummers Parade on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available – visit PhiladelphiaMummersParade.com or contact mummers@metv2.com or 610-798-4080 to learn more. The Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. Any financial contribution is greatly appreciated and ensures the upcoming success of the 2026 parade; fans are encouraged to make a financial contribution by visiting www.donatemummers.com.
DETAILS FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY 2026
Get ready to strut down Broad Street! Today, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia was once again named the Title Sponsor for the legendary MUMMERS PARADE, set for Thursday, January 1, 2026. Kicking off a lineup of historic city-wide celebrations set for the coming year, the 2026 Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Mummers Parade will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its legendary strut down Broad Street with performances from the Fancy, Wench, Comic, and String Band divisions, as well as Mummers personalities and sponsors. The 2026 Philadelphia Mummers Parade begins at City Hall, starting at 9:00am and will continue South to Washington Avenue until 7:00pm. The judging will take place on the West side of City Hall and Dilworth Plaza. Seats in this area are available for purchase in-person from the Philadelphia Independence Visitor Center at 6th & Market Streets. They can also be purchased online through their website at www dot phlvisitorcenter dot com. Entertainers will perform during the parade route with special viewing areas at 17th & Market Streets, and along Broad Street at Samson, Pine, and Carpenter Streets. Named the #1 holiday parade in the nation by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award, viewers can watch the parade broadcast from 9:00am to 5:00pm across all platforms.
Thanks to the generous support of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, the 2026 Mummers Parade will be broadcast live across the Delaware Valley and parts of the Poconos on WDPN-TV (MeTV2), 69 WFMZ-TV, WFMZ.com, and the WFMZ+, ZEAM, FrndlyTV, NewsOn, and LocalNow apps on Firestick, Roku, or Apple TV.
Returning on-air hosts of the parade will be Larry Mendte and Dawn Stensland, who will be joined by Megan McFarland, providing commentary for the Comics, Wenches, and Fancy divisions, and Jim Donio for the String Band division. In addition, Mark Montanaro, Mummers Museum curator, and Sam Regalbuto, President of the String Band Association, will provide first-hand insight throughout the parade.
This year’s parade will include 1 Fancy Club, 10 Wench Brigades, 3 Comic clubs, and 14 String Bands. Each division is ready to perform elaborate Broadway-style productions for their fans. In addition to these performances, we will also have appearances from Mummers personalities and parade sponsors throughout our march down Broad Street.
Additionally, beginning at 11:00am, fans are invited to visit the String Bands in their respective staging areas along Market Street and JFK Boulevard as they put the finishing touches on their 2026 routines before they perform live in front of City Hall. Each String Band will be staged on Market Street from 17th to 21st streets and along JFK Boulevard from 17th to 20th streets.
To celebrate the Mummers 125th anniversary, limited-edition commemorative merchandise will be available for sale, including an exclusive 125th anniversary holiday ornament, a Mummers plushie, and parade t-shirts. These items will be available to purchase online at PhiladelphiaMummersParade dot com and will also be available at Shop Live! in the Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia lobby in the coming weeks.
The Mummers look forward to a spectacular 2026 Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Mummers Parade on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available – visit PhiladelphiaMummersParade.com or contact mummers@metv2.com or 610-798-4080 to learn more. The Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. Any financial contribution is greatly appreciated and ensures the upcoming success of the 2026 parade; fans are encouraged to make a financial contribution by visiting donatemummers.com.
52 WEEKS OF FIRSTS
Philadelphia Mummers Parade will be recognized by 52 Weeks of Firsts as the first Folk Parade in America – taking place here in Philadelphia in the year 1901. Celebrate this historic Philadelphia and American firs with a special event. Save the date for Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the Mummers Museum, 1100 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia.
From 52 Weeks of Firsts website and recognition: Strut into history with the celebration of Philadelphia’s first official folk parade or as we know it, the Mummers Parade! Discover how a rowdy neighborhood tradition became the country’s longest-running folk parade and why the New Year just isn’t the same without sequins, satire and saxophones.
PHILADELPHIA MUMMERS HISTORY
With roots dating back to the 17th century, working class European descendants brought their traditions to the streets of Philadelphia. As the tradition grew through the 1800’s, groups of immigrants would be seen walking through neighborhoods, shooting guns while singing a traditional rhyme. Their “speaker” could be heard chanting: Here we stand before your door, As we stood the year before; Give us whiskey; give us gin, Open the door and let us in. Or give us something nice and hot Like a steaming hot bowl of pepper pot! As the tradition became increasingly popular (and dangerous) through the late 1890’s, the City of Philadelphia offered to organize a parade with cash prizes and awards. And so, 1901 started the longest continuous running folk parade in the world, Philadelphia Mummers Parade!
Through the years the parade evolved into the four divisions we know today, the Comics, the Fancy’s, the String Bands, and the Fancy Brigades. As years rolled by, simple homemade costumes evolved to elaborate productions, costumes, and pageantry.
After the small monetary prizes were stopped, the parade continued with participants competing solely for recognition and trophies.
ABOUT THE MUMMERS
The Mummers will be celebrating their 125th anniversary on January 1st, 2026. The Mummers consist of the Fancies, Wench Brigades, Comics, and the String Band divisions. This year’s parade will include 1 Fancy club, 10 Wench Brigades, 3 Comic clubs, and 14 String Bands. Each division is ready to perform elaborate Broadway-style productions on New Year’s Day 2026. For more information, visit PhiladelphiaMummersParade dot com.
ABOUT LIVE! CASINO & HOTEL PHILADELPHIA
Voted Best Overall Gaming Resort and Best Overall in Dining and Entertainment in PA by Casino Player Magazine, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is a one-stop destination in South Philly’s Stadium District to enjoy the fast-paced action of four major professional sports teams, memorable entertainment, premier dining, upscale accommodations, and world-class gaming. Conveniently located off I-95 and I-76, the facility features more than 200 luxury hotel rooms, a FanDuel® Sportsbook and Lounge, approximately 2,000 slots, and more than 130 table games, including a dedicated poker room. Award-winning dining and entertainment options include The Prime Rib®, named Best South Philly Steakhouse by Philadelphia Magazine; Luk Fu, serving authentic Asian cuisine; Sports & Social Philly, a one-of-a-kind sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge; the 10th Street Market, a unique food hall featuring a taste of classic Philly favorites like Geno’s Steaks, Lorenzo and Sons Pizza, and Termini Bros. Bakery; plus Luckie’s Liquor. A spirited nightlife scene at Center Bar and R Bar rounds out the Live! experience. The Live! Event Center offers more than 15,500 square feet of customizable meeting and event space with ample, secure parking. Guests can also PlayLive dot com, a real money wagering online casino in the Commonwealth of PA. Live! Casino & Hotel is owned and managed by Stadium Casino RE, LLC, an affiliate of The Cordish Companies, the premier developer of Live! dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel and sports-anchored destinations in the country. For reservations, call 1-833-472-5483 or visit LiveCH dot com/Philadelphia. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram @livecasinophl
ABOUT WDPN-TV
WDPN-TV is owned by Maranatha Broadcasting Company Inc. MBC purchased WDPN-TV Channel 2 Wilmington/Philadelphia in 2017. The station is broadcast from a tower located in the Roxborough antenna farm in Philadelphia. The station is affiliated with the MeTV Network (The Memorable Entertainment Network), which broadcasts the best classic TV programs from the 70’s and 80’s. MBC also owns WFMZ-TV in Allentown. WFMZ-TV is a full-service broadcast station, founded in 1976. WFMZ-TV’s “69News” focuses 10 hours a day of its coverage on the northern tier of the Philadelphia market.