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Nov 11 2008

Mummers Parade Makes Philly More Fun This New Year

Special Events, Parades, Parties And Fireworks On New Year’s Eve And Day

The wacky and colorful Mummers Parade along Broad Street on New Year’s Day and the breathtaking New Year’s Eve fireworks show at Penn’s Landing distinguish Philadelphia’s New Year celebration from all others. With some insider tips on where to get the best views, how to stay warm and what else is going on during the long weekend, visitors can usher in the New Year in memorable fashion.

Hotel Tips:
Rooms fill up early, so the best plan is to book as soon as possible. Giving travelers even more incentive to book rooms now, the two-night Philly Overnight® Hotel Package, available on gophila.com/holidays, comes with free hotel parking (up to a $75 value), a Philly’s More Fun™ teddy bear and a Macy’s Savings Pass. Many hotels still have available rooms for New Year’s Eve, including The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia; the Sofitel Philadelphia; The Westin Philadelphia; and the Sheraton Philadelphia Center City.

New Year’s Eve:
By Day:

  • The bespangled New Year’s merriment begins at MummersFest, an annual event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where fans can try on costumes, watch brigades rehearse and learn the famous Mummers’ Strut. Tickets may be purchased at the door. December 27-31, 2008. Times vary. 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 418-4700, fancybrigade.com
  • Children with early bedtimes don’t have to miss out on the New Year’s celebration at Please Touch Museum®. Countdown to Noon rings in 2009 with Mummers, confetti and a ball drop at the museum’s expansive new home in Fairmount Park. 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org
  • The Pennsylvania Ballet puts a new spin on this timeless tale of The Nutcracker with colorful costumes and spectacular sets at the Academy of Music. 12:00 noon. 240 S. Broad Street, (215) 893-1999, kimmelcenter.org

By Night:

  • The dazzling fireworks show at Penn’s Landing continues the tradition of ringing in the year with a colorful spectacle in the sky. 12:00 midnight. Columbus Boulevard along the Delaware River, pennslandingcorp.com
  • The Blue Cross RiverRink welcomes 2009 with its New Year’s Eve Party on Ice, complete with live music, family activities, food and a fantastic view of the Penn’s Landing fireworks display. 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. Columbus Boulevard & Market Street, (215) 925-RINK, riverrink.com
  • For a nautical celebration, revelers can board the Battleship New Jersey on the Camden side of the Delaware River for another great view of the fireworks. And families can get in on the fun during the Family New Year’s Eve Encampment, which includes a tour of the ship, a ride on the 4-D flight simulator, dinner and breakfast served in the crew’s mess and sleeping in the bunks. Encampment starts at 6:00 p.m. Party starts at 10:30 p.m. 62 Battleship Place, Camden, (856) 966-1652, battleshipnewjersey.org
  • Culture enthusiasts can join The Philadelphia Orchestra as they celebrate the New Year with the elegant sounds of waltzes, polkas and other favorites from the great musical city of Vienna at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. 300 S. Broad Street, (215) 893-1999, philorch.org
  • Two of the hottest parties in Philadelphia, the fifth annual Glitter City Gala and the third annual 12Midnight have been sold-out events every year. The always-fun Glitter City Gala is the most visible and well-attended New Year’s Eve event in Philadelphia. More than 1,800 guests dress up, get down and ring in the New Year in style at the National Constitution Center, an impressive space with gorgeous lighting and an outstanding view of the fireworks. 12Midnight starts at the beautiful Crystal Tea Room atop the Wannamaker Building. And the Grand Ballroom with its hand-carved columns and intricate crystal chandeliers acts as the backdrop for an evening of elegance and style. Advance tickets required. nyephilly.com
  • In Historic Philadelphia’s Old City, the action is all around—and in the sky too. Partiers gather at the bars and clubs between Front and 3rd Streets and Market and Chestnut Streets to create an energetic atmosphere perfect for ushering in 2009. And at 12:00 midnight, they fill the streets to watch the fireworks and toast the New Year.

New Year’s Day:

  • New Year’s Day in Philly means it’s time for the Mummers Parade, a day-long affair in which 15,000 elaborately costumed clowns, musicians and dancers strut up Broad Street, leaving a trail of glitter, feathers and fun. (Tip: Because each division starts at a different intersection, the only non-ticketed place to watch all of them is on Broad Street and Washington Avenue.) Hours to be determined. A video of the parade is available in the Photos & Multimedia section of gophila.com/pressroom. phillymummers.com
  • Mummer skill and execution is put to the test at the Pennsylvania Convention Center during the Mummers Fancy Brigade Finale, where judges reward the best performances. 12:00 noon & 5:00 p.m. 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 893-1999, ticketphiladelphia.org
  • Even the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts gets into the Mummers spirit on New Year’s Day. Parade spectators can warm up and enjoy refreshments in the Commonwealth Plaza lobby or reserve a spot for the New Year’s champagne brunch at Cadence restaurant inside the Kimmel Center, which overlooks all of the Broad Street action. Brunch seating times vary. The lobby is open 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 300 S. Broad Street, (215) 790-5800, kimmelcenter.org; Cadence, (215) 670-2388
  • Some delicious options along the parade route keep revelers fueled for the day-long festivities. Diners put their resolutions aside when they order a crab omelet and mahi-mahi tacos at El Vez, a trendy Mexican restaurant. The over-21 crowd can party at McGillin’s Olde Ale House, the city’s oldest continuously operating tavern serving local and regional brews and pub grub. And the seafood-centric menu is second only to the sweeping view from the 19th floor of the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue at the classy XIX (Nineteen). Or, spectators can dine like locals at food carts along the parade route. El Vez, 121 S. 13th Street, (215) 928-9800, elvezrestaurant.com; McGillin’s, 1310 Drury Street, (215) 735-5562, mcgillins.com; XIX, Broad & Walnut Streets, (215) 790-1919, parkphiladelphia.hyatt.com
  • After they’ve displayed their floats, costumes, dances and music, the Comics, Fancies and String Bands head to 2nd Street—or Two Street as it’s affectionately known—to spend the rest of the day and night in hearty revelry with the crowds that follow them there. phillymummers.com

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

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Tagged: Events, Holidays, Winter

Attached Media

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

A view from the Battleship New Jersey shows New Year’s Eve fireworks illuminating the Philadelphia skyline, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the tranquil Delaware River....

Credit: Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

Tags: Events, Holidays, Winter