Fifteen Mummers’ string bands will perform down Haddon Avenue as part of an inaugural parade for the Philadelphia musicians on Saturday, April 29.
The parade will begin at Haddonfield’s Euclid Avenue and end at Haddon Square in Haddon Township. There will be three staging areas along the way.
“The Camden County Board of Commissioners is always looking for ways to produce events with our municipalities,” said Commissioner Louis Cappelli Jr. “Our intent is for these events to add to the quality of life in Camden County, to provide family entertainment and also the opportunity for economic activity.
“ … We were able to plan a Mummer’s parade with Haddonfield and Haddon Township, and our intent is to bring a taste of Philadelphia over here to Camden County.”
The parade will run from 2 to 4 p.m. and include food and games along Haddon Avenue. It can be viewed from the vantage points of P.J. Whelihan’s, Crystal Lake Avenue and Haddon Square.
“The Philadelphia Mummers parade has a rich history here in the region, as it’s the oldest continuous folk parade in the nation, dating back to 1901,” said Sam Regalbuto, president of the city’s String Band Association.
“Our organization is so excited to bring this wonderful tradition over to Camden County and put a new spin on something that so many of us from the Philadelphia/South Jersey area hold near and dear to our hearts.”
The Mummers are known for their annual New Year’s Day strut, ornate costumes and lively performances. Following the borough parade, the string bands will continue to play throughout Haddon Township at sponsored establishments.
“Camden County and its municipalities have so much to offer, and the string band parade will give us a much-needed boost in tourism and business traffic,” noted Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich.
“Aside from the economic benefits, this will be a new tradition that will give us all the opportunity to have some fun with our friends and family.”
The following 15 string bands will be in the parade:
- Aqua
- Avalon
- Duffy
- Durning
- Ferko
- Fralinger
- Greater Kensington
- Hegeman
- Jersey
- Pennsport
- Polish American
- Quaker City
- South Philadelphia
- Uptown
- Woodland
To stay up to date with the latest announcements, visit https://www.camdencounty.com/stringband/.
