2025 String Band Results

Written by Alex Lloyd Gross, January 1, 2025


1 – South Philadelphia (TIE)
1 – Quaker City (TIE)
3 – Fralinger
4- Uptown
5 – Avalon
6 – Polish American
7 – Woodland
8 – Aqua
9 – Ferko
10 – Greater Kensington
11 – Hegemen
12 – Jersey
DQ – Duffy
DQ – Durning

Mummers String Band Captain Results

  1. Denny Palandro / South Philadelphia
  2. Kade Radcliffe / Uptown
  3. George Balzer IV / Woodland
  4. Jimmy Good / Quaker City
  5. Brad Bowen / Fralinger

It is unknown what caused the disqualification for Duffy and Durning.


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58 thoughts on “2025 String Band Results”

  1. Maureen Ross says:

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    How can 2 string bands be disqualified with no reason given.
    Does not seem fair to the clubs who put their heart and soul into the performance.
    Not fair.

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    1. Gus Anderson says:

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      Agreed. Clearly there’s something going on that they are unwilling to tell. I’m proud to be a During and Garden State alum! Gus Anderson

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      1. Ken says:

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        And with numbers of players and participants dwindling, the bands should get prize money and never disqualified. It really blows. I hope neither of the disqualified bands folds- so many already have !

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    2. Meh says:

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      I remember back in the day when Durning was disqualified for hiring professional dancers The rules were much different back then that even woman were not allowed.

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      1. Lynn says:

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        South Philly lost with me when I hear them say they had ordered their props and I think the stain glass from over seas. With the theme they had and compared to Aquas spellbound theme all hand created and was gorgeous, very cool art and the colors were just mint. Not to dump SP but they fell short in razzle dazzle and they bought premade props? They sounded great still looked good the colors and whole shabang just didn’t do it for me. I feel Aqua got robbed. I just don’t see how sp could be number one and aqua 8. Similar but Aquas theme was better. Ugh I’m ranting. I’m just seeing the results so I’m a lil shocked lol

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        1. Sj says:

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          SP wasn’t the only one to order their glass from overseas. The stringband thay had the junkyard theme also got theirs from overseas. I don’t think that is an issue so much as back in the day when they used ostrich feathers, you really couldn’t get them in the states.

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        2. Alfie says:

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          As a member of South Philly I can assure you every one of our props were made by our members. As for our costumes only 10 were purchased from overseas (stained glass suits) because no local costumer could make what we were looking for. Another band (I will not name) also purchased suits from the same overseas company, I know that for a fact because we placed the order together. Our other 57 were made by a local costume company.

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        3. Alby says:

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          I had no dog in the fight, but I thought South Philly was head and shoulders above the competition.

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    3. Lynne Obrien says:

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      Unbelievable we have reason!

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    4. AL Myers says:

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      Thank you. You are so right it is an insult to these two bands and to us fans of the string bands.

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    5. Jack Hall says:

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      Maureen, many times it is because of running over allotted time, not enough participating members or perhaps unauthorized instrument or ignoring other rules like similar themes or by-laws. A reason should have been given, I agree with you. I personally dislike all the props, glitz stuff and over emphasis of saxophones. What happen to string bands????

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      1. Alby says:

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        Had the same thought about the saxophones. Some bands, you could count the banjos on one hand.

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  2. Tina says:

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    Not right. Both bands were good. Duffy’s costumes were amazing. Something is not fair about this

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  3. Ann Stimmler says:

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    The two bands were told WAY in advance that their themes were too close to other bands that had submitted the same theme PRIOR to their submission. They were told to change them and they refused. Consequences

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    1. Nicole Duckery says:

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      Thank you for the disqualification update.

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    2. Lynn says:

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      Like Aqua and South Philly.? One is #1 and the other 8. Yea that’s seems a bit like the pot meeting kettle if that’s the reason why the other two were disqualified. Aquas theme spellbound and Castlevania South Philly pretty similar if you ask me. And Aquas was way better beautiful art and colors band was fantastic. South Philly ordered their stuff from overseas. Lol like what

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    3. John Robert Debus jr says:

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      what about SP and Auqa?

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    4. Debby S says:

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      At Ann please most of the string bands has SIMILAR THEMES. If that is the case most all should have been DQ’d. The “theme” reason is bogus. The Mummers should share the truth

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  4. Casey says:

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    I have seen them come down when they were close in past. Maybe music changes and no problem. Alot of money was wasted for those to clubs. Is woke affecting Mummers now.

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  5. Janice says:

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    I don’t understand how there can be disqualified bands and a tie for first. Seems like the parade is getting to politicized now too. Sad.

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  6. Pete B says:

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    Yea , it’s a shame where two bands were close in themes however I believe the pro dancers were the real reason as to why they were disqualified.Being a long time mummer family things are really not what they used to be as noted !
    Happy New Year to all !

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    1. Lynn says:

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      Like ordering your props from overseas instead of actually making your own creations? South Philly told the announcers and everything . You could tell them spent money not time and creativity. Aquas theme was similar with SP and 100% better in every way design colors art. Sp paled in comparison. Aquas colors were gorgeous and everything screamed fun. Talent was shining. Sp energy was like just going through the motions like smiling celebrities who are being polite when they really want to just go in to the party.

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    2. Rich says:

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      The plumes came from South AfricaIf you’re referring to Durning, they were not pro dancers but members of the band. I know one of them personally.

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    3. John says:

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      Who used professional dancers?

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    4. John says:

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      Who used professional dancers??

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  7. Janice says:

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    Aqua was definitely placed way too low in the judging. They should have been where Quaker was. I am surprised Quaker ranked where they did. Kind of confused by the fruit and Mask theme.

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  8. Rich says:

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    The parade is a joke anymore a tie for first place and two disqualifications. In the past bands marched to the judging line playing music then started their routine, now setting up props holds up the parade. As far as the music goes it’s like Name That Tune you get a few bars of a song, or two songs being played at the same time and the solos are over the top. Let’s get back to when the parade was judged by quality music where you knew what song was playing and had a flow and went with the theme. As far as the drill it had class back then now if it wasn’t for the instruments, you would think you were watching a Fancy Brigade. Let’s get back to being judged on Music 40 Pts, Costume 40 Pts and Drill 20 Pts and limited props. Take a look back view some routines back in the 70’s and 80’s where a String Band had class and style and didn’t need outrageous props a perfect example of this is one of the top themes ever Farlinger with The Jokers Are Wild.

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    1. Jenny says:

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      I totally agree…… too many props, the people in the stands cannot see the performance…….. enjoyed the string bands when there was just a good theme and marching routine and you could really hear the music

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      1. Jeannine Wenner says:

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        yes, that’s what I thought about the props blocking. I’ve sat many a year in the side stands and had an incredible view. And the band playing is lost!! I used to love the sequins on the street too

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    2. Mummermike says:

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      I agree Rich, I’m a 44 year string band veteran and would love to go back to the old way of performing.

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    3. Marilyn says:

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      Agree, you can’t even tell what song they are playing it’s all saxophone modulations. We are long time string band lovers and we have lost interest.

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    4. Rich N says:

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      I agree completely! I was part of that theme and had a blast.

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    5. Sharon M says:

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      Yes you are 100% correct! I went back and watched that one after reading your comment. That was a great one! Thanks for that! I was really young that year but that is what I miss!

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    6. Wendy says:

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      Couldn’t agree more!

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    7. AL Myers says:

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      Hey Rich, I could not have said it better!

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    8. Debby S says:

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      Agree Rich! 150%. And can we get folks who REALLY KNOW MUMMERY & PHILLY to be commentators AND judges!! I’m available! How about you Rich? We can do main coverage together. Seems we are WELL IN THE KNOW of TRUE Mummery! Happy New Years folks may the 2026 parade be what it is meant to be!!

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    9. Debbie says:

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      Amen to that! I thought the same they used to play more in front of the judges and seating area. I enjoy the music not these show routines that was reserved for the indoor show they had.

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  9. William Boettger says:

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    Maybe this was not an issue for TV viewers with better eyesight than mine, but it was mostly the one long camera shot and not enough close-ups of those amazing little details that the string bands put in. I had to hear from the announcers about this or that. Speaking of whom, I was not impressed with those two main people who couldn’t remember how many bands were left or who was performing next and who lacked much insight. Every parade that I see without Steve Highsmith and Judge Jake Hart makes me miss them more. I also noticed that the top half finishing bands all performed in the bottom half of the order except for Polish American. Do the judges only go by their recent memories? Don’t they take notes or look at video? Personally I thought Ferko deserved better than Nine.

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    1. Ex-mummer says:

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      The judges judge on their “expertise”. They have multiple judges and score each band individually and hand in the sheets. Only the 1st 5 bands marching get rescored as the judges have to get comparison to what they should be scoring. There is no going back and taking notes for the bands and no they don’t look at video.
      Its been a while since I marched but back then each judge records his comments on tape and then they are turned over to the club to review on everything that they are looking and judging on.

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    2. Debby S says:

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      I agree William! My friends kept telling me, that was the last band!! I said no way we have 5 left!! Sad commentators. It wasn’t just ONE bad camera it was ALL of them. And I am usually good at Name that Tune but that isn’t wasn’t Mummers Stringbands are about!! Bring back the real deal, with REAL PHILLY Commentators. I am going to keep saying it— I AM AVAILABLE!! 60 yrs proud Philadelphian & 59 yrs of Mummery!! Do better in 2026

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  10. Cass says:

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    I thought the broadcasting was absolutely shameful. I preferred the wideshot only because everytime they zoomed in it was on nothing of importance, at a bad angle, and missed a big reveal, the timing was just terrible. No one in the booth had anything to say that added to the parade, and instead was frustrating to hear them mis pronounce half the band names and titles. I will always watch for the hard work of everyone in the parade but gosh was it frustrating inching into infuriating territory.

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    1. Mike says:

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      Not sure how old you are but when I was a kid (1970s) the parade was on the “mainstream” stations. I believe 6ABC actually preempted bowl games to show the whole parade, which included the brigades (it went into the early evening.) Then it slipped to 17, then Cable only. Now they’re on an Allentown station that nobody in Philadelphia watches the other 364 days/year and it’s probably produced on a shoestring budget. Why? No ratings = no sponsors = cheaper productions on obscure stations.

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  11. Mark A Dwyer says:

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    Thought polish American got screwed! And dump Larry Mendte. He didn’t know who #20 on the Phillies was and called Dave Schultz Dave Smith from the Broad Street Bullies Holy Rollers Comics.

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  12. Brian Coyle says:

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    How could you possibly have a tie? Who is judging this parade? As far as the coverage for the parade it was absolutely amateurish. It was as if Moe, Larry and Curly were announcing the parade. Even the camera shots we’re bad. The commentators need to be knowledgeable of Mummer history. The Parade coverage was a joke all the way through.

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    1. Sharon M says:

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      Agreed! Picture quality was soo bad, the camera angles did the parade no justice. Coverage of the parade has really went down hill! It’s so sad.

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  13. Joe Richardson says:

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    Like so many other things today…politics and money rule over everything else…that was very clear to me this year…lets just hope they don’t ruin it completely…but don’t listen to me, I am just a crotchety old guy who loves the string band music for the unique sound…where else in the world can you experience a large group of various Saxophones played in unison with the musicians stepping in complex choreography while playing!? Wow!

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  14. Russ says:

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    I’ve been in the parade for over50 years. This year’s parade for the band’s and brigades was not impressive at all. In the past 5 years or so falls to the bottom of the past 5. Nobody stepped there game UP. To many bands looked alike. I can understand the tie for 1st. But neither of those bands were better this year than the past 5 years. I worked for the costumer who makes the costumes for the top 5 bands so I can see the decline in the costumes. And to disqualify 2 bands that are up and coming into the competition for whatever reason is just wrong. They put time and work in just as much as the top band’s. It’s petty and bullshit.

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  15. Arlene says:

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    All I can say is that I was totally disappointed and totally bored. It was not like the string bands of the past.

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  16. Ed P says:

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    I am a musician and played with a string band for ten years, from the mid-1970s to 1985. Perhaps the bands have evolved to give the judges more of what they want in music. Like many of you on this thread, I am completely underwhelmed with the music. What I am hearing is a continuous riff with one transition to the next and maybe you can find a few bars of music from a song. I know the complexity of the music & respect the musicians playing the cold while performing but more is less to me. In 2025, Uptown delivered some songs, but the big power bands I always loved (Fralinger, Quaker City, S Philly & Avalon) spun me into musical boredom.

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    1. Mike says:

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      Watch competitive drum corps and marching band shows and you’ll see a lot of similarities. Not coincidentally, the judges are often the same as the judges/educators in the competitive HS programs. I think that’s always been the case but you can draw parallels between the music stylings over the last 20+ years, for better or worse.

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      1. Maureen says:

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        Mike, as a Philly girl and drum corps/winter guard alum and fan, I was reading each comment and thinking the same!

        But, as you know from drum corps, we are wrong, just old cranks complaining.

        Thank you!!!!!

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  17. Ratso says:

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    South Phila was clearly the best in every way. I don’t know about where any of the bands bought their supplies, and I don’t care. Quaker City ties for 1st? Seriously. By now haven’t we realized that there is too much influence in judging as QC is always on top irrespective of their sometime subpar performances. Frankly I thought Frailenger was 2nd ahead of QC. Like to see more music, less props and better march. Let’s get back to the old Mummers. Even the members think 2nd Street is real Mummers.

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    1. Ronzo says:

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      The reason appears to be that both SP and Frailinger scored lower than normal as most bands except for QC. I did not see the breakdown yet but, the judges were very conservative this year.

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  18. Debby Speaker says:

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    A TIE for 1st place?! Impossible. And DQs without any explanation?! I’ve been an AVID Mummer for over 55 years, this year was very SAD. The announcers knew little to nothing about Mummery let alone Philly! Most all the themes were similar(with “rumor” saying the DQs were due to “similar themes!). The musicality was nothing compared to what it once was. You couldn’t even discern most & it certainly did not follow theme all the way through. The cameras for TV shots were awful. And the Fancy Brigades were NOT on 466!! Shame on the judges, announcers etc. sad to see this happening. Start working on true Philly Mummer pride for next years announcing. I am available!

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  19. Barry Richard Sacks says:

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    I live in Huntington Beach, California for 50 years. Born and raised at 2nd and McKean in South Philadelphia. I graduated from South Philadelphia High. But I hate snow and cold weather. I love the Mummers, especially the string bands. I really do not like the “show” crap of so many people dancing around. I used to go to the Mummers Parade and I miss many things about Philly (cheese steaks, soft pretzels hoagies), but the String Bands presentations now stink. With all of the props and dancers, it stinks. The band is the band. I miss the old way of string band presentation. The type and style of music is undiscernible. Why club themes about Coney Island? New York crap. We are Philly and there are a million Philly themes. I tuned into WFMZ and saw the parade “live”- first time. But I do not like the Hollywood presentations now. The last parade I attended was 1999. I miss a lot about Philly, but newer stuff does not have to stink. Why is everything new so different. I am glad we have women and blacks now in the parade, but go back to the old way— it was better.

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  20. John says:

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    If people are insinuating Durning used professional dancers in just here to say they’re all teenagers and go to school! Professionals get paid! So if that’s who you’re saying used professional dancers you couldn’t be more wrong! And it’s sad yall were concerned about teenaged girls!

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  21. Sue says:

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    I remember the first year after the exit of Steve Highsmith & Co. and those two commentators who talked and talked and talked, right over the performances, until there were so many negative comments on social media that it appeared someone told them to stop!!! At least they have someone involved with the Wenches, Comics, and String Bands there in the booth. But Steve Highsmith is still greatly missed!!! The Mummers trivia was so interesting. And was it the Custer’s Last Stand award?

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  22. Mark Miller says:

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    I believe the SB that shod have won was Aqua. Their program was by far the best. Costume and coreography was close to perfect and true to Mummers past. Music choice was well executed.

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