The Mummers Parade is underway, with Greater Kensington String Band offering a preview of its performance for fans this morning in the parking lot of St. Matthew Parish.
Greater Kensington’s theme is Sky High. The band, based at 7235 Edmund St. (at Cottman Avenue), is captained by Shawn Blubaugh.
The Rev. Patrick Welsh, the church pastor, offered a prayer and a blessing for the band before it got back on its buses to make its way to Center City.
The parade starts at 17th and Market streets before turning at City Hall, then south along Broad Street to Washington Avenue.
The parade consists of the String Bands, Wenches, Comics, Fancies and Fancy Brigades.
Here is the marching order:
String Bands: Durning, Jersey, Duffy, Hegeman, Polish American, Greater Kensington, Aqua, Ferko, Uptown, Fralinger, Quaker City, South Philadelphia (defending champion), Avalon and Woodland.
Fancy Brigades (judged at the Pennsylvania Convention Center): Clevemore, Spartans, Golden Crown, South Philly Vikings (defending champion), Bill McIntyre’s Shooting Stars, Jokers, Saturnalian, Downtowners, Avenuers and Satin Slipper.
Wenches: Riverfront, Saints, Cara Liom, Oregon, Americans (defending champion), MGK, O’Malley, Pirates, Bryson and Froggy Carr.
The parade is being broadcast on MeTV2 and 69-WFMZ-TV until 5 p.m., with hosts Dawn Stensland and Larry Mendte. ••
