Mummers parade celebration in April?

PHILADELPHIA - The Mummers' glittering march on Broad Street on New Years Day is one of the city's oldest traditions.

But the day-long parade doesn't exactly end on Jan. 1 when the last club makes its pass through judging area at Philadelphia City Hall.

Months later, hundreds in the South Philly society of performers pay tribute to the parade's victors, the first-prize fancy brigade and string band clubs.

Serenades — the fancy brigade celebration in January and string bands in the Spring — began in the late 1990s, according to Philadelphia String Band Association President Tom Loomis.

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Mummers clubs visit the winning group's clubhouse, perform a song and a dance, and club captains exchange bottles of spirits.

It's one of the newest traditions in an organization that's endured for more than a century. For decades, string bands serenaded the winners at the Show of Shows. When the event ended in 1996, serenading first-prize clubs in South Philly became the new standard. For the first several years, the celebration was held at the Mummers Museum at 2nd and Washington Avenue. About 15 years ago, winning clubs started hosting the serenade at their clubhouses, Loomis explained.

In January, celebrations for Fancy Brigade champion Golden Crown closed Third Street in South Philly for a mini-parade of brigade clubs and string bands marching toward Golden Crown's clubhouse.

Sunday, mummers and families paraded at South Philadelphia String Band's home base at 28th Street and West Passyunk.

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The band, lead by Mullica Hill's Denny Palandro, won its first champion trophy since 1975. To commemorate the victory after more than 40 years, members of the all-male band bought Super Bowl-style rings.

Carly Q. Romalino: (856) 486-2476; cromalino@gannettnj.com