Mummers strutting in Philly as rain holds off

PHILADELPHIA — Costumed Mummers are strutting up Broad Street as the weather has held out for Philadelphia’s annual New Year’s Day tradition.

The heavily festooned bands of comics, string bands and other performers announced early Friday that the annual parade would go on.

Early skits featured surfers, astronauts and a polar bear with penguins.

The Mummers and the city waited until the last minute to give the parade the go-ahead, worried about the threat of rain. But they began their strut around 10 a.m. with sun in the sky.

Money woes had also threatened the Mardi Gras-like festivities as the city cut back its financial contributions.

Earlier this week, the Mummers announced they had agreed to pay $150,000 for parade-related costs.