Mummers parade a challenge for designer

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Costume designer Bob Finnigan has won 42 first prizes in 47 years at Philadelphia's annual Mummers parade, but he says the gig is still a challenge for him.

"The judges are 60 to 100 feet away," Finnigan told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "They have to be able to focus, zero in ... be able to see all the different groups performing against each other.

Finnigan said judges at the annual New Year's Day parade "have to grasp in the first 30 seconds what they're looking at."

Finnigan has created costumes for eight of the parade's fancy brigades and three string bands, this year, the newspaper said.