Mummers Parade salvaged in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Mummers Parade, a New Year's Day tradition in Philadelphia for more than a century, will go on this year but on a short schedule to cut costs.

Representatives of the scores of comic, fancy and string band brigades that participate in the parade agreed Wednesday night to accept the city's terms for the event, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. That would cap the city contribution for security, public toilets and other necessities at $300,000.

The Mummers Association would also have to raise some money for the parade. The cost has been estimated at $347,000.

Mayor Michael Nutter originally said that the city would have to cut the prize money usually awarded for the best brigades in each division. But he later said that Philadelphia, dealing with a budget crunch that threatens to close libraries and fire houses, could not bear the entire cost of the parade.

This year, the entire parade is scheduled to last 6 1/2 hours, down from a scheduled eight hours that almost always runs into overtime.

Last year, because of a long rain delay, the parade ended 12 hours after the scheduled start, pushing the cost to close to $750,000. This year, if there is heavy rain, the show will not go on.