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Mummer's Parade
With its origins in the 1800s, the Philadelphia Mummer's Parade is the traditional celebration of the New Year and one of the country's oldest folk customs. Mummery in America is as unique to Philadelphia as Mardi Gras is to New Orleans, and various groups of mummers (masked or costumed merrymakers) compete for originality, themes and costumes in a colorful extravaganza of feathers, sequins, elaborate floats, music and dance. The parade consists of three divisions, the Comics, who are an unstructured division of dancing clowns and satirical performers; the outrageously dressed Fancy Costume Brigade; and the String Bands with marching musicians and precision drills.
Venue: Broad Street
Date: 1 January, annually
Time: 9am
Website: www.mummers.com

Gettysburg Reenactment
The Battle of Gettysburg was the most significant battle of the American Civil War. Over three days in early July, the blood of almost 50,000 soldiers was split on the fields outside the town of Gettysburg, in the battle that would become the turning point of the civil war. Today, a re-enactment of the battle takes place as close to the original days (1-3 July) as possible featuring tens of thousands of participants and spectators to educate and make aware of the early violent past of this powerful nation. The event is hugely popular and receives visitors from all across the United States. There are plenty of food and merchandise stalls too.
Venue: Gettysburg
Date: 3 - 5 July 2009
Time: 8.30am
Website: www.gettysburgreenactment.com

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