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Mummers March In Manayunk To Celebrate Mardi Gras

By Mike Dougherty

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Hundreds of people bundled up Saturday morning to watch the Mummers strut on Main Street for Mardi Gras in Manayunk.

The sunny side of Main Street was packed with spectators, like Kim Cadwell who was there with her family.

"This is just fantastic," she said. "Bringing the kids out, it was just a really good time. And I think it's a great tradition to start, especially here. Keep it coming back to Manayunk."

A group of students from St. Joe's who spoke with KYW Newsradio were snapping selfies with the string band members:

"It's sweet. It's so fun. Everyone is so alive. We love Mardi Gras. Everyone is so hyped up about this."

manayunk mummers
Pete Broomall with the Broomall String Band performs on Main Street in Manayunk. (Credit: Mike Dougherty)

Yes, hyped up for sure. Even the band members enjoyed the informal setting and the chance to perform without a judge's stand anywhere in sight. Pete Broomall (pictured above) with the Broomall String Band says he loved interacting with the fans:

"Bring the crowd in to our music and fun and dance, and have a group of people all along the parade route really appreciate what we're doing."

In all, 17 string bands played for the large crowd on Main Street, and many of them, like Pete, brought their instruments to bars in the area to keep the party alive.

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