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With Newest New Year's Extravaganzas, Mummers' Fancy Brigades Don't Disappoint

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Today, for the 18th year, the Mummers' Fancy Brigade Association brought the most colorful, bold acts of the annual Mummers' Parade inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Eleven groups took the stage for 4½ minutes each, generating lots of excitement.

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(The Golden Crown Fancy Brigade performs "A Prince's Tale" at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Photo by Cherri Gregg)

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Belinda, who had front-row seats after watching a Mummers group rehearse outside her South Philadelphia home every Sunday for weeks, was delighted to be seeing the finished production.

(Gregg:)   "What about the show draws you in?"

(Belinda:)  "Everything -- the big, bright colors, the lights, everything about it is just amazing."

And the groups didn't disappoint, with themes that included "Day of the Avatar: Master of the Elements" (top photo) and "The Pharoah's Revenge."

There were 20-foot tall floats, confetti, huge headpieces, and much more.

What did other attendees think?

"It's the most fun place to be for New Year's, bar anywhere," said one man.

And the prize for tall the hard work: bragging rights for the rest of the year.

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