Uptown String Band Prepares For Annual New Year’s Mummer Parade

The Uptown String Band of Hulmeville has been marching since its creation in 1938, and they’ll do so again this year.

The band, now consisting of roughly 60 members, according to Mike Pickul, the publicity director for the band, will march again on Thursday in the annual Philadelphia Mummers Parade. The parade is held on New Year’s Day and is a tradition deeply rooted in the fabric of the region.

Ryan Radcliffe, captain of the band, explained his feelings at the final rehearsal before the parade: “It’s a huge honor to be the captain of the band.”

Radcliffe, 43, has been marching with the band since he was 11. This will be Radcliffe’s sixth year as the captain of the band.

The sentiment of marching with close companions is one that is held throughout the band.

“It’s fun. It’s a great hobby. We have a ball. It’s like a second family,” explained longtime band member John Carroll, who has been marching with Uptown for 37 years.

Pickul, who has been with the band for almost 30 years, explained that the theme of this year’s performance is the idea of outdoors. “In tents, Un bearable, and Axtreme outdoors,” is the title of the performance. During practice, popular pieces of music and culture often associated with the outdoors could be identified.

The band consists of members from all over the immediate area, including graduates from Bensalem, Truman High School and Neshaminy High School, Pickul said.

“It’s an honor, and I wouldn’t want to do it with any other band. It’s a family,” he explained.

Uptown, which practices every Tuesday throughout the year, added Sunday rehearsals to the regiment in September to properly prepare for the New Year’s Day performance, which will be aired on PHL17 starting at 10 a.m. This past week, the band also added Saturday to its rehearsal days.

Although the band’s big performance is on New Year’s Day, the band performs year round and also fund raises to be able to pull off the big New Years Day performance.