Philly Drag Queens Will Return to 2015 Mummers Parade

Miss Fancy Brigade pauses near Broad and Washington. Photo courtesy of Wang Newton.

For the third year, Philly drag queens will return to the New Year’s Day Mummer’s Parade. The Mummers LGBT Liaison Committee announced today that the Miss Fancy Brigade, led by Philly drag queen Brittany Lynn, will once again kick-off the parade, leading subsequent brigades along the new route. Instead of beginning in South Philly, the parade will kick off at City Hall, with judging taking place at 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. From there, the brigades will march south along Broad Street to end at Washington Avenue.

Since the ladies are first, you’ll want to get to 15th and JFK to watch them strut in front of the judges at 8 a.m. New Year’s morning. Lynn tells me each girl will have 30 seconds to show her stuff in the hopes of earning a prize for the brigade. Unlike year’s past, the ladies won’t compete for the title of Miss Fancy Brigade at the Convention Center at the end of the parade. Lynn blames bad timing, which I’m taking to mean she was too busy trying to get 100 drag queens together for this week’s Night of 100 Queens at the Trocadero.

Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for: Who’s walking?! Along with Miss Lynn and last year’s Miss Fancy Brigade winner Morgan Wells (who will be creating many of the outfits the ladies are wearing this year), seven queens representing different Gayborhood bars will sashay down Broad: Crystal Electra (Tavern On Camac), Karen Von Say (Bob and Barbara’s), Iris Spectre (Venture Inn), Bev (Tabu), Roxy Von Phresh (Knock), Anayah Cruz (Icandy), and Jenna Tall (Miss Philly Pride).

Best of luck to all the gals!