Uptown String Band

Uptown String Band Philadelphia Mummers Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable corporation promoting the cultural, historic, and musical heritage of the Philadelphia Mummers Parade that officially began in 1901, many years before Mardi Gras. Uptown is one of 14 "Philadelphia String Bands" that perform in the annual parade on New Year's day. The band also does parades, concerts, strolls, appearances at parties and picnics, etc. all year long to raise money for the expensive costumes and props. All of Uptown's members and board members are volunteers. The Philadelphia Mummers String Bands are famous for their fancy sequined costumes built around each year's theme and also for a unique blend of instruments featuring banjos and many saxophones along with accordions, string bass, bells, percussion, and violins.