Philly Elmo has been at previous Mummers celebrations, but only at the parades and parties on 2nd Street – or “Two Street,” as it’s known. This year was the first time they performed in front of City Hall, before cameras that broadcast the parade to 95 countries around the world.
“Since 2012, we’ve just been like popping up to the Mummers and trying to get in where we fit in … but to actually be involved and being welcome to the club is just truly amazing and I’m so grateful,” said Tony Royster, PME’s founder.
The director of Danza Tonantzin, Pamela Plata, said that she was happy and proud to see her dancers performing, but also emotional because of the extraordinary pressures that Mexican communities across America have faced. In April, Philly’s 2025 Carnaval de Puebla was canceled over concerns that ICE operations would impact the event, which deprived the dance group of its regular opportunity to perform in front of tens of thousands of people.
“It’s very important for us to send a message to our community that there is inclusion, we are part of this big celebration,” said Plata’s interpreter and Carnaval de Puebla committee member Olga Renteria.
“We are thrilled to have them and them as well. Being South Philly-based, it’s a partnership that just seems extremely natural,” said Jesa Stiglich, Golden Sunrise’s first-ever female president.
“We’re also very proud to be a club that is known for diversity, inclusion and being welcoming,” she added. “Being a place where people are comfortable walking up and saying, ‘Hey, can we join?’ And we say, ‘Absolutely.’ The Mummers Parade as a whole is becoming more and more inclusive, and we are glad to be able to be on the forefront of that.”
