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With ‘extreme cold’ expected Saturday, one Mummers band has already pulled out of the String Band Spectacular

One month after high winds postponed Mummers string bands from playing during the New Year's Day parade, the Avalon String Band says it's too cold to play a make-up show at Lincoln Financial Field.

Jim Haughton, a dancer with the Avalon String Band, puts on his “game face” before performing in the Mummers Parade Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. The String Band competition was suspended because of high winds that destroyed props and caused injuries during morning setup. The bands still marched and played their music, but did not carry props, and were not scheduled to be judged until the rescheduled event on Saturday.
Jim Haughton, a dancer with the Avalon String Band, puts on his “game face” before performing in the Mummers Parade Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. The String Band competition was suspended because of high winds that destroyed props and caused injuries during morning setup. The bands still marched and played their music, but did not carry props, and were not scheduled to be judged until the rescheduled event on Saturday.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
    by Brett Sholtis
    Updated 
    Published 

A month after dangerous winds led Mummers string bands to cancel their New Year’s Day Parade competition, one string band says it’ll be too cold to play a makeup show Saturday.

“With extreme cold predicted for this weekend, our top priority is the health and safety of our members, and the forecasted conditions may put them at risk,” the Avalon String Band said on Facebook.

The band was set to join other groups at the 2026 String Band Spectacular at Lincoln Financial Field Saturday afternoon.

The Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association scheduled the event after the string bands canceled their New Year’s Day performances this year, when high winds destroyed props and sent five people to the hospital.

Saturday a coastal “bomb cyclone” is expected to douse New Jersey and Delaware with snowfall, though forecasting models say Philadelphia won’t get hit. However, stinging winds and Arctic air will push temperatures down to zero Saturday morning, with windchills dipping as low as 10 degrees below 0.

It’s unclear whether other bands will follow the Avalon String Band’s lead. A total of 14 bands make up the Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association, according to its website.

» READ MORE: Gift Share How the Eagles and other Philly pro sports teams stepped up after weather halted the Mummers Parade

Twelve organizations are set to perform Saturday, said Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association President Sam Regalbuto Friday afternoon. He said workers are getting the stages and props ready.

“Everyone’s on board,” Regalbuto said. “Everyone’s here. We’re good to go.”

The event will begin a 2 p.m. Saturday with the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus singing the national anthem. The event will be broadcast on WDPN-TV (MeTV2) at 8 p.m. and will be streamed on WFMZ.