Mummers at the Airport?

On a recent holiday trip to Cape Town, South Africa, I happened upon a peculiar, yet familiar sight on New Year’s Day: men dressed in bedazzled shiny materials highly inappropriate for everyday wear. You can imagine my surprise when I first saw the parade. “Who the heck flew Fralingers to South Africa?”

Every New Year’s Day, dozens of troupes march near the waterfront with instruments and groupies in tow. I sat on my friend’s balcony above the parade and watched as bus after bus dropped off groups of men in sequined vests. After a couple glasses of pinotage, I mustered the courage to head downstairs and get a firsthand look at the Mummers’ cousins, the Kaapse Klopse.

During college, I spent eight months in Cape Town and never once heard of the Klopse. It turns out that this cultural event barely registers a blip on the radar in Cape Town, even though—much like the Mummers Parade—the Kaapse Klopse features dancing and music, gathers crowds from all walks of life, and takes hours to view. I would have expected to see some promotion for the high season tourists.

Flying into Philadelphia International Airport a few days later, I caught a glimpse of the staid Independence Mall. I imagined what tourists might think of our city if a Mummers string band welcomed them at the airport.

The Economy League of Greater Philadelphia’s newest project—World Class Greater Philadelphia—will examine the attributes of world class regions, such as transportation, education, arts and culture, and self-image. While our researchers crunch the numbers, I don’t need empirical data to conclude that Philadelphia’s sense of self is need of repair for the city to take its rightful seat next to New York, London, and Hong Kong.

Along with a number of regional organizations, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is aware of this challenge in building a case for “world classhood.” A number of its initiatives highlight the awesomeness that is Philadelphia. The enigmatic uwishunu blog/website/directory plays up the hip side of our city. “Philly’s More Fun When You Sleep Over” lures day-tripping tourists into our hotels and B&Bs and generates $185 in direct and indirect tourist spending for every $1 spent on the campaign. And the groundbreaking “Get Your History Straight. And Your Nightlife Gay” initiative put Philly on the map for gay and lesbian tourists.

At the same time, Philadelphians need to retool their perceptions of what our city and region offer the world. Even with some of the greatest attractions on this planet, Philadelphia won’t be a world class city until Philadelphians know in their heart of hearts that they live in a world class city. There’s no easy solution, apart perhaps from massive group therapy. And a re-imagined form of group therapy might be the only solution. Mayor Nutter’s April 5 citywide clean up effort is not only a practical remedy for debris-laden streets, but also a way to instill some warm civic pride in a chilly spring. Center City Restaurant Week’s idea of a “food tourist” in our own city could be used for our museums, arts venues, and historical sites. Business and civic organizations, like the Center City Proprietors Association, might consider focusing some of their marketing dollars on local tourism—a “Philly for Philadelphians” campaign.

When I first moved to Greater Philadelphia, I was astounded by the spectacle and tradition of the Mummers. I was even more astounded by the fact I had never heard of the Mummers. Like the Klopse in Cape Town, the Mummers are a cultural gem. If it really is a “new day” in Philadelphia, I hope that in the coming years the Philadelphia region’s status as world class—with the area’s exceptional events and attractions—will become solidly entrenched in the minds of not only Hungarian tourists but also those of my South Philly neighbors.