Mummers-Style Parade: A New Tradition in St. Augustine

Ponce and the Mummers: A Parade of Possibility in Saint Augustine 

Posted by Abraxi Taxi • March 6, 2017 

Spring is festival season in Saint Augustine, and while our city is steeped in Spanish heritage, it might be time to add a bit of Philadelphia flair. I am talking feathers, banjos, strutting down San Marco Avenue — that is right, a Mummers-style parade to honor Juan Ponce de León. 

You have just flown in on a seasonal Frontier flight from Philadelphia (finally escaping the slush and gray skies), and suddenly everything in Saint Augustine is “Ponce this” and “Ponce that.” So… who was this guy? 

Who Was Juan Ponce de León? 

Ponce de León was many things: a Spanish explorer, governor of Puerto Rico, and yes, the guy who “discovered” Florida (on Palm Sunday, no less). He traveled with Columbus on his second voyage and was known for his ambition, ruthlessness, and political drama with the Columbus family. 

He is also credited with discovering the Gulf Stream, which later helped ships return faster to Europe — something even Benjamin Franklin (Philadelphia’s favorite son) took note of and scientifically mapped. 

Saint Augustine has a life-size statue of Ponce in our Plaza de la Constitución — an exact replica of the one in Old San Juan. Love him or hate him, he is a massive part of our city’s history. 

Learn more about Ponce at Biography.com 
Read the History Channel’s summary 

What Do the Mummers Have to Do With This? 

In Philadelphia, every New Year’s Day, thousands gather for one of the wildest, most colorful parades in America: The Mummers Parade. Think of it as part Mardi Gras, part drag show, part brass band showdown, all performed by locals in elaborately sequined costumes with banjos strapped to their chests. 

It is unique. It is eccentric. It is utterly Philly. 

So, here is my idea: why not bring that same spirit down to Florida for a Ponce de León Spring Festival? 

• Let the Mummers march down San Marco Avenue 

• Dress up like 16th-century conquistadors crossed with showgirls 

• Add in some cannons firing from the Castillo de San Marcos 

• And finish it all with music, food, and dancing at Francis Field 

It would be the most uniquely Florida–meets–Philly party imaginable. 

What are the Mummers? Watch a highlight video 
Check out the Mummers Museum in South Philly 

Why Ponce? Why Now? 

Let us be real: like many explorers of his time, Ponce’s legacy is complicated. Yes, he was brave. Yes, he explored uncharted territories. But the Spanish conquest brought slavery, disease, and devastation to native populations. Even Christopher Columbus ended his days in chains for his brutality. 

But here is the thing: acknowledging history does not mean erasing it. It means confronting it, commemorating it properly, and telling a fuller story — one that is honest about Ponce’s ambition, Spain’s colonization, and how Saint Augustine came to be. 

Connections to Philadelphia 

This idea is not as far-fetched as it seems. Consider: 

• Seasonal flights connect Philly and Saint Augustine 

• Ponce and Ben Franklin are linked through the discovery and study of the Gulf Stream 

• And Pat Croce, former 76ers owner turned pirate museum curator, ties the two cities even further. His St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is one of the coolest attractions in town. 

So, Let Us Make It Happen 

Imagine this: 

• The parade starts at the Fountain of Youth 

• Marches past the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum 

• Winds through the city 

• And finishes with music and awards at Francis Field 

Let us pick the first Saturday in May — perfect weather, no conflict with Bill Murray’s Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament, and far enough from Easter to give people time to plan. 

We will need: 

• City Council support 

• Relaxed open container rules (temporarily, please!) 

• Designated taxi zones and shuttle systems 

• And maybe even the King and Queen of Spain? 

Too much? Maybe. But if we could organize Mumford & Sons, a 450th birthday party, and all of Drake’s pirate raids, we can pull this off. 

The Ponce de León Southern Mummers Festival 

Let us give this city a new tradition. One that mixes Spanish history, Philly-style flair, and all the weirdness that makes Saint Augustine so unique. 

Feathers, cannons, costumes, and cab rides. 
Marching bands and Matanzas Inlet sunrises. 
And yes — Abraxi Taxi will get you there. 

Do not drink and drive. Strut, sip, and call a cab.