by KYW's John McDevitt

The Mummers' annual strut up Broad Street finally got underway at noon after rain forced parade director Leo Dignam to delay the New Year's festivities three hours.

"After an extensive meeting with all the divisions of the Mummers organization, we decided to delay the parade for three hours.  It basically pushes everything back three hours.  So the Comics will start from Broad and Washington at 12, the Fancies will start from Broad and Snyder at 1, and the String Bands will start from Broad and Oregon at 1:30."

They might still have to deal with high winds.  AccuWeather says to expect afternoon gusts of up to 35 miles an hour.

Dignam says the late start time does alter one part of the parade:

"The only difference for the Fancy Brigades is they will not be marching from Broad and Oregon [their scheduled second march outdoors] now because of the late time.  They'll go right to the Convention Center."

Tickets are still available for that Fancy Brigade finale, inside the Convention Center at noon and 5pm.

Thousands of Mummers will converge on South Philadelphia to prepare for the parade kickoff, and even more New Year's revelers are expected to line Broad Street for this tradition that's truly uniquely Philly.

For more information, go to the Mummers web site.