Mummers music fest
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Violin player Linsey Stewart, left, performs Feb. 5 with the Suncoast Mummers String Band at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Strutter Captain and Suncoast Mummer String Band Vice-President Rita Mooney sashays to the tempo of the Suncoast Mummers String Band Feb. 5 at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Suncoast Mummers String Band Treasurer Betty Butler, right, touches up her lipstick before the strutter's performance at the Cultural Center Theater Feb. 5.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Suncoast Mummers String Band Musical Director John Schweizer directs his bandmembers in rousing renditions of popular songs Feb. 5 at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Strutter Joyce Wiggans, left, tucks her hair inside her gold jester's headpiece while getting ready for a performance of the Suncoast Mummers String Band Feb. 5 at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Strutter Barbara Rajkowski is reflected in a shiny mirror attached to to a fellow strutter's costume Feb. 5 at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Helper Helen Buckner, left, watches Bernice Butt help Mummer Strutter Joyce Derhammer into her costume Feb. 5 at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Pink jester Carolyn Wenzel and green jester Pat LoScalzo make sure everything is in place while waiting for the cue for their strutters' performance Feb. 5 at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Suncoast Mummers String Band accordion player Don Christo, right, plays a variety of upbeat music along with his fellow musicians Feb. 5 at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Strutter Juanita Mackalusa, right, parades to the sounds of the Suncoast Mummer String Band Feb. 5 at the Cultural Center Theater in Port Charlotte.
HERALD PHOTO BY SARAH COWARD
Trudy Clark moves her hands in time to the music of the Suncoast Mummers String Band performance at the Cultural Center Theater Feb. 5.
By SARAH COWARD
Photojournalist
The Suncoast Mummers String Band brought The Mummers movement began when Swedish Pennsylvania settlers brought with them the
vibrant music and fun to the Cultural Center of
Charlotte County Theater in Port Charlotte Feb. 5.
custom of visiting neighbors while wearing costumes and celebrating on Dec. 26, which was eventually extended to Jan. 1, with colorful, festive attire and band music welcoming in the new year.
