Jason Kelce's latest adventure: a Mummer's gig this weekend
The Eagles center will play the saxophone as Avalon marches on Sunday in Manayunk.
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Jason Kelce will further immerse himself into Philadelphia culture on Sunday.
He's marching in a Mummers Parade.
Sunday's annual Mardi Gras Parade along Main Street in Manayunk features 16 string bands and Kelce will be joining Avalon, the group that gave him the suit he famously wore at the Eagles' Super Bowl parade on Feb. 8.
"He was so touched when we gave him a suit that he wanted to join (the club). He filled out an application and all," said Bobby Coyle, the Avalon member who helped provide the suit. "He's a regular dues-paying member."
Annual dues are $500 and Kelce will play baritone saxophone as Avalon reprises its New Year's theme "Figments of our Fabrication." The group will be in its 2018 costumes while Kelce will wear the suit Avalon provided him from the 2008 parade. They simply don't have a suit from this year to fit his 6-3, 295-pound frame.
[The story behind how Jason Kelce got that Mummer's suit]
Kelce sat in and played the sax as his high school visited Central High on Thursday, so he's not a rube. Coyle sent him the music he will need for Sunday last week.
Each band on Sunday will make 4-5 stops along Main Street starting at 1 p.m. Weather permitting. The intersections for the stops are Shurs Lane and Lock, Rector, Cotton, Levering and Conarroe streets. The rain date is Sunday, March 4.
Avalon will step off 13th of the 16 string bands. Coyle is just hoping that Kelce enjoys the experience as much as fans will enjoy seeing him.
"We just want him to be treated like (any other) band member," Coyle said. "Want to take a picture with him? Fine. But don't bring things for him to sign. He's taking this very seriously."