Across the Philadelphia region, 2023 was marked by battles in the sports arena, and in the political arena.
We said goodbye to our Super Bowl and World Series hopes until 2024 (fingers crossed), and Philadelphians elected Cherelle Parker as the city’s 100th mayor — the first woman and first Black woman to hold the post.
Our visual journey is bookended with some familiar scenes: The start of a new year with the annual Mummers Parade, and a celebratory close at City Hall.
Here’s a view of 2023 through the lens of WHYY News photographers.
![2023-01-01 j wilson brian creamer philadelphia s broad st mummers A man in full Mummers costume is wearing a Jason Kelce jersey](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-01-01-j-wilson-brian-creamer-philadelphia-s-broad-st-mummers-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 01 01-j wilson-philadelphia-mummers parade angels Children dressed up as angels for the Mummers Parade](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-01-01-j-wilson-philadelphia-mummers-parade-angels-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 01 09-k paynter-philadelphia chinatown-walk to arena site People holding up signs protesting the potential new arena for the Sixers in Chinatown.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-01-09-k-paynter-philadelphia-chinatown-walk-to-arena-site-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 01 17-k paynter general CBSD pride flag ban protest Pro-LGBTQ protest outside of a school.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-01-17-k-paynter-general-CBSD-pride-flag-ban-protest-1700x825.jpeg)
![Hot dog on a green-colored bun](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-01-13-k-paynter-bird-dogs-1024x683.jpeg)
![Eagles fans climb street light poles.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-01-29-c-sharber-philadelphia-city-hall-eagles-fans-climb-poles-1024x683.jpeg)
![2023 02 10-e lee-yannick nezet seguin-philadelphia capa high school-fly eagles fly poses Yannick Nézet-Séguin posing with high school orchestra members](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-02-10-e-lee-yannick-nezet-seguin-philadelphia-capa-high-school-fly-eagles-fly-poses-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 02 12-j wilson-philadelphia-eagles superbowl Eagles fans watching the game on TV](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-02-12-j-wilson-philadelphia-eagles-superbowl-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 02 12- K paynter eagles super bowl lvii loss Dejected Eagles fans watch the Super Bowl at a bar.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-02-12-K-paynter-eagles-super-bowl-lvii-loss-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 02 13-e lee-philadelphia national constitution center-david oh mayoral announcement standing o David Oh surrounded by supporters on stage.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-02-13-e-lee-philadelphia-national-constitution-center-david-oh-mayoral-announcement-standing-o-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 02 14-e lee-arthur angie long-philadelphia love park-wedding Bride and groom posing in front of the LOVE statue at LOVE Park](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-02-14-e-lee-arthur-angie-long-philadelphia-love-park-wedding-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 02 17-e lee-jenna kim-haddon heights nj united methodist church-covid vaccine booster A woman receiving a COVID booster shot.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-02-17-e-lee-jenna-kim-haddon-heights-nj-united-methodist-church-covid-vaccine-booster-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 02 18-e lee-john jarboe-philadelphia riverrink-beards on ice John Jarboe on the ice skating rink](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-02-18-e-lee-john-jarboe-philadelphia-riverrink-beards-on-ice-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 04 07-e lee-philadelphia citizens bank park-phillies opening day Children playing catch outside of the baseball stadium](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-04-07-e-lee-philadelphia-citizens-bank-park-phillies-opening-day-1700x825.jpeg)
![Firefighters putting out flames of a forest fire.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-04-12-k-paynter-unsused-jimmys-waterhole-fire-1024x682.jpeg)
![2023 05 14-c sharber-alexandria ocasio cortez helen gym bernie sanders-philadelphia franklin music hall-rally for mayoral candidate Helen Gym posing at a rally with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Sanders.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-05-14-c-sharber-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-helen-gym-bernie-sanders-philadelphia-franklin-music-hall-rally-for-mayoral-candidate-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 05 16-e lee-philadelphia fairmount st andrew church-primary election day Children playing under the curtain as their parents are in voting booths.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-05-16-e-lee-philadelphia-fairmount-st-andrew-church-primary-election-day-1700x825.jpeg)
![A large piece of industrial machinery](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-05-24-e-lee-camden-nj-holtec-international-basket-1024x683.jpeg)
![2023 06 04-c sharber-philadelphia pride march A large LGBTQ flag is carried through the streets by many people.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-06-04-c-sharber-philadelphia-pride-march-1700x825.jpeg)
![philadelphia-wildfire-smoke-haze-MJM-060723-hires Haze covers Philadelphia, as seen from an aerial view](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/philadelphia-wildfire-smoke-haze-MJM-060723-hires-1700x825.jpg)
![2023 06 28 k paynter POWER People’s energy plan rally Shawmar Pitts speaking at a rally outside of City Hall](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-06-28-k-paynter-POWER-Peoples-energy-plan-rally-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 07 20 k paynter flooding in upper makefield pa vigil People gather at a candlelight vigil](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-07-20-k-paynter-flooding-in-upper-makefield-pa-vigil-1700x825.jpeg)
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![2023 07 24-c sharber-philadelphia lincoln financial field-premier league summer series Newcastle United fans cheering their team at Lincoln F](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-07-24-c-sharber-philadelphia-lincoln-financial-field-premier-league-summer-series-1700x825.jpeg)
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![A woman dressed up as a bug hands a sticker to a child](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-08-05-k-paynter-arthropalozza-churchville-nature-center-bucks-county-sticker-1024x683.jpeg)
![Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels performing in a record store](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-08-13-c-sharber-darryl-mcdaniels-philadelphia-cratediggaz-records-dmc-performanc-1024x683.jpeg)
![The Phanatic joins community members in holding up a sign wishing luck to the Media Little League team](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-08-16-k-paynter-media-pa-little-league-team-pep-rally-1024x683.jpeg)
![London DeShields performing during the play 'Zooman and the sign'](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-08-16-e-lee-london-deshields-philadelphia-malcolm-x-park-theater-in-the-x-zooman-1024x683.jpeg)
![2023 08 29-c sharber-philadelphia kensington avenue-remembrance march A man holds a handmade sign saying 'We Miss You'](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-08-29-c-sharber-philadelphia-kensington-avenue-remembrance-march-1700x825.jpeg)
![2024 09 11-c sharber-philadelphia-feria del barrio panamanian dance Women wearing traditional clothing sing and dance](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-09-11-c-sharber-philadelphia-feria-del-barrio-panamanian-dance-1700x825.jpeg)
![a 12-foot-tall puppet greets school children](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-09-13-e-lee-philadelphia-little-amal-students-1024x683.jpeg)
![Dancers and musicians on the street during a parade](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-09-18-c-sharber-philadelphia-juneteenth-1024x683.jpeg)
![2023 09 20 k paynter JoAnne Epps vigil The Bell Tower at Temple University campus](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-09-20-k-paynter-JoAnne-Epps-vigil-1700x825.jpeg)
![A woman holds a sign saying 'Workers need a raise'](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-09-21-elee-philadelphia-school-district-building-unite-here-rally-1024x683.jpeg)
![2023 09 26 k paynter eddie irizzary justice march Maria Irizarry holds up a sign saying 'Justice for Eddie Irizarry!!!'](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-09-26-k-paynter-eddie-irizzary-justice-march-1700x825.jpeg)
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![2023 10 12 k paynter media coverage protest israeli palestinian conflict Israeli supporters counter a protest in support of Palestine.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-10-12-k-paynter-media-coverage-protest-israeli-palestinian-conflict-1700x825.jpeg)
![Pro-Palestinian rally marches down the street](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-10-12-e-lee-philadelphia-whyy-palestine-march-1024x683.jpeg)
![2023 10 12-e cohen- phillies fans celebrate win- citzens bank park Phillies fans celebrate outside of the stadium](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-10-12-e-cohen-phillies-fans-celebrate-win-citzens-bank-park-1700x825.jpeg)
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![2023 10 17-e lee-emily smith-philadelphia old city painted bride art center-isaiah zagar mosaic Emily Smith at the Magic Gardens](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-10-17-e-lee-emily-smith-philadelphia-old-city-painted-bride-art-center-isaiah-zagar-mosaic-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 10 30-e lee-alvin pettit-philadelphia city hall-harriet tubman statue chosen artist Alvin Pettit poses with his design for the Harriet Tubman statue](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-10-30-e-lee-alvin-pettit-philadelphia-city-hall-harriet-tubman-statue-chosen-artist-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 11 02-e lee-derrick pitts-philadelphia franklin institute-wondrous space heliopause Derrick Pitts displays a tool at the exhibit](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-11-02-e-lee-derrick-pitts-philadelphia-franklin-institute-wondrous-space-heliopause-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 11 07-e lee-philadelphia sheet metal workers hall-first woman mayor Cherelle Parker smiling and celebrating with her supporters](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-11-07-e-lee-philadelphia-sheet-metal-workers-hall-first-woman-mayor-1700x825.jpeg)
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![2023 11 19-c sharber-philadelphia-marathon The 30th AACR Philadelphia Marathon saw thousands of people pack the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023 to pursue the 26.2 mile journey in front of them. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-11-19-c-sharber-philadelphia-marathon-1700x825.jpeg)
![2023 11 30-c sharber-jordin sparks-philadelphia-holiday tree lighting Jordin Sparks performing outside](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-11-30-c-sharber-jordin-sparks-philadelphia-holiday-tree-lighting-1700x825.jpeg)
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