Okay, so why are we having an All Species Parade, really? As well as a celebration of species, and our glorious earth, the parade is a celebration of our creativity. Where does your creativity come from? Do you paint? sing? dance? Sculpt? Clown? What part of your creative self can you use to celebrate in this parade? Though spectators will be welcome, we would love as many people as possible to march down the street in this river of life! Can you be a dancing zebra? Are you an owl that plays the flute? Does your inner snake have rhythm? On May 13th we are celebrating spring, celebrating each other, our diversity and creativity. How can we collectively reflect the beauty and richness and diversity of the earth through our creative selves? What part of the growing world do you want to celebrate? What is your favorite animal? Flower? Bird? What part of our natural world would you be sad without? BE that flower! DANCE that bird! SING that animal! BE part of the parade!

Anyone and everyone is invited to be a part of the All Species Parade. All you need is a costume or a puppet! The Procession of Species in Olympia Washington draws people who have made huge, complex puppets, but also many folks who have made costumes that would be easy to create. With pictures from past parades, their website is rich with ideas and inspiration. Other sites for inspiration include: The International Circle of Friends of Giant Puppets, and of course the Bread and Puppet Theater of Vermont!
For some “how to”, check out The Puppeteers’ Cooperative.

Why an All Species Parade? Sometimes also referred to as a Procession of the Species, the All Species Parade has been happening across the nation for many years now often closely coinciding with Earth Day celebrations.  Communities large and small, have come together to celebrate, show respect for, and honor the interconnectedness and harmony of the natural world. The parade and festivities utilize the arts to encourage the broader community to reflect on, and deepen their own relationships with the Earth and all her precious species, further learning through artful participation how to be good stewards towards each other and the environment.

The Procession of the Species parade originated in the streets of Olympia, WA. in 1994. That parade was not intended to be only an entertainment event, but also as a way educating and bringing the community together. As Eli Sterling, instigator of the first parade, has said, “Entertainment caters to consumption, and the primary energy exchange to come out of consumption is discarding. Creativity, on the other hand, is rooted in imagination and leads to sharing. People are far more likely to protect that which they create than that which they consume.” In 2009, the city of Olympia celebrated its fifteenth year of gathering of colorful creatures and drew a crowd of over 20,000 spectators, and more than 2,500 participants!

Spindleworks staff Cathy Worthington and Maureen Block approached Arts Are Elementary last spring with the idea of a first ever All Species Parade for Brunswick. Through a collaboration between Spindleworks and all eleven second grade classrooms in Brunswick, eleven giant soaring birds would be created to form the backbone of the Brunswick event. Now at almost the end of winter, 8 birds are ready to fly. By May 13th, what other creatures will join this flock?