What You Need to Know About the Handmade Parade

September 28, 2018

If you’ve never seen the Hillsborough Handmade Parade, then you have been missing out. 

The Biannual event is the definition of a community art project.  The public space street parade, organized by the Hillsborough Arts Council, features wild costumes, giant puppets, stilt-walkers, marching bands and much more. And it’s all created by the community!   Here’s what you need to know about this year’s parade.

• The event takes place Sunday, October 14 at 2:30 
• This year’s theme is “Magical Menagerie on the Eno.” 
• The parade will begin at Town Hall (101 E. Orange) and run south on Churton Street to River Park (140 East Margaret Lane)
• The Grande Finale at River Park will allow participants and observers to look at all of the puppets, costumes, stilt walkers and jugglers up close and personal and to celebrate our diversity with music and dance by Batalá Durham and The Magic of African Rhythms. Food and drink will be available.
• If you are interested in participating in the parade, you can register here.
• There is a Make and Take Puppet Workshop on October 7 at 1:00 – More information here. 

Why a Parade? 

The Hillsborough Arts Council answers these questions on their website:

“We seek to bring our community together in a creative, nonpolitical way through a walking theatrical performance. Our primary goal is to strengthen our community by valuing and celebrating our wonderful diversity. The purpose of the parade is to foster community involvement in the arts through participation in every aspect. The informal atmosphere and hands-on character of the experience allow members of the community to work directly with artists and each other while gaining confidence in their own abilities. Most importantly, by using our collective creative energy to develop this celebration, we can overcome barriers to community participation and harmony.”