Thanks to Cardinal Corner, Minnesota Locks, and WSP Wild Ones Baseball for their support.
With the Explore West St. Paul Days parade coming on Saturday, June 10, a group of local artists hosted a ‘How to Parade’ clinic at Wentworth Library. They offered tips and ideas for developing creative parade ideas far beyond the typical parade float or classic car.
There’s also an extra incentive this year: a $500 prize to the best parade entry.
The presenters included local artists Carolyn Swiszcz and Travis Olson of WSP Art, plus the city’s Recreation Supervisor Sam Murphy.
Parade Tips:
Here are a few ideas from the ‘How to Parade’ clinic:
- Go beyond float: You don’t have to create a traditional parade float on a trailer. You could have a group of people walking in coordinated costumes, pull something on a wagon or bike trailer, or cover a vehicle with decorations.
- Think big (or small): Eye-catching parade entries often find creative ways to make a normal sized object giant. But if you can’t go big, go small and use a ton of small things.
- Theme: What would be the most iconic image for your message?
- Shareable: Think of what a parade goer would stop and take a picture of to share on social media.
- Sign up early: Register for the parade by April 26 to take advantage of lower registration fees.
- Give away: A lot of organizations or businesses want to give away literature, but far and away the most popular handout is candy. Last year’s parade was criticized for not having enough. (Note: You can’t throw candy from vehicles, it has to be handed out at ground level.)
More:
See the initial ‘How to Parade’ clinic announcement for more from Murphy, Olson, and Swiszcz on parade ideas. Visit the Explore West St. Paul Days site to register for the parade.
“I really want to do what I can to make this city even more interesting.”
Carolyn Swiszcz
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