PAPA – Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts

September 28th, 2008 by johnny | No Comments »

PAPA or better known as the Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts has returned for the 3rd year. Celebrating the world of creativity and art. If you never heard of it here is a little history:

The festivities kicked off on September 28, 2006
Fun and entertainment
A parade of costumes and floats
Main stage music performances
Pub Crawls
Fireworks

Over the course of the past few years, PAPA has seen the “World’s Only Parading Art Fair” bloom into an artistic and social phenomenon. This year, PAPA will continue to break new ground by asking the community to unify under a single theme. Entitled “Out of this World,” PAPA 2008 will continue to inspire the creativity of downtown phoenix and will foster camaraderie for its participants and provide a fun challenge for the artists, craftsman, businesses, parents and community members involved.

While the nationally recognized main stage talent and local street performers will again be a main focus of the event, PAPA 2008 promises even more entertainment. PAPA 2008 will include more
vending, a new second stage variety arts show, and provide more activities for children and youth.

As always, the free, all-community procession will be the highlight of the evening with fanciful floats, whimsical costumes, and competing parade teams. The evening’s finale will be an awards ceremony for the parade contest winners and the event will again close with the Copper Square pub crawl and fireworks display.

“I hope you’ll be able to come back this weekend to experience what we’re calling the Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts. And believe me, this is something you truly have to see to believe. I
love these Artists. And Phoenix loves the Arts.”

Mayor Gordon introducing The Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts in his 2006 State of the Downtown address

Be part of the parade! It’s free to participate! Parade Team FREE registration entails:

2-29 participants per team if marching without an
accompanying float.
1-14 participants per team if marching with an
accompanying float.
Teams must have a visible, unifying characteristic among
participants.
Parade Teams involving children under the age of 13
must register with a responsible chaperone.
Children under age ten must march alongside chaperone.
Pets encouraged with appropriate restraints.
Stilts, skateboards, skates, rollerblades, wagons, strollers,
and pirate ships are acceptable modes of parading.
Participants can express creatively, visually, and musically
during the procession.
All costumes and floats must be “street legal” in
decoration, signage, lights and sound.
Teams may include floats no larger than 10’ x 10’ x 10.’
Floats must be human powered (which includes bicycles).