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Monday, 24 June 2013

Handmade Parade: Wonderfully colourful and creative, dazzling and inventive - and with flying pigs!

Almost 1,000 people took part in the parade, which featured amazing giant puppets, astonishing artwork, five bands and some crazy costumes. Thousands more lined the route along Victoria Road, Valley Road, Bridge Gate and Holme Street to Calder Holmes Park.

See HebWeb Photo Gallery

The biggest Handmade Parade ever thrilled the crowds on Saturday as Hebden Bridge marked a year on from the floods with a dazzling display of its creative talents.

The parade kicked off this year's Hebden Bridge Arts Festival and as part of that Bridge the Gap also staged a youth arts culture event called Park Yourself.

Handmade Parade

This year’s theme was Myths, Mysteries and Mayhem and was split into four sections of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Pegasus took to the air, mermaids were out en masse, there were more than one hundred fire birds, stilt-walking horned beasts and terrifying trolls. And if you'd waited all your life to see a flying pig, on Saturday there were dozens of them.

Among the big makes which drew gasps from the audience were Brigid the fire goddess, created by Kerith Ogden, Easter Island stone heads created by Jonny Quick, a giant inflatable whale created by Lisa Gort and a flying Pegasus by Fran Sierevogel.

Handmade Parade

Once the parade reached the park, the audience were treated to a stunning finale pageant featuring a tribe of trolls, fire-tricksters, the salamander squad  and stilting horned beasts. It culminated in spectators joining in a disco dance around a giant glitterball.

Andrew Kim, Artistic Director of the Handmade parade, said: "Each year, we seem to be growing not only in numbers but in the quality of participation. We are so grateful and proud of being able to offer the opportunity for this ever expanding community dance down the street!
Funding for this year's parade allowed organisers to take on the biggest team of workshop leaders and parade artists in the parade’s history and to provide free workshops to over 24 local schools and community groups—over twice as many as last year.

Handmade Parade

Organisers would like to thank everyone who volunteered, took part and lined the streets to watch for making it such a special day.

Last year's parade had to be postponed for a week due to the floods but the weather was kinder this year with the parade and finale pageant beating the heavy showers later in the afternoon.

Handmade Parade Co-ordinator Hannah Merriman said: “Throughout the lead up to the parade things felt special - from our international visiting artists to the wonderfulness of our volunteers.  People really threw themselves into the theme this year and our artists were outstanding!  I'm truly overwhelmed by what our community created and think every single person who got involved can be very proud of being a part of it".

Emily Jones from Hebden Bridge, who took part in the parade with her family, said: "It was fantastic, certainly the longest parade ever and I think it proved that in Hebden Bridge anything is possible - even flying pigs."

Handmade Parade

 

More Photos

Hebweb Gallery

Craig Shaw

Ian Hodgson

Steve Morgan - participants as a studio shoot before the Parade

Previously, on HebWeb

 

Photos

HebWeb Gallery of photos 2013

HebWeb Gallery of photos 2012

HebWeb Gallery of photos 2011

HebWeb Photos of Handmade Parade 2010

HebWeb Photos of Handmade Parade 2009

HebWeb Photos of Handmade Parade 2008

 

See also

HebWeb News: Biggest Handmade Parade ever ready to roll (18 June 2013)

HebWeb News: Parade Workshops Get Off to a Flying Start (4 June 2013)

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade 2013 attracts artists from across the globe (23 May 2013)

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade 2013: try something new at the Skill Classes (15 May 2013)

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade 2013: Myths, Mysteries and Mayhem (23 April 2013)

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade 2013 launches in style (April 2013)

HebWeb News: Valley of Lights, late November 2012

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade organisers are urging people to dig deep to help make next year's parade even more spectacular. (26 September 2012)

HebWeb News: After the floods, the sun shone on the Parade (July 2012)

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade will lift town's spirits (June 2012)

HebWeb News: Prepare to be enchanted by the biggest and best Handmade Parade yet (June 2012)

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade 2012: Come and make magic in The Enchanted Wood (29 May 2012)

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade 2012: Join the skills classes (1st May 2012)

HebWeb News: Parade Spark Day is a Hit (March 2012)

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade to go ahead on 23 June

HebWeb News: The Fabulous Feast delights Hebden Bridge - June 2011

HebWeb Forum thread - June 2011

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade: Get ready to make some mouth-watering food art - 7 June 2011

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade: Get ready to make some mouth-watering food art - 24 May 2011

HebWeb News: Handmade Parade will be a 'Fabulous Feast'

HebWeb News: Which will come first - the giant chicken or the eggs? - March 2011

HebWeb News - Feb-March 2011

Twitter

Facebook

2012 Parade Photos and footage

Guardian - Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade - in pictures

Handmade Parade Website

YouTube Video x 4 from Fran Robinson of the Mytholmroyd Net

ITV Calendar: Flood carnivals attract record crowd