A great West Philly tradition, the Peoplehood Parade & Pageant, is returning on Saturday, Nov. 9. The family-friendly event, featuring giant puppets created by Spiral Q as well as drumlines and banners, will kick off at 1 p.m. at the Paul Robeson House (4951 Walnut St). The line-up begins at 12 p.m.

The parade will proceed to Clark Park at 45th and Kingsessing, where performances will take place, starting approximately at 2:15 p.m.

The annual event, which has been held since the 1990s, promotes diversity, civic engagement and creativity. The longtime organizer is the West Philly-based arts organization, Spiral Q, which works with artists, activists and community members and groups to create the giant puppets and banners for the event.

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Another great West Philly tradition, the Peoplehood Parade & Pageant, is returning Saturday, Oct. 28. The event was postponed by one week due to rain last Saturday. As always, the parade will feature giant puppets, created by Spiral Q artists and community volunteers. Here are some more details about this year’s event.

The line-up begins at Noon near The Paul Robeson House (50th and Walnut). The parade departs at 1 p.m. and proceeds to Clark Park at 45th and Kingsessing (see the map below), where performances will take place starting at approximately 2:15 p.m.

The family-friendy event, which promotes diversity, civic engagement and creativity, has been held since late 1990’s. Besides giant puppets, it features drumlines and banners. Last year, 43 community groups and over 600 people joined the parade and celebration, according to the longtime event organizer, Spiral Q, a West Philly-based arts organization.

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The annual Peoplehood Parade is this Saturday (photo by West Philly Local).

A West Philly tradition complete with drumlines, banners and giant puppets will wind through neighborhood streets this Saturday, Oct. 15 (unless it rains) as the annual Peoplehood Parade returns.

The parade departs the Paul Robeson House at 50th and Walnut at 1 p.m. and concludes with performances in Clark Park beginning at about 2:30. See the map below. Continue Reading

Want to see giant colorful puppets “marching” along West Philly streets? Come to the annual Peoplehood Parade this Saturday, Oct. 20, organized by West Philly’s Spiral Q puppet theater. The event will kick off outside the Paul Robeson House (4951 Walnut St) at 1 p.m. Nearly 500 people of all ages will be marching, dancing, and carrying puppets, flags, and drums to Clark Park (45th and Chester), where the parade will be followed by a small giant puppet pageant with participatory performances around 2:15 p.m.

Peoplehood is a parade that celebrates and energizes PEOPLE, particularly those living in and/or working at the forefront of anti-discrimination and anti-oppression work.  Continue Reading

It’s hard to imagine West Philly without the Peoplehood Parade. And this year is no exception – the fall tradition of marching with giant puppets along West Philly streets followed by a celebration in Clark Park will return this Saturday (Oct. 21).

Peoplehood Parade map (click to enlarge)

The 18th annual Peoplehood Parade, hosted by West Philly’s Spiral Q theater and arts organization, will kick off at 1 p.m. outside of the Paul Robeson House (4951 Walnut St). The event celebrates diversity in the city and is also a creative way to express your civic concerns. The event is kid friendly, so bring your children to march with you.

Besides the giant puppets, Peoplehood includes flags, costumes and banners. Everyone is invited to bring their own artwork or carry Spiral Q puppets. The parade is followed by participatory performances and art-making activities in the Clark Park “bowl” around 2 p.m.

Check out the Spiral Q website for more information or if you want to volunteer.

Here are some photos from Saturday’s 16th Annual Peoplehood Parade. The parade is led by the Spiral Q Puppet Theater and this year included help from the Paul Robeson House, Friends of Clark Park, Neighborhood Bike Works, the Caucus of Working Educators, the Philadelphia Coalition for REAL Justice, the West Powelton Steppers and artist Vitus Shell.

“Peoplehood is a celebration of our communities’ creativity, joy, can-do attitudes, and courage to act on their convictions,” according to Spiral Q.  Continue Reading