Puppets on Parade 2005 Wrap-Up
by Wendy Jackson Hall

What a perfect day! From the smiles on the faces of the audience, and the smiles of the puppeteers, I know everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Puppets on Parade: Awesome Aquatics. We even won a trophy for "Most Unusual Entry" in the parade!

Overall participation in was more than doubled from last year. We had about 30 people marching in our group, carrying puppets and wearing costumes made by the collaborative efforts of 175 people in our 2-week workshop. In all, we made 47 puppets, not including the 50+ mini-turtles and mini-jellyfish that went home with kids during the workshop!

The final cast of sea creatures in the parade included 18 fish puppets, 8 jellyfish, 4 frogs, 2 seahorses, 3 sea anenomes, 2 shorebirds, 2 sharks, 1 starfish, 1 alligator, 1 stingray, 1 Orca whale car, 1 stiltwalking heron, 1 giant interactive piece of coral, 1 pink hermit crab and 1 yellow submarine (our very first inflatable puppet). What a sight to see! After the parade, as I waited with the pile of puppets to get a ride back to the store, many people who watched the parade complemented our group.

People are already suggesting ideas for next year's theme; bugs, birds, robots. Please join the Puppets on Parade committee in early 2006 to help plan our next adventure. To get on the mailing list please send an email to wendy@animatedadventures.com with the subject "Puppets on Parade."

Your comments as both participants and viewers are very helpful in obtaining support for the project and shaping future Puppets on Parade events. I'd love to receive comments via email from anyone who participated or watched the puppets. Please send them to me via email--the sooner the better, so that I can include them in my final report to our sponsors.

And don't miss the frogs making an appearance at the high school this weekend during the Bainbridge in Bloom garden tour. BIAHC, the organization that puts on the tour is also responsible for funding Puppets on Parade, so show your support and go to the garden tour!

Thanks again to all of our sponsors, Animated Adventures, BIAHC, Bainbridge Arts & Crafts and Oil and Water Art Supply, and thanks as well to our generous supporters, Ace Hardware, Costco, Counterbalance Pottery, Esther's Fabrics, Gallery Fraga, Paper Products, Sound Reprographics and Winslow Paint. Please let these businesses know how much you appreciate their community involvement!  ¶ 11:59 PM