Parade the Circle, one of Cleveland’s most impactful cultural events, is an annual art parade that fills Wade Oval with lively sounds and colors, featuring innovative costumes, giant puppets, and handmade masks created by artists, families, schools, and community groups. Watching the parade is free for all.
Individuals, families, schools, and neighborhood and community groups are all invited to participate. Create your parade entry on your own or at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s public workshops.
Parade the Circle 2023 Theme
TRANSFORMATION (Dragonfly ǀ Libélula)
It has been three years since the pandemic struck our planet. As we strive to regain normalcy, we are all looking for a positive moment of transformation; a formula to bring us together again contains hope, change, new beginnings, prosperity—a new way to celebrate life!
The dragonfly, or libélula, holds spiritual symbolism with people of many cultures across the world, and after 300 million years, this fascinating insect still coexists with us. The life cycle of the dragonfly, egg to nymph to adult dragonfly, also represents transformation or change. Let the dragonfly serve as a reminder that we all need change in our lives to grow, self-reflect, and adapt to any environment or circumstance we may face.
The dragonfly also symbolizes strength, joy, creativity, and happiness. We encourage you to take the dragonfly as inspiration and make the most of each moment in your life.
Let’s celebrate!
