The Big Parade is coming to town again.
Kicked off last year as a student-organized but community-based parade and festival, featuring floats, food and performers, the eventdrew hundreds from the College and town together in the name of good clean fun.
Seniors Katy Goodman and Zach Moser, and junior Page Neal say they want to make this year’s Big Parade even Bigger.
“We want to get more people involved, make more floats and have more music,” Goodman said.
To that end, they are trying to get the word out early, beginning with a slide show and video presentation of last year’s event at the Oberlin Public Library on Thursday Nov. 21, at 7 p.m.
“It is fun to see everyone all dressed up and having such a great time,” Moser said. “Looking at the pictures and watching the movie got me really excited to work on the parade again.”
Last year’s parade was the first in what organizers hope will become an annual tradition. Many saw it as an example of what town-gown collaboration could do for Oberlin. Participating organizations came from over 60 different community groups, including the Oberlin Middle School Art Club, the Oberlin Bike Co-op and OROR. A daylong festival in Tappan Square featuring live music, games and free food for 700 people, followed the Parade.
The organizers attributed the event’s success to its simple purpose, unusual organizing structure and the hard work of many different people.
“We just wanted people to have a good time together,” Goodman said. “We didn’t want to tell anyone what to do.”
The organizing committee, which included Neal, Moser, Goodman and others, encouraged groups to do their own projects independently, and participate in any way they desired.
“By not dictating roles, many different kinds of groups were attracted,” Moser said. “Basically no one was really in charge of the Big Parade except for the participants, which made it a much more dynamic event.”
The organizers will try a similar approach this year. “Many of the people who helped organize the parade last year have graduated, but hopefully lots of new people will want to participate and organize,” Neal said.
All groups are encouraged to prepare a project for the parade. Projects can be anything a person or group wants to share with the community. Last year’s projects ranged from giant puppets to pie-eating contests.
“We are having this event to get people excited about participating, and also to explain how for people who aren’t sure what its all about,” Moser said. “Plus there will be root beer floats.”