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!
Héctor Castellanos Lara, Lead Artist, Parade the Circle
Parade Registration
$5 per child under 18
$10 per adult
Email commartsinfo [at] clevelandart.org for more information.
CMA PARKING (Special event parking rate of $20 applies.)
Enter the CMA parking garage off Jeptha Road via MLK Boulevard. This parking is very limited and subject to availability.
SPECTATOR PARKING (Paid)
Parking is available at most University Circle museums and institutions. Please check with individual institutions on rates and availability.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING
Accessible parking is reserved at the meters on Hazel Drive off Magnolia Drive. To enter Hazel Drive, vehicles must have a parking placard for persons with disabilities.
ACCESSIBLE SEATING
Limited seating for seniors and spectators with disabilities is available on the lawn at the corner of East Boulevard and Hazel Drive.
PARTICIPANT DROP OFF/PICK UP
- Drop off and pick up only at East Boulevard and Bellflower Road.
- Absolutely no entry allowed on the parade route after 9:00 a.m.
Email commartsinfo [at] clevelandart.org for more information.
Volunteer opportunities abound—whether it’s helping an artist or a group with their parade ensemble, donating materials to the parade, or assisting on the parade day. Help is always welcomed. Please email volunteer [at] clevelandart.org for more information regarding the volunteer opportunities for Parade the Circle.
2023 Parade the Circle Guidelines
- Everyone must be in costume, including parents, guardians, and staff accompanying children.
- All entries must be handmade and people powered. Motorized vehicles (other than wheelchairs) and live animals (other than service animals) are not permitted.
- No written words are allowed.
- Entries should not propagandize a particular political or religious belief.
- Entries and costumes must be noncommercial. No identifiable logos are allowed. No T-shirts with words, registered trademarks, logos, or cartoon characters may be worn. Uniforms representing organized teams, troops, or school or civic organizations may not be worn.
- No distribution of leaflets or flyers is allowed during the parade or along the parade route.
- Children under 15 must be accompanied by someone older.
- All parade participants participate at their own risk. Written waivers are required for all participants.
Circle Village at University Circle
Before, during, and after the parade, Circle Village, located on Wade Oval and presented by University Circle Inc., will have tons of hands-on activities for all ages, live music, and delectable food.
