Parade The Circle 06.13.26 complete

If there is a signature Cleveland event that symbolizes all that is right in our region: culture (high and low), family, ethnic diversity, collaboration and celebration, it would have to be Parade The Circle, created by Robin Van Lear in 1990, which has become the Cleveland Museum of Art’s biggest public event, taking place each June. Van Lear moved on during the pandemic (although she still brought a parade team this year), and the event downsized for three years, returning at full strength in 2023, with a new director, Cleveland artist Héctor Castellanos Lara. It also had a delayed, downsized event last year when its original date was rained out — the first time that had happened in its history. But the event has survived as a non-commercial, nonpolitical community event where costumes, props, puppets and other decor are all created by both formal and informal groups: families, neighbors, clubs, scout groups, community organizations, churches and more. No signage is allowed, no floats or motorized vehicles (except as needed for disabilities). But you will see lavish, colorful displays of masks, flags, stilt walkers, acrobats, dancers, jugglers and musicians, who have been working for months to create around an open-ended theme — this year’s is “Momentum” and was inspired by CMA’s exhibit American Printed Silks: 1927-1947. View the video by Thomas Mulready here.