Attendance is Free by Donation!
Hip Hip Hooray, it’s PiP PiP Parade!
Join us for during the opening weekend of PiP 2024 for a parade featuring giant puppets and masks, tall stilt-walkers, wild drummers, and huge assemblages of color, costume, and sound!
Portland’s own Shoestring Theater will lead the merry procession down Washington Ave and through our Kennedy Park neighborhood! Our friends in the Ideal Maine Social Aid & Sanctuary Band will join the parade along with festival artists and community members.
Immediately following the parade, join us at Mayo Street Arts for “Paunchy’s Playhouse,” a puppet show by Stop Puppeting Yourself Puppet Co!
All Ages
Rain Date: Sunday, September 20 at 4:00 PM
The parade will start at the Root Cellar (94 Washington Avenue) and will continue along Oxford Street to Mayo Street Arts (10 Mayo Street)
Parade Volunteers
If you would like to participate, please click here to sign-up to volunteer as a puppeteer!
Volunteers are invited to be part of the pageantry and help bring Shoestring Theater’s puppets to life as puppeteers-for-the-day.
No experience is required. Volunteers should be adults at least 5’5” with the strength and enthusiasm to walk the 30 minute parade route. Teams of three will work together with wooden rods to keep each puppet aloft.
Strong funny bones and can-do attitude recommended!
For more information on volunteering, please contact us at pip@mayostreetarts.org or (207) 879-4629.
BOX OFFICE
Puppets in Portland tickets are available through PortTIX, the trusted box office for Mayo Street Arts!
Online: www.porttix.com
Phone: 207-842-0800
Advanced ticket sales end two hours before each event.
Tickets may also be purchased at the door, pending availability.
PAY WHAT YOU CAN
No one will be turned away from PiP events for lack of funds.
ACCESSIBILITY
The parade route is very hilly. The intersection of Oxford St and Mayo St will provide the flattest terrain and is nearby Mayo Street Arts for those attendees who are interested in enjoying a performance by Modern Times Theater immediately following the parade.
Mayo Street Arts has an ADA compliant lift up to the main hall for performances, workshop space, concessions, and restrooms. Parking is available on the street with sidewalk cutouts at the top and bottom of the hill.
If you would benefit from additional information or accommodations, we invite you to contact us at pip@mayostreetarts.org or 207-879-4629.
EVENT PARKING
Free on-street parking can be found on the surrounding streets.
One paid parking lot is located within walking distance of Mayo Street Arts:
Top of the Old Port Parking (119 Pearl St, Portland ME 04101) - 6 minute walk
Mayo Street Arts is accessible by Greater Portland Metro bus routes with nearby transfer points 7, 9A & 9B. Click here to learn more.
SEATING POLICY
There is no fixed seating along the parade route. You are welcome to bring your own seating, if you would like.
Seating for the post-parade performance at Mayo Street Arts is available on a first come, first served basis.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
Audience members — in addition to artists, staff & volunteers — who feel sick or exhibit symptoms of illness should stay home out of respect for others.
CANCELATION POLICY
PiP has a no refund policy for all reservations. In the event that PiP is forced to cancel an event due to weather, illness, etc., refunds will be offered via PortTIX.