After last year’s debut, Gainesville’s Flying Pig Parade will return on Saturday, Dec. 28.
The event will start at 2 p.m. at Bo Diddley Plaza (111 E. University Ave.).
Thousands turned out last December to see giant puppets, quirky bands and a dozen dancing dinosaurs. This year’s event promises even more excitement, with over 60 groups expected, including Sgt. Pepper’s Heart Throb Band, Pigs in a Blanket and The Florida State Park Whistle Blowers Brigade.
The Flying Pig Parade is a playful twist on Gainesville’s original name, “Hogtown,” and brings a lighthearted approach to the traditional holiday parade.
Conceived by Glenn Terry, who led the King Mango Strut in Coconut Grove for over 30 years, the Flying Pig Parade embodies the humor and spirit of the Gainesville community.
“Again, we’ll be celebrating all that’s wild and wonderful about Hogtown while poking fun at the year gone by,” Terry said in a press release.
The parade will travel down SE 1 Street, loop around the Hippodrome Theater, and end back at Bo Diddley Plaza, where a 3 p.m. celebration for Bo Diddley’s birthday will continue the festivities with live music, cake and community gathering.
“Bring on the clowns, the dancers, and silly pranksters,” said Parade design chief Heidi Stein in the release. “Anyone of any age who can make us laugh or smile.”
The parade welcomes all participants, and applications are open for groups and volunteers at flyingpigparade.org.