HANDMADE PARADE: Get ready to make some mouth-watering food art

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

It’s your chance to create crazy costumes for The Fabulous Feast when the open workshops for the mouth-watering Handmade Parade begin on Tuesday (24th).

Alison Duddle making masks - photo: Ian Hodgson

If you’d like to join the hundreds who will be taking part, get down to the open workshops where you might choose to create a junk food packaging monster, a Carmen Miranda fruit hat, become a walking market stall or a slice of cake. Professional artists will be on hand and no previous experience or special skills necessary.

The open workshops are for both adults and children, but there are also more in-depth skills classed for adults and teens. There’s a chance to join a new street band, learn how to make giant puppets, sculptures and masks, try your hand at samba drumming or even learn how to stilt-walk.
This year’s parade, on Saturday, June 11 at 2pm, is all about food glorious food and will culminate in a spectacular finale and picnic in Calder Holmes Park from 3pm.

The workshops are at Unit 5, Victoria Works, Victoria Road, the same venue as last year, from May 24 to June 9, Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-6pm (with extra sessions for adults on June 7 and 9 from 7-9pm), Saturdays and Sundays 1-4pm. Entry is by donation.

Parade Co-ordinator Rebecca Dearden said: “The skills classes are fantastic fun ? even for people who don't usually get involved in this sort of thing. You'll have a chance to show off your creations or performance on the day of the parade and at the grand finale in Calder Holmes Park.”
New this year, will be a funky street band led by Peadar Long who co-founded the Peace Artistes. Brass, sax and percussion players who have their own instruments, who can play at least at a basic level, and aren't afraid to have a bit of fun are welcome at the practice sessions on May 25, June 1 and 8, from 4-6pm. These sessions are free (donations welcome) but it is essential to book.

Other skills classes are inflatable parade art on June 7, 8 and 9, giant withy sculpture on May 25 and June 1 and 8, clay-sculpted papier-mache masks and costumes on May 25 and June 1 and 8, and stilt-walking on June 1, 3, 8 and 10. All these classes cost £20 for the series of sessions.
There’s a chance too to join the year-round Handmade Samba Band which is having a boot camp to prepare for the big event. There are sessions on June 9 and 10 for beginners and for those with a bit of experience. Sessions cost £3.

For more details about the parade go to www.handmadeparade.co.uk.