Every April the City of Olympia, Washington State’s capital, hosts the unique Procession of the Species – drawing both folks from around the region and further afield.This year the Procession of the Species begins at 4:30pm on Saturday April 24 – the 15th annual parade of people celebrating nature in the community. This is a joyous, artistic pageant embracing the languages of art, music and dance to inspire learning, appreciation and protection of the natural world. Children and adults both parade in a colorful kaleidoscope of imaginative costumes, creative masks, banners and giant puppets. The Procession is now Puget Sound's largest annual Earth Day event.
Since its inception, the Procession has grown from 800 participants and 3,000 spectators to over 2,700 participants and 28,000 onlookers last year. It is the highlight of Olympia’s annual Spring Arts Walk (from April 23 to 24) – one of the largest arts walks in the Pacific Northwest. Nearly 100 galleries and businesses display the work of more than 300 artists during the two days, plus there are hands-on family activities, performance stages, demonstrations and street corner performers.
The Procession of the Species Celebration was born in January, 1995, when a group of Olympia residents wanted to organize an event both to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Earth Day and to support Congressional renewal of the Endangered Species Act. The group decided on a positive statement of support in the form of a community celebration.
For more information about top events in Washington State, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Washington at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-washington.html
For schedules and information on Procession of the Species visit www.procession.org