Mission
The Everything Under the Sun Parade is an annual community procession in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, that celebrates radical joy and reclaims the creative power of ordinary people to sculpt a just future. We aim to combat social isolation by cultivating deeper connections through developing large-scale puppets with community members. With a focus on inclusion and accessibility, the parade affirms that people make culture, strong community connections are essential for our collective well-being, and joy in the face of hard times is a collective practice of resilience.
Everything Under the Sun Parade programming includes:
Intentional collaboration with select community partners. Each year, we partner with non-artist community groups that share our mission.
Puppet visioning and building with community members through free community workshops.
Ongoing support and uplift of the work of community artists.
Values
Creative Accessibility: We believe that art sustains us and belongs to everyone; all who join are asked to bring a creative expression of their community joy.
Community Transformation: We partner with organizations that are deeply committed to supporting Portlanders, particularly underserved and marginalized communities.
Sustainability: We prioritize the creative reuse of materials in all workshops and artistic production.
Anti-consumerism: We celebrate people, not products; we encourage participants to view themselves as creators, not just consumers, of culture.
Inclusivity: We welcome, honor, and uplift the creativity of all who join us.