The Vermont Arts Exchange (VAE) announces the second year of its Stay in Your Car-Village Parade, Saturday, April 24, at 11 a.m., in the Village of North Bennington.
All are welcome to parade your vehicle and express your gratitude with signs, decorations, or live music in the back of your truck. Get creative and give thanks to those who have been, and continue to be, essential over the past year. Celebrate your teachers, school staff, parents, and businesses, as well as those on the front line, our local heroes. You can see a video from last year’s parade on the VAE website.
The line up begins at 10:30 at the North Bennington Train Depot at and backs up to Lion’s Park and then to Lake Paran.
The VAE Art Bus will lead the parade once again with two members from the band “Moose Crossing” playing on top of the bus. VAE Executive Director, Matthew Perry says “We held the parade last year on April 25 just as the pandemic had started and schools went into lock down. Something positive had to take place and as the weather warmed up, and this seem to be a good solution. It was pitched as the
‘first and hopefully only Stay in Your Car Parade,’ but here we are in year two.”
Creativity abounded, from clever signs and pickup truck floats to a large toilet paper sculpture on top of the roof of a small car. “I feel the community was just given the opportunity to let loose and be creative and they rose to the occasion. Coupled with so many reasons to give thanks, it all just came together beautifully and was healing in so many ways. The short parade route is designed so that everyone gets to see each other (similar to the Halloween Parade) which is not always the case with parades. This allows for everyone to interact and see each other and after this long winter; it’s what we need”, Perry says.
With support from the Bennington Police, North Bennington Volunteer Fire Department, and dedicated VAE Volunteers, the parade ensures to be safe with State COVID guidelines being followed.
For any questions regarding the parade, please call 802-379-3763.
http://vtartxchange.org
