MAYDAY PARADE
SUNDAY, May 3, 2026 / 12PM / bloomington Ave, Mpls
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WATCH THE PARADE!
See below for more information about the time, location, and what to expect.
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parade route map
The parade will go down Bloomington Avenue from 28th to 34th Street.
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volunteer for the parade
We need parade volunteers! Don’t worry - you can still watch.
COMMUNITY DRIVEN
SINCE 1975
For 50 years, South Minneapolis has celebrated Mayday with an annual parade, ceremony and festival to honor the coming of Spring on the first Sunday in May.
In the past, artists at In the Heart of the Beast Theater (HOBT) envisioned a theme for the parade and ceremony through community conversations, and then opened the doors for hundreds of community members to gather during the month of April at HOBT to bring the theme to life with spectacular puppets and music.
Today, the creation of parade puppets is decentralized with spectacular and free-flowing visions created in basements, garages, studios, schools, and backyards.
WATCH THE Parade
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Sunday, May 3, 2026
Parade Start 12:00pm
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The Parade begins at noon at Bloomington Avenue and 28th Street.
The parade will proceed down Bloomington Avenue to 34th Street, turn East, and enter Powderhorn Park between 34th and 35th Streets on 15th Avenue.
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An accessible seating section will be marked off in front of the post office on Bloomington Ave and 31st street. We invite people with wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility aids to watch in this area. There is no grass boulevard on this part of the street.
*Note- chairs will not be provided, please bring your own if needed!For more information on accessible parking, check out our Accessibility page.
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To watch the parade, bring blankets/chairs, water, snacks (no coordinated food trucks), bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a garbage bag (and help pick up trash) and dress for the weather!
Feel free to costume yourself for the occasion, many do!
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Pets that would be fearful of giant puppets, stilters, loud noises, or children.
Please keep all pets leashed and controlled at all times! Help to keep puppeteers and stilters safe!
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The beginning of the parade route is always less crowded, so head North of Lake Street if you like some space or are arriving near noon.
If you are watching the parade, please stay South of 28th St and not interfere with parade line-up. Thank you!
The area from 32nd Street to the end of the route becomes VERY crowded, especially as you get closer to the park, and folks put down their blankets and chairs EARLY. Head this way if you like crowds and excitement!
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Puppets, Dance, activist street bands, stilters, art cars, puppets, choirs, protest art, dance music, Battletrain, puppets, costumes, dance, and PUPPETS!
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Keep the Mayday Parade alive by volunteering! Fill out this form to sign up to volunteer for the Parade and/or Festival
Volunteer spots will be on the route and you can watch the parade!
Any questions? Email us at ourmaydayparade@gmail.com
Make art and join
the 2026 Mayday parade!
Come solo or in any size group!
Bring your puppetry, music, dance, song, marching band, poetry, street theater, or any form of artistic expression and parade it in the streets!
Questions or comments?
Email us at info@maydaympls.org
JOIN the Parade
All groups and individuals must register
Register at the button above or through this link.
Your group will receive a confirmation and follow-up information once registered.
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You are welcome to make Parade Art in your home, garage, basement (wherever!) and register your own section in the Parade!
If you would like to make art at a community build, there are several places to do so! All ages are welcome, children must be supervised by an adult.
All public build locations are wheelchair accessible.
Bug Brigade: Steve Ackerman, Olli Johnson, Pete Talbot, Jamee Lynne Snyder
PROJECT: BUGS! INSECTS! Butterflies, Cicadas, Ants!
LOCATION: Powderhorn Park Building, 3400 15th Ave S
DATE/TIME: Wednesdays, April 8, 15, 22 & 29 / 5-8pm
2nd LOCATION: HOBT, 2411 Hennepin Ave
2nd DATE/TIME: Saturdays, April 11, 18 & 25 / 10am-1pm
Semilla Center & Alebrijes, MN: Gustavo Boada
PROJECT: Hummingbird puppets / Títeres de colibrí (TALLER BILINGÜE)
LOCATION: Semilla Center, 2742 15th Ave S (in St. Paul’s Church)
DATE/TIME: Mondays / los lunes, April 6, 13, 20 & 27 / 6-8pm
Big Animal Studios & Aqueerium Collective
PROJECT: Fiery Hearts, Fiery Horses, Butterflies
LOCATION: Big Animal Studios, 2714 27th St E (In the Ivy Building)
DATES/TIME: Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23 & 30 / 6-8pm
Sundays, April 12, 19 & 26 / 10am-4pm
Fire Station 24 on Hiawatha (click for link to event page)
PROJECT: Giant Snow plow, butterflies, and more!
LOCATION: Fire Station 24, 4501 Hiawatha Ave.
DATES/TIME: Beginning April 21:
Tuesdays, April 21 & 28 / 7-9pm
Thursdays, April 23 & 30 / 7-9pm
Saturdays, April 25 & May 2 / 10am-3pm
You are also welcome to help create art for the Tree of Life Ceremony!
Ceremony Builds (TALLER BILINGÜE)
LOCATION: Semilla Center, 2742 15th Ave S (in St. Paul’s Church)
DATE/TIME: Wednesdays / los miércoles, April 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 / 6-9pm
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Line-up information, line-up numbers, parade safety guidelines will be provided by email to group leaders after April 20, 2026, when all groups have registered for the parade. Please note the Zoom meetings dates and times
Keep an eye out for this important information and have a plan to share this info with all members of your group.
It will take time for everyone to find their spot in the line-up and get ready to go, so please arrive NO LATER than 11:00am.
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Bring everything you need to keep yourself and your group safe and comfortable!
Bring snacks, water, folks to attend to your group’s safety needs (especially for kids, stilters and large puppets), and dress for the weather.
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No pets are allowed in the parade for the safety of puppeteers and stilters. If you have a service animal, let us know in your registration form.
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Keep the Mayday Parade alive by volunteering! Fill out this form to sign up to volunteer for the Parade and Festival
Volunteer spots will be on the route and you can watch the parade!
Any questions? Email us at ourmaydayparade@gmail.com