FAQs

The Earthly Procession is a community-driven art spectacle - a parade of local species, joyously occupying public space in unconventional ways to build community connections, engage the public through art, raise environmental awareness, and celebrate active transportation.

This event is Family Friendly, and for everyone.

In 2026, we are raising awareness about the impacts of light pollution with the theme of Local Moths & Migratory Birds. Go wild with it!

Summariazed from and inspired by The Knoxville Puppet Alliance, who said it better than we could:

• We strongly encourage everyone to be in costume (or carrying a puppet/riding an art bike). If you don't have one, come anyway! We'll try to have some spares to borrow.

• Children under 15 should be accompanied by someone older

• No motorized vehicles or animals (apart from wheelchairs, mobility aids, and working animals)

• We believe that all human and non-human entities deserve dignity and respect. We ask that your creations respect and reflect this belief. If you have questions regarding this guideline, please contact us directly and ask. The Earthly Procession reserves the right to prohibit participation if creations violate this guideline.

• As this is a family event, nudity is prohibited.

• All event attendees participate at their own risk.

• Parade entries must emphasize SAFETY. Before you bring it, make sure that your creation has:

  • • • good visibility

      • can be safely and easily operated and controlled

      • is safe for other participants to move/be around.

      • CONSIDER THE WIND - April is a breezy month and your creation might become a sail...

Anyone can!

Make yourself a costume, puppet, or bike-decoration of a Sonoma County species - check out this list of local species...

Then, help everyone answer the question: what daily act/s by humans would help that organism thrive?

The 2026 Parade theme is Local Moths & Migratory Birds. Consider making Bird and Moth-themed costumes! Check the link for inspiration & resources.

Remember:

The Earthly Procession shares the road with cars - Test your creations before the event!

(1) all puppets, sculptures, and costumes must be safe for everyone on the road, including all riders, pedestrians, and drivers.

• good visibility

• can be safely and easily operated and controlled

• is safe for other participants to move/be around.

• CONSIDER THE WIND - April is an breezy month and your creation might become a sail.

(2) anyone utilizing the bike lane must follow the rules of traffic

(3) TEST ART BEFOREHAND! Consider how your wearable, carry-able, or ride-able art will interact with:

• • • • • • wind - is it accidentally a sail?

          • overhanging wires, signs, trees, etc

          • pedestrians, riders, and drivers

Code of Conduct

By participating in the Earthly Procession, community members commit to respectful conduct that prioritizes the safety of self and others.

All attendees participate at their own risk.

Some great resources on how to build puppets from the Knoxville-based Catty Wampus parade.

Some sweet costume inspiration

Some sweet puppet inspiration

The species shown on Pinterest aren't usually local to Sonoma County, but they are a great starting place!

Learn more about our local species on iNaturalist.

When we find some good resources for building art-bikes, we will include them here. Until then, costumes and puppets on bikes are great!

There are many kinds of puppets. See Bread and Puppets Theater for some old-school, at-home, low-cost guides to puppet-making. Also these extensive puppetry guides from CattyWampus, and some more from the Knoxville Puppet Alliance

Some specific DIY guides from youtube:

Bird Puppet Guide from Thingamajig Theater

Papercraft Bird Mobile How-To 

Móvil de Ave en cartón

Migratory birds, moths, night-flying insects, and other nocturnal creatures from Sonoma County will be centered in the Twilight Troupe at the front of the parade.

However, if you (or your group) have a tangible environmental solution that you would like to platform with different types of organisms, do it! The only constraint is that it should be species that live in Sonoma County.

If you want to learn about organisms in this area, iNaturalist is a top resource. 

This link will take you to a list of species that have been observed in Sonoma County.... with photos!

Otherwise, check out the short-list of species for the Twilight Troupe on Twilight Troupe page.