Handmade Parade
FIRST FRIDAY OCTOBER 3rd, 2025!
Pre-parade activities: 4-6pm
Parade assembly: 6-6:30pm
Parade: 6:30-7:30pm
Post-parade activities: 7:30-10pm
🎉 Handmade Parade 2025: Unity Through Creativity 🎉
📅 Friday, October 3 | 📍 Benson Creative District
BFF Omaha + Giant Joy Collective present the first-ever Handmade Parade — a community celebration where art takes to the streets! Giant puppets, DIY floats, costumes, and banners will transform Benson into a moving work of art created by neighbors, families, schools, and YOU.
🖌️ Pre-Parade Fun (Free & Family-Friendly!)
📍 Rosehill Elementary Blacktop | 4–6 PM
✨ Creation Station – Mask & prop making
✨ Collaborative Faces Mural – Add your mark
✨ Face Painting – by Liudmyla Levinson
📍 Benson Community Center | 1–3 PM
✨ Schools Out Craft Day – kid-friendly DIY projects
🎭 Handmade Parade
📍 Rosehill Elementary | Lineup 6 PM | Parade Start 6:30 PM
Neighbors, artists, and organizations bring UNITY THROUGH CREATIVITY to life with puppets, costumes, floats, and people-powered magic!
🎶 Post-Parade Party
📍 Petshop Gallery & Backlot | 7:30–10 PM
🎵 The Cruel Idiots (7:00)
🎵 Root (7:30)
🎵 Hair Person (8:00)
🎵 The Mercurys (8:30)
Puppet theatre, skateboarding, face painting, library fun, DIY junk wall, photo ops & more along 62nd Street!
🌟 Get Involved
Everyone’s invited to march, build, perform, or cheer from the sidelines.
The first annual Handmade Parade is made possible thanks to the support of Dundee Bank, WP Engine, Rose Hill PTO, Montessori Co-Op School, Central Skate Shop, Park Omaha, The Nebraska Arts Council and Cultural Endowment.
2025 Handmade Parade Theme: UNITY THROUGH CREATIVITY
Experience the Handmade Parade, where giant puppets, dazzling costumes, and lively performances fill historic downtown Benson with color and energy. Whether you're marching, performing, or cheering from the sidelines, your presence is a symbol of resilience, creativity, and connection at a time when we need to celebrate our differences, lift each other up, and showcase the beauty of self-expression.
The celebration continues with typical First Friday art and community events, including music, art, and hands-on activities for all ages. More than just a festival, it’s a reminder that creativity unites us, turning public spaces into places of joy, expression, and community.
CALL FOR ARTISTS!
Register to participate in the parade below! Bring your friends, dress in costumes, create a puppet, do a performance…we’re open to it all!
We’re looking for street-corner musicians and performers ! (October 3rd 6-10pm). Please email info@bffomaha.org if interested.
We’ve been collecting abandoned shopping carts for floats! If you’d like one to turn one into a creative walkable float, please reach out to info@bffomaha.org.
Need ideas? Visit our pinterest page for inspiration!
Need help? Drop into any of our Upcoming Workshops!
Handmade Parade FAQ’s
What is the Handmade Parade?
The Handmade Parade is a brand-new community-built procession happening in Benson on Friday, October 3, 2025, as part of the October First Friday art walk. Unlike traditional parades, this one is created entirely by the community—neighbors, families, schools, and artists bring puppets, masks, costumes, banners, and floats under the theme Unity Through Creativity.
Who can participate?
Everyone! The parade is open to artists, families, schools, organizations, and anyone who wants to get creative. No prior parade experience is needed—just bring something handmade (big or small) and join in.
✨ Walk-ups welcome! Register on parade day at Rosehill Elementary between 4–6 PM.
Do I need to register?
Participation is free. Registration is encouraged so we can plan the lineup and share details in advance—sign up anytime at HERE.
Can’t commit ahead of time? No problem! Walk-ups can check in at Rosehill on parade day from 4–6 PM.
What should I bring or make?
Anything handmade that adds to the celebration! Popular options include:
Puppets (handheld, giant, or shadow)
Masks, hats, or costumes
Painted banners or signs
Decorated wagons, bikes, or carts as “mini floats”
Instruments or noisemakers
Think colorful, creative, and people-powered—no motor vehicles, please.
Do I have to build something to participate?
Not at all. You can march, cheer, or dance without a handmade piece. That said, even a simple mask or sign helps make the parade more vibrant.
What’s the schedule?
1:00–3:00 PM | Benson Community Center – Schools Out Craft Day (kids’ projects)
4:00–6:00 PM | Rosehill Elementary Blacktop – Creation Station, Collaborative Faces Mural, Face Painting, and Parade Registration
6:00 PM | Rosehill Elementary – Parade lineup
6:30 PM | Rosehill Elementary – Parade begins
7:30–10:00 PM | Petshop Gallery & Backlot – Post-Parade Party with live music, art, and street activations
Where does the parade route go?
The parade starts at Rosehill Elementary (5605 Corby St.), travels through the Benson Creative District, and ends near Petshop Gallery (62nd & Maple) for the Post-Parade Party.
Is the event family-friendly?
Yes! Kids are encouraged to join the crafts, dress up, and march. The entire day—from afternoon activities to the evening party—is designed to be welcoming for all ages.
How much does it cost?
Everything—the crafts, the parade, and the post-party—is completely free to attend or participate in.
What happens at the Post-Parade Party?
From 7:30–10:00 PM at Petshop Gallery & Backlot, enjoy live performances by The Cruel Idiots, Root, Hair Person, and The Mercurys, plus puppet theatre, skateboarding, library activities, face painting, a DIY junk wall, photo ops, and more along 62nd Street.
I don’t have kids. What else can I do before the parade?
Check out the Benson Bolt .5K—the “race for people who hate running.” It’s a playful half-kilometer dash that starts at St. Andrews Pub (6102 Maple St.) with check-in at 5 PM and race start at 6 PM. You’ll finish right at the parade lineup.
👉 More info: https://checkout.page/s/ltp9SNYWpWntO
I’d rather skip the parade. What are my options?
Benson First Friday has plenty going on! Alongside the parade, enjoy gallery openings, markets, live music, and the BFF Artist Market featuring 30+ vendors inside the Benson Theatre. From quiet gallery moments to high-energy shows, there’s something for every taste.
👉 Full lineup: https://www.bffomaha.org/events/october-3rd-first-friday
How can I support the parade?
Participate by marching or building something
Volunteer to help with setup, logistics, or cleanup
Donate supplies (cardboard, fabric, paint, etc.)
Become a sponsor
Contact info@bffomaha.org to get involved.
Join the Party!
About:
Hosted by BFF Omaha, the Handmade Parade is a vibrant celebration of art, creativity, and community. Creating an immersive, and participatory experience that deepens public engagement with the arts while strengthening the bonds of the community, Handmade Parade invites everyone to take part in the magic.
Other Ways to Get Involved
Sponsor & Business Registration
Whether you're a business, corporation, or political campaign, this is how you show up. Sponsoring or registering guarantees visibility, supports community programming, and helps keep Benson creative (and weird).
Needed Supplies
We’re building floats, puppets, costumes, and more, and we need materials. Check out our supply list to see what you might have lying around (cardboard! pool noodles! hot glue!). It all helps bring the magic to life.
Volunteer Opportunities
Go behind the scenes and help bring this spectacular event to life! Whether you love to build, organize, or dive into the action on parade day, we have a place for you.
Workshops
Want to build something for the parade? Learn how to make a puppet? Join one of the many open workshops throughout town to get creative, get messy, and help shape the show. All ages and skill levels welcome.
