Some scholars argue that parading is the oldest form of performance in human history. Rites of remembrance, communal expressions of celebration, audacious displays of power, ritualistic markers of time and experience–Parading is woven into the fabric of human culture. Over the years Museum staff have been invited to many different communities to create all kinds of parades with diverse groups of participants. A typical Parade Building collaboration involves two workshop leaders from the Museum who work with participants in planning, designing, building and performing a parade on theme(s) relevant to the community. Generally, the community who is interested in making the parade organizes a core team of at least 10 builders who work with Museum staff regularly to create large numbers of puppets, flags, banners and other parading materials. The community organizes a large group of last-minute volunteers (25-150 people) who join us two hours prior to the parade to learn to use the puppets and to perform in the parade. In general, the host community is responsible for planning the parade route and obtaining any parade permits necessary, providing adequate work and storage space, and housing/transportation for the 2 Museum staff during their stay. In our experience, a parade may be large or small, public or private, but parades of all kinds remain a powerful force for uniting communities in celebration, commemoration, education or protest.