Downtown Olympia’s annual Arts Walk and Procession of the Species parade are iconic and unmissable. For many years, these events have welcomed families, friends, neighbors, and tourists for a weekend of birds, bees, bugs, music, laughter, art, food and fun. What other parade allows you to be splashed by a massive geoduck, lured in by the twinkling lights of an anglerfish (with legs for marching) or enjoy a hard-at-work dung beetle rolling its prize?
Organizers typically rent a vacant storefront beforehand for the creation and assembly of Procession’s unique pageantry. This year, they had to get creative in finding space and ended up spread out across multiple sites downtown. They hope to return to a more stable environment next spring, but still happily welcome guests to the workshop, parade and Luminary Procession April 24 and 25, 2026.
The Slightly Rocky Evolution of 2026’s Procession of the Species Parade
Procession of the Species was created by Eli Sterling and took to the streets in 1995. Over the past three decades, it has become Puget Sound’s largest annual Earth Day event and includes music, art, dance, costumes and fun for all ages. The night before is the Luminary Procession, held after Friday’s Arts Walk for a twilight stroll from Washington and Fourth to Sylvester Park.
Unlike previous years, organizers weren’t able to rent a large space with roll-up doors for work on designing, creating or refurbishing costumes and objects, says Sterling. “This made it harder to build momentum,” he admits, “because when someone’s working on a big project with four or five others, they all tell friends and then news spreads exponentially by word of mouth.”
Not having a centralized hub also means volunteers lack the spark of inspiration that comes from seeing or having what Sterling calls “iconic pieces from previous years to coalesce around.” But, he says, “we’re constantly being told how amazing and valuable Procession is and having people come help and a community willing to step forward is something I never take for granted.”
Even with a Bumpy Start, Procession of the Species Will be Festive Fun for All Ages
Sterling and the Procession team have weathered worse and he remains undaunted for 2026. “People find a kinship with some of our iconic creatures and there are still opportunities to get involved this year,” he promises.
This year’s studio space was formerly occupied by the Olympia Dance Center and Orca Books at 509 E 4th Avenue. It is open daily from mid-March through April 25 (closed Mondays) and anyone is welcome to come be creative. Larger puppets and costumes are using the covered outdoor area behind the nearby Plum Street YMCA.
If you’d like to participate, there are multiple options for volunteers. There are existing pieces which can be pulled through the parade and help is always needed to carry artwork or windsocks on bamboo poles and hand out craft supplies like sidewalk chalk to the audience.
Other volunteer opportunities include behind-the-scenes office support, design and logistics, grant writing, outreach and marketing and much more. They also accept donated supplies like backpacks, fabric, chicken wire, paint or other craft items.
Want to march in the parade representing your favorite critter or Earth Day moment? The guidelines are simple and everyone is welcome. First, choose whether you’re marching in the Luminary Procession on April 24 or Procession of the Species on April 25. Participants should register at the registration table—the only Parade fee is two cans of food for the Thurston County Food Bank—and then get costumed up and ready to go. Sterling especially welcomes anyone who can play music and all groups are welcome.
Complete participant guidelines and information are posted online and cleanup day is Sunday, April 26 starting at 9 a.m.
Do Your Part to Keep Procession of the Species Vibrant, Vital and Very, Very Silly
Sterling says he created the festival “so each one of us on this planet can share and celebrate their own beautiful, special moment.” This year’s parade theme is timely: lengthening the horizons of our hearts. He hopes that gathering together in a spirit of joy “can be our effort to do just that in these turbulent times.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Sterling and the Procession team are always on the lookout for spaces to rent, ideally with large doors for float-sized costumes and creations. Corporate sponsors are also welcomed and can have their logo displayed on the Procession website.
To register groups of volunteers, ask questions, learn more about sponsorship and donations or if you’ve got a potential building site, email OlympiaProcession@gmail.com or fill out their online Contact Us page.
We can’t always predict the spring weather or downtown’s short-term commercial rental market, but despite those unknowns, Procession of the Species rolls on like a happy papier-mâché dung beetle. The parade may evolve over the years, but with a little luck will still be the festive heart of Arts Walk for another few decades.
