The idea of organizing a community event to celebrate wild animals and biodiversity all started in 1992 with the seemingly simple pronouncement, “What you really need is a parade.” Support for the idea involved investments of time, creative energy, and resources, which led to the founding of one of Missoula’s most beloved and enduring annual events: the WildWalk Parade.
What started as a parade of a few hundred people has grown to thousands. And while some things have changed, the WildWalk Parade remains a participatory celebration where parade goers don colorful costumes transforming into diaphanous jellyfish, ponderous buffalo, and slippery salmon often adopting their animal’s persona as they follow the migratory parade route along Higgins Avenue.
As Film Festival Operations Manager David Mills-Low observed, Missoulians love a celebration that reflects the character of our town, and in fact, the WildWalk Parade and WildFest (the after parade gathering) represent “one of those cultural touchstones and a true sign that spring is actually coming.”
The origins of the WildWalk Parade are rooted in a modest investment by the Montana Arts Council through a grant provided to Craig Menteer, a local artist and performer. With funding in-hand he approached Dr. Chuck Jonkel, renowned bear biologist and founder of Missoula’s International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF). Craig proposed adding a parade as a way to energize the community and kickstart the film festival. Chuck enthusiastically agreed and with the support of a cadre of committed volunteers, artists, teachers, and students, the WildWalk Parade was born.
Additional investments were needed and community members and local businesses stepped up to support the artists while the city and county of Missoula donated workshop space at the Missoula County Fairgrounds, providing a place for people to gather. Art students from the University of Montana and students from local schools worked and learned together about the animals they created, how they moved, and behaved in their natural environment. That first year, despite all the uncertainty the investment of time and resources paid off, Craig recalls. “Missoula really turned out,” he said. Hundreds of people showed up dressed in costume as he wryly noted, “It didn’t hurt that it was a sunny day.”
Whether you are a seasoned veteran of many a WildWalk Parade or a newcomer, the festivities will be welcoming and inspiring. This year, the WildWalk Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18. The staging area is in the Caras parking lot off Pattee Street (near the river) and the parade winds its way south on Higgins Avenue towards the XXXX. You are encouraged to come in costume dressed as your favorite flora or fauna. It usually takes about an hour for the parade to wrap up at the BN Plaza and for WildFest to begin, which boasts live music, food vendors, and fun activities hosted by local organizations.
Spontaneity and wonder remain enduring qualities of the WildWalk Parade; no one really knows what animals you will encounter and which local schools will show up, with school kids dressed en masse, perhaps as penguins, which by the way, are called a “waddle” when on land, a “raft” when swimming, and a “colony” or “rookery” when nesting. And yet, change is inevitable, and the WildWalk Parade is no exception; there are fewer workshops and less funding available for artists interested in creating the big pieces such as the blue whale, giant loon, or buffalo that have graced past parades. Art programs at many of the public schools are also stretched thin which makes it harder for kids to fully participate both in the classroom and parade.
Luckily, support for IWFF, including WildWalk+WildFest is something we can all do: as individuals we can attend, participate, or volunteer. Businesses and community members play a vital role through sponsorship and donations. Founded in 1977, IWFF is the oldest ongoing festival devoted to wildlife films and like any wise investor, the IWFF is in it for the long-haul and already gearing up to celebrate next year’s 50th anniversary with special events and celebrations. The IWFF thrives on community involvement—helping make the community what we want it to be. As David Mills-Low observed, “Everyone should care: we all live in this world and we have a role to play in learning, helping and celebrating the natural world. We’re all in this together.”
“Everyone should care: we all live in this world and we have a role to play in learning, helping and celebrating the natural world. We’re all in this together.”
For more information about WildWalk+WildFest and the 49th annual International Wildlife Festival (April 18-23), visit www.wildlifefilms.org. Films start at 2 p.m. and includes youth matinees for children of all ages.