Get ready to work yourself into a lather, Baltimore, because the 8th Annual Bubble Parade is back!
The colorful spring tradition is floating into town to a new location, with expanded activities and a new bubble festival that will have you frothing with excitement!
UncustoMARY presents the parade and festival on May 11 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Riverside Park. Festivities include, of course, the bubble parade with bubbles and colorful costumes; bubble shows; a live DJ to play your favorite POP tunes for dancing; and a food truck.
There will be a photobooth and props, a costume contest, a mystery raffle, vendors selling their wares, bubble and lawn games, and other effervescent surprises. Specifics include:
* Live music – DJ Greg Goose
* Live bubble show – UncustoMARY + April’s Twisted Entertainment
* Pixilated photobooth with props for you to take photos
* Costume contest for the best dressed adult, child, and dog
* Bubble games — rope wands, make a bubble over your body,
* Lawn games — parachute, velcro balls, skip its, sidewalk chalk, inflatables, hula hoops, jump ropes
* Bubble parade merchandise + fun gifts available for purchase
* Mystery Raffle
* Food truck — Althea’s Almost Famous
* And of course… the Bubble Parade itself at 4:00pm!
The event was originally created by organizer Mary “UncustoMARY” England in 2015, who wanted to bring joy and happiness to Baltimore, one bubble at a time. Last year’s event drew the biggest crowd the parade ever had, and this year Mary hopes it will be even bigger.
England is a published author, performance artist, and merriment maker. She began her business because of her struggles growing up with negligent parents and her own mental illness. She missed out on a full childhood experience, having to advocate for herself and her well-being from a very early age. This led to myriad traumatic behaviors, including self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide attempts.
Advocating for herself continued, as she sought help for her mental illness and therapy for her behaviors. Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she worked at a psychiatric rehab center for more than five years. She came back to the creating she loved as a child. Now, in addition to her events, England is a life coach and runs “The Merriment Makers” – an exclusive online support group focusing in depth on a different theme each month.
The Bubble Parade is one of the events she organizes to help spread merriment and joy as a remedy for stress and unhappiness. Her goal is to reconnect people to joy as a way to help them heal.
“There is no other event like this in the DMV region – it is truly a one-of-a-kind unicorn,” England said. “Participants come dressed up in whimsical costumes and dance, twirl, laugh, and blow thousands of bubbles. You can’t help but look at what’s happening because it really is a sight to see. Every year people join in on the fun and reflect on it being the perfect opportunity to slow down in a hectic world. The Bubble Parade is also an ideal location for a family picture, selfie, reconnection to nature or play. I love seeing families come back every year – it makes me so happy to see it is a cherished annual tradition. Every year it grows bigger and better – and I hope everyone enjoys the new surprise location and party for 2024.”
The Bubble Parade was designed as a community event to kick-off spring, and it succeeds in creating joy in participants and passers-by alike. It’s described as a “show-stopping sight” resembling a “technicolor music video set on a luscious green grass background.” The goal is to bring out children, adults, and families, and England is hoping to nearly double attendance from last year’s 600-plus people to between 1,000 and 1,500 people for this year’s event.
According to the press release, “[t]he new format sees the celebration start at 2:00pm with music, food, photo opportunities, games, bubble shows and more. At 4:00pm, participants will parade around the park showing off their colorful and festive costumes and outfits while blowing bubbles and enjoying bubbles from bubble artists. The celebration and parade takes off from the Park’s Heath and Covington entrance, with GPS address 1703 Covington Street.”
Tickets for the Bubble Parade are $7 in advance. The event is free for children two years and younger. To purchase tickets, click this link.
