“(My flag means) fun, family, and love.” —Malaya Gilbert, 5. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
As part of the theme for the art parade, marchers were encouraged to decorate their flags according to their own individual identity. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
Sandra Branch, vice president of the Flint Public Art Project, readies the flags for their decoration at the Civic Park Art Parade, Thursday, July 26. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
“My flag means that it's my favorite color and this god spot is here because I didn’t finish it...and I just wanted to get in the parade.” —Jarbaree Reed, 12. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
Kayla Wilson, 28, marches in the Civic Park Art Parade with her snare in in the Nightfire Drumline team. This is their sixth year providing percussion for the Flint Public Art Project Neighborhood Art Parades. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
Before and after Civic Park Art Parade volunteer food vendors provided a spread of popcorn, hotdogs, cotton candy, and other beverages under a tent at the Civic Park Centennial Park. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
Josiah Patton, 9, gets an assist on his backflip routine at the Civic Park Art Parade. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
Lamariona Sims, 8 waves her flag in the wind just before her march in the Civic Park Art Parade, Thursday, July 25. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
“We were just talking about how this was one of the most enthusiastic crowds we’ve had all year. So when the crowd loves it, we love it," said Michael Wilson (middle) of Nighfire Drumline with Clarence Ruffin (left) and Kayla Wilson. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
Firefighter Daryl Jones shows Jamire Thomas, 8 the smoke mask inside the firetruck at the Civc Park Art Parade. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
As part of the theme for the art parade, marchers were encouraged to decorate their flags according to their own individual identity. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
“The parade was really fun, really cool. It inspired me to keep on moving and being myself and doing what I have to do. And that’s why I went on with the parade.” —Jarquavise Reed, 11. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
Between the food and games, the Flint Fire Squad lined up curbside at the Civic Park Centennial Pavilion offering fire truck tours for kids. Alexandria Brown | Flintside
FLINT, Michigan—Flags dotted the air as the march wound from Civic Park Centennial Park down Milbourne Street to Forest Hill Avenue and from Forest Hill Avenue to Dayton Street. As the Nightfire Drumline and the marching crowd shuffled past, they left curious eyes, recording phones out of car windows, and porch spectators in their wake.
“This is kind of like a celebration,” said Sandra Branch, vice president of the Flint Public Art Project. “Everytime we come to Civic Park, everybody joins in, everybody has fun and this is multiple generations sharing what they know and just having fun. It’s what community is about.”
The Flint Public Art Project engaged Civic Park as their third site in a series of neighborhood art parades this year. In conjunction with food festivities was a vendor fair featuring Elga Credit Union, United Way, Red Cross, Genesee Intermediate District, Odyssey House, and Consumer Energy at the Civic Park Centennial Park.
Many of the marchers included youth from the Claressa Shields Community Project summer camp program. Plastic blow up swords, frisbees, footballs, markered flags, and back flips decorated the celebration long before and after the march.
The art parade is made possible through a partnership with Walmart and Michigan State Police.
“I thought it was going to be with bouncy houses and stuff, but it turned out to be even better,” said Oveeanna Montgomery, 9.
The final neighborhood art parade is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Latinx Tech Center.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.