2026 BURLINGTON TROUT PARADE
June 29, 12pm
Starting at the Flynn
Last year, the Flynn partnered with Burlington’s Sustainability Academy and the Burlington School District to create the first annual Burlington Trout Parade. Every spring, students at the Sustainability Academy raise Brook Trout as part of Trout Unlimited’s Trout in the Classroom program. In the past, the school celebrated the release of the trout with a procession throughout the school and school grounds with puppets that honor trout and related creatures. This year, they expannded this celebration to include the larger community, launching a tradition that brings Burlington together to honor the waters of its land, its watershed and the creatures that swim, fly, crawl and share its space.
Resident Artists
Uncle Erok
(he/him/they/them) is a local artist, activist and poet who strives to create work that inspires joy, wonder, deep connection and liberation. From large-scale murals, banners, flags and protest signs to astrological woodcuts, freestyle poetry and upcycled clothing, erok offers a big and tiny array of artwork. Erok has been print making for over 20 yrs working in DIY styles of both screen and block printing. Often he's working with community to make prints and art used in parades, protests and campaigns for climate justice and human rights.
Janice Walrafen
Janice Walrafen is a multi media artist/sculptor/puppet maker/teacher/community celebrant living along the Winooski River in Central Vermont. For almost 4 decades she has been creating larger than life puppets, masks and costumes to celebrate the cycles of the seasons with community pageantry. It began in 1987 with the All Species Project, which is founded on the principles of ecology, and celebrating the interdependence of all life. Much of what she does can be seen at: https://www.alltogethernowvt.org/
"When we create and wear masks and costume representing another species of life, imagine seeing through their eyes, we find we can learn to be earthlings, not just human beings. Puppet theater is a powerful way to build community and narrate stories to inspire respect for all of life."
Additionally, she makes decorative Art Tiles https://www.jravenarttile.com/ and teaches art, both in the studio and community centers.
