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COUNTDOWN TO THE PARADE

The much-beloved Commercial Drive tradition attended annually by over 10,000 lost souls

Parade Donation

Entry by $5 Recommended Donation 

After-Party Tickets
 
 
Online tickets get you on the guest list.
Bring a photo ID & email confirmation. 
Tickets will not be sold at the door.

THE FACEBOOK

TRICKSTERS' TREAT!

Secret Location Revealed

Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret presents the Parade of Lost Souls: Tricksters' Treat, this year at the Britannia Community Centre grounds, featuring Pyschopomp Alley, Rascals' Row, and The Roost!

TO BE UPDATED

"The future is a trickster rabbit, full of surprises. Only the past is predictable." - James Howe

"The trickster's function is to break taboos, create mischief, stir things up. In the end, the trickster gives people what they really want, some sort of freedom." - Tom Robbins

Trickster Tool Kit

Look out for these Tricks & Treats at the Parade of Lost Souls! 

Set Your Intention!

 

The Parade of Lost Souls is a celebration of the cycles of life and death. Celebrate those people or things that have meaning in your life. It could be a keepsake, the memory of a lost soul, or a special passage. Grab and piece of fabric, write down what is meaningful to you, carry it with you along the procession, and than offer it as a gift to the trickster spirits around the Nest at the end of the parade route. Should a trickster crow come to pluck it from you, they do it with good intentions - to help memorialize our collective keepsakes. 

Super Secret Sideshows!

 

This year, we have an assortment of Super Secret Sideshows! When you donate at one of the Parade Information Booths (shown on the Parade Map), we'll give you a card with a riddle to one of these more intimate performances. Give a larger donation and you'll get all three! 

Illuminate Your Path!

 

Tricksters can sometimes be creepy, scary, lurking creatures. Illuminate your path while wandering through the dark paths of the Parade of Lost Souls. For a $10 donation, you can get your very own Parade of Lost Souls Lantern, hand-crafted by our creative and energetic volunteers. Donations go to support the costs of holding an event of this scale. Pick yours up from the Parade Info Booth at the Napier/Commercial Drive festival gate. 

Rain or Shine!

 

A little rain never stops our tricksters from coming out to play. Parade will be in full force, rain or shine! We plan for these things - it is fall in Vancouver after-all. Grab an umbrella, pop on a poncho, sip a hot drink and come on down. Our tricksters will be waiting for you!

As All Hallows’ Eve crawls slowly from the autumn mist, preparations are underway for the Parade of Lost Souls Festival. The annual tradition, a decades-old East Vancouver  mainstay, is refuge and release, community and collective for thousands of lost souls. Participants of the Parade of Lost Souls Festival gather together to redefine our ideas of community engagement; to reconnect with one another, and with ourselves, in a celebration of the cycles of life and death. The festival’s true popularity lies in its ability to inspire and accentuate the creativity of those who attend. The Parade of Lost Souls is proof that we have not lost our link to the richness and depth of the ritual celebrations of our ancestors.

 

The Parade of Lost Souls is organized by, and for, the community it serves. It is a parade of spectacle and performance, an inclusive celebration for the thousands of lost souls that join us every year to meander along its route. 

 

This year, we celebrate the unexpected and find our freedom in a celebration of mythology’s most celebrated tricksters! The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret Society proudly presents the 2015 Parade of Lost Souls Festival theme: Tricksters’ Treat!

 

Come for workshops! Come for the parade! Come to the after party! Join us as we celebrate the dark and light, love and loss, life and death!

The Parade will take place on October 31, 2015 - All Hallows’ Eve. In keeping with tradition, the parade route will be a secret, announced at midnight the night before. Keep checking our website and social media feeds for updated information, a parade route map, and other exciting surprises!

 

Celebrations continue at the Lost Souls After-party at The Hall (Astorino’s), 1739 Venables Street (see details below). After party tickets can be purchased online or at a parade info booth - buy your tickets in advance, as they will not be available at the door.

 

Finally, it takes a tremendous amount of effort and funding to stage this event, and we are always on the lookout for energetic volunteers, artists and donors to join our team. The festival continues to be successful because of the creative  artists and performers who share their talents, our hard-working volunteers who keep us running, and the larger community who join us each year - dressed in wondrous and creative costumes!

 

Parade donations can be made online, or at the event, and volunteer and performance opportunities can be found in the “Get Involved” section below. We are eternally grateful for your generosity!

Theme

“Tricksters are essential to any contact with the sacred. People can not pray until they have laughed, because laughter opens and frees from rigid preconception. Humans have to have tricksters within the most sacred ceremonies for fear that they forget the sacred comes through upset, reversal, surprise. The trickster in most native traditions is essential to creation, to birth.” - Byrd Gibbens

 

AFTER-PARTY
SOLD OUT

 

LOCATION & PARADE ROUTE

In the tradition of the Parade of Lost Souls, all of the lost souls of Vancouver

will converge in East Vancouver at the Britannia Community Centre grounds, featuring Psychopomp Alley, Rascals' Row, and The Roost!

Location

LOST SOULS AFTER-PARTY

Following the Parade, all of the lost souls keep the party going all Halloween night at the Lost Souls After-Party, this year featuring The Tailor, Sweet Anomaly, Orkestar Slivovica, Bone Rattle Burlesque, DJ Angel and more.  

Astorino's on the Drive

(The Hall)

 

ALL HALLOWS' EVE  |  9PM - 2AM

(October 31st)

 

1739 Venables Street, East Vancouver 

(Corner of Venables St. & Commercial Dr.) [MAP]

Sold Out!

TICKETS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

 

Early-Bird (Until Oct. 25th): $15 Per Person

Regular (Oct. 26-30th): $20 Per Person

Day-Of (Oct. 31): $25 Per Person [Sold @ Parade Info Booths Only]

 

Online tickets can be claimed at Will Call.

Bring photo ID & your email confirmation.

19+

SOLD OUT
After Party

WORKSHOPS

We aim to inspire the performer and maker that exists in all of us! A variety of creative workshops leading up to the parade provide an opportunity to dance, play music and make, and to participate in parade performances.
Leather Mask-Making

w/ Chelsea Louise Grant & Steve Gairns

 

 

"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth."

- Oscar Wilde

 

 

The mask is an essential component of Halloween, Carnival, Festival and Parade traditions. Guided by designers Chelsea Louise Grant & Steve Gairns, participants will use basic leather sculpting techniques to make a custom mask that can be worn to the Parade of Lost Souls! Unleash you inner trickster: the truth will set us free!

 

 

Workshop A: Leather Mask-Making

 

Britannia School Cafeteria

Mon      Oct 19     7:00 - 9:00pm     Instructed

Mon      Oct 26     7:00 - 9:00pm     Instructed

 

Spots Available: 24 per workshop

Min. Donation: $10 per person

(Includes all materials except finishing supplies)

 

This workshop will focus on mask design and leather sculpting techniques. Each date is a stand-alone workshop - participants will register for one night only. When registering, please indicate which night you wish to attend.

 

 

Workshop B: Leather Mask Finishing

 

Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret Studio

Wed     Oct 28     6:30 - 9:30pm     Open Studio

 

Registration is open only to those who participate in one of Workshop A dates

Min. Donation: $10 per person

(Includes all Finishing Supplies)

 

This workshop is a drop-in studio time to allow participants of Workshop A to stain/paint/finish their moulded leather masks.

 

 

Registration:

 

To sign-up, visit www.euoi.ca and fill out the registration form. Facebook "Joins" will not be included as registration.

Please include the name(s) of all participants (max. 3 per registration), email and phone number, which Workshop A night you'd like to attend, and whether you will join Workshop B.

 

For more information:

Facebook Event / www.euoi.ca.

 

The Sounders

w/ Nayana Filkow

 

 

A costume, mask making and performance workshop

 

 

At the Britannia School Cafeteria

Thu     Oct 22     7:00-9:00pm

Thu     Oct 29     7:00-9:00pm
 

By Donation ($5-10 suggested)

All proceeds go to the production of the event

 

 

The Sounders are other worldly masked creatures that create beautiful music and movement together. Equal parts visual art and sound, the ensemble will be unified in dress with megaphone masks! In this two part workshop participants will make wonderful take home masks out of paper-mache and practice group improvisation skills to be performed for this years Parade.

The Carnival Band

 

At the Britannia Centre Al Mattison Lounge

Mon     Oct 19     7:30 - 10:00pm

Mon     Oct 26     7:30 - 10:00pm

 

 

Dust off that flute you haven’t played since 9th grade. Pick up that tuba you always wanted to learn instead. Haven’t you always wanted to join them every time you see the Carnival Band at every great East Vancouver festival? Now is your chance. You can try it on for this year’s Parade!

 

For more information:

Facebook Event / www.thecarnivalband.com

 

Thriller Flashmob

w/ Kat Single-Dain

 

 

At the Britannia School Cafeteria

Tues     Oct 20     7:00 - 9:00pm

Sat        Oct 24     2:00 - 4:00pm

Tues     Oct 27     7:00 - 9:00pm

 

By Donation ($5-10 suggested)

 

 

Let’s party like it’s 1899…learn the ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY of Michael Jackson’s record setting break out hit Thriller! Come to at least two of the three workshops, if you can. Kat is very precise about teaching it exactly as MJ did it– to the step–which means that you can do your homework by watching the video and mirroring the zombies. If you get stuck, just ask yourself, What Would Michael Do?

Ghost Caravan

w/ Chris Ross

 

 

At the Britannia School Cafeteria

Sun      Oct 18      2:00 - 4:00pm

Sun       Oct 25     2:00 - 4:00pm

 

 

Imagine two ghostly figures riding two white bicycles. Behind them, like a horse drawn carriage is a magnificent portable theatre. Costumes characters emerge, played by local children and the lucky passersby are treated to short, magical, musical stories and vignettes! Join Chris Ross, writer and director from Project Limelight as he deftly leads you through theatre workshops towards a group performance at Parade of Lost Souls!

This is a theatre workshop, open to all children ages 4-12, that could lead to participation at the Parade!

 

 

Registration:

 

Registration required. To sign up, click here.

Workshops
Photos

GET INVOLVED

Since its first rising, the Parade of Lost Souls has been a grass-roots festival planned, organized and performed by, and for, the community that it serves. It's creativity, success and contributions to the community are the result of the tireless efforts of an astounding, talented and hard-working group of souls. But, we can always use more help. Won't you be one of those souls?      

Call for Performers & Artists

Calling all artists and performers! We are extending an invitation to you, our community of artists, performers and friends, to find your own inspiration and join us in creating this festival of celebration and ceremony. Are you a maker, a sculpter, an artist or a performer? Are you interested in building an installation, helping to create the parade environments, or performing that one thing you've always been aching to do? We are on the lookout for more performers, musicians, fire dancers, stilt walkers, puppetteers, clowns, acrobats, magicians, voice performers, contortionists, jugglers, and thriller dancing zombies. If performance isn't your thing, we're also looking for artists, costume designers, graphic designers, sculpters, makers, and make-up artists. If you're creative, and interested in the Parade, we want to hear from you! Let us know how you'd like to contribute.

Call for Volunteers

A festival, the size of the Parade of Lost Souls, requires a huge team of volunteers who are willing to do just about anything to help pull off the event. Volunteering with the production team or with the site crew will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how it all works and what it takes to pull of this festival. You'll also be providing an invaluable helping hand. We're looking for souls to help with a wide range of tasks, from helping to construct props and installations, place festival infrastructure on-site, to collecting donations at the parade, and cleaning up at the end of the night. This festival would not be what it is without the generous help of volunteers. If you're available and interested in lending a hand, we want to hear from you! Let us know how you'd like to contribute to the Parade of Lost Souls, and we'll try to match you with our current needs.

Get Involved

DONATIONS & TICKETS

Parade Donations

The Parade of Lost Souls can only exist through the generous donations of the community who support it. It costs over $20,000 to put on the parade every year: covering insurance, policing, porta-potties, permits, artist fees, and so much more.  Please consider donating whatever you can afford. Your donations will help keep the parade alive this year and for years to come. Thank you!

After-Party Tickets

 

Online tickets get you on the guest list.

Bring a photo ID & email confirmation.

 

TICKETS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

 

 

SOLD OUT

 

Donate
Contact

CAST & CREW

It takes a tremendous effort from a large and dedicated team of producers, performers, and volunteers to bring this event to East Vancouver year after year. For their tireless and creative efforts, we thank you! 

Parade of Lost Souls

Installations & Performances

 

Aerialist

The Arcade / Ron Skolney-Elverson

The Aviary

Bike Parade / P.U.P. Ride Bike Gang

Bloco Energia

Campfire Sing-a-long

Carnival Band

Dance of the Sleepwalkers / Lead by Vladislav Evdaev

Drive Street Band

East Van Cross / Brandi Rawluk

Eschoir Chorus

Face-Painting

Finale Fire Show / Vaudeville Vagabonds

The Food & Friends

Hearse Rides!

Is This the Vixen's Show?

Kingsgate Choir - Murder of Crows

Lost & Found Shadow Show / Maggie Winston

The Nest / Chelsea Louise Grant, Steve Gairns, Gordon Yiu

Orkestar Slivovica

Polymer Dance

Ragmop Ragamuffins

The Raven / Leah Giselle Field

Samba Du Soleil

Scarlet Harmonic

Set Your Intention

The Shapeshifters: Devil's Rave

The Sounders

Storytellers's Tour

Tall Tales

Trickster Emcee @ Entrance Gate / Patrick Kearns

Trickster Fire Drummers

Vaudeville Vagabonds

Vixen's Cabaret

Who's This Guy?

Woodwards Choir

 

 

Donation Jesters

 

Andraya Starino

Cory Lewis

Lisa Rockwell

Matt Lottridge

Pacha

Rachael Macala

Scott Williamson

Stazi

Willow Edwards

 

 

Crew

 

Set Building + Decoration Lead.....................David Valentine

Prop Building Lead.........................................Michelle Wishart

                                                                         Lilly Naomi Nadeau

Costume Design for Donation Jesters.............Francois Tribault

Signage............................................................Michael Undem

Sounds & Lights Lead.....................................Conrad Schmidt

Craft Services..................................................Belinda Li

                                                                         Esther

Strike Crew......................................................Candace Whitehead

                                                                         Devon

                                                                         Jae Nepinak

                                                                         Paul Nunner

                                                                         Stephanie

Make-Up Artist...............................................Alana Clohessy

Studio Clean-Up Crew....................................Emilie

                                                                         Heather Szylagi

                                                                         Annie

                                                                         Cordie

.

 

Volunteers

 

Amanda Cochrane

Anthony Sylvester

Ashley Tucker

Brandon Sanderson

Christine Gairns

Danielle Fayant

David Blanco

David Valentine

Deanna Knight

Gloria Carr

Gordon Yiu

Greg N

Guy the Bathrobe Zombie

Hamilton Hollands

Hilbert Yiu

Jannel Robertson?

Jenny Tam

Karen Gairns

Leah Giselle Field

Marie Eve

Patrick Kearns

Ramy Ladki

Ron Skolney-Elverson

Rockstar Teardown Crew

River

Trevor Iceton

Tuesday Andrich

Vera Horsman

Vanessa Zemluck

 

Lost Souls After-Party

In Association with Hammer & Tong

 

Production Manager..........................................Sean Ronan

Art Director.......................................................Alpha Lam

Performance Director........................................James Kingstone

Floor Manager...................................................Aaron King

Set Designers.....................................................Megan Matichuk

                                                                           Daniel Rudmin

                                                                           Alice Kruchten

                                                                           Arianne Dee

                                                                           Robbie Campbell

                                                                           Nick Lumiere

                                                                           Janine Williams

Set-Up Crew......................................................Rene Rebora

                                                                           Ethan Earl

                                                                           Olivia ait-Bella

Bar Staff............................................................Antonio Silva

                                                                           Richard Porteous

                                                                           Kelly Wakeford

                                                                           Andrew Wakeford

Entrance Staff....................................................James Herdy

                                                                           Olivia ait-Bella

                                                                           Shelby Herbert

                                                                           Steph Corpuz

                                                                           Elliott Vernon

                                                                           Dorota Golian

Wardrobe...........................................................Michelle Bowes

Make-Up Artist.................................................Alana Clohessy

 

 

Performances

 

Stage Performances............................................The Tailor

                                                                            Sweet Anomaly

                                                                            Orkestar Slivovica

                                                                            Bone Rattle Burlesque

                                                                            DJ Angel

Floor Performers................................................Wongela Wit

                                                                            Juliana Andrea-Duque

                                                                            Ben Stiller

                                                                            Rene Rebora

                                                                            Trevor White

                                                                            Dan Marcotte

                                                                            Sonia Furstrand

                                                                            Trevor Torris

                                                                            David Lloydy

                                                                            Kalya MacKirdy

                                                                  

Special Thanks to

Britannia Community Services Centre

British Columbia Arts Council / Province of British Columbia

Canadian Heritage / Government of Canada

City of Vancouver

Community of East Vancouver

 

---

 

Bandidas

Candy Dart

Commercial Drive Business Association

Community Police

Discovery Organics

Dollar Grocers

East Van Graphics

Jam Jar

JJ Bean (6th & Commercial, Vancouver)

Kim Sing Poultry 

Nature's Path

Roaming Dragon Food Truck

Safeway (Broadway & Commercial, Vancouver)

Security Crew

Tandoori Palace

Tandy Leather #74 (108th Ave., Surrey)

Matt Carlyle of Tandy Leather #74

Taser Grilled Cheese Food Truck

The Bean Buggy Food Truck

Varinicey Pakoras Food Truck

                                                                    

Production

Artistic Director / Producer.............................Kat Single-Dain

Production Manager........................................Michelle Wishart

Production Administrator................................Jenny Lee Craig

Lead Installation Designers.............................Chelsea Louise Grant

                                                                         Steve Gairns

Media & Public Relations...............................Kat Single-Dain

                                                                         Michelle Wishart

                                                                         Jenny Lee Craig

Website & Social Media.................................Steve Gairns

Indiegogo Campaign.......................................Chelsea Louise Grant

Volunteer Coordinator....................................Sean Campbell

Hospitality Manager.......................................Shayna Plaut

Donations Manager.........................................Shayna Plaut

 

Festival Artwork & Graphics............................Steve Gairns

                                                                           Chelsea Louise Grant

Neighbourhood Outreach..................................Michelle Wishart

                                                                           Andrea Cowan

Grant Writers.....................................................Kat Single-Dain

                                                                           Jeanette Bishop

                                                                           Chelsea Louise Grant

Book-Keeping...................................................Jenny Lee Craig

DFC Treasurer...................................................Meris Goodman

Videographer.....................................................Joe Klymkiw

Photographer.....................................................Jonathon Dy

DFC Intern.........................................................Lily Naomi Nadeau

Workshops

Thriller Flash-Mob.............................................Kat Single-Dain

                                                                            Vladislav Evdaev

Leather Mask-Making........................................Chelsea Louise Grant

                                                                            Steve Gairns 

The Sounders......................................................Nayana Filkow

The Carnival Band

Tiny House Magic Trout Imporium...................Emily Smith

Ghost Caravan....................................................Marie-Eve Caron

Group Singing....................................................David Hatfield

                                                                    

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