Hi Everyone,
THE PIG FLIES AGAIN Gainesville is preparing for its most fabulous annual event, “The Flying Pig Parade”, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Nationally acclaimed mega-donut, “Shirley, The Hot, Hot, Circle of Dough,” will serve as the event’s grand marshal. She has been a symbol of all things tasty on West University Avenue since 1956.
Last year’s grand marshal was another Gainesville star, Vivian Filer.
The parade will again highlight all that is wild, weird, and wonderful about living in North Central Florida. Parade entries thus far include “The Man With Three Legs”, a marching band with no talent or instruments, and a handful of surprisingly large salted almonds. (You try writing this early in the morning)
The third annual Flying Pig Parade will begin on January 3 at 2 p.m. We will march south on SE 1 St. beginning at East University Avenue. It will end a block east of the Hippodrome Theater. After the event, everyone is invited to attend the “Bo’s Birthday Bash” in Bo Diddley Plaza, featuring live music by the Rolling Stones ;-} and delicious birthday cake from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Groups interested in participating in the parade can register until December 20th by visiting FlyingPigParade.org.
Use our contact form, sign up to be in the parade, or volunteer form to join the fun.
THE BIG PLAN:
The parade lines up in Bo Diddley Plaza, where SE 1 St. meets University Avenue at 1 p.m. At 2, we will begin marching south on SE 1st, take a left at the Hippodrome Theater, and take a couple of more left turns so you’ll end up where you began. Back at the Bo, we’ll have a Post Parade Party where our bands play and marchers will intermingle with parade fans.
No one will be in a hurry in the Flying Pig procession. We want you to stop and perform for your audience every fifty feet or so. It might take you 40 minutes to cover the six blocks. Some may be having so much fun they’ll want to go around a second time. That’s okay!
We run a clean parade. No one will be allowed to throw candy into the crowd. It makes a mess and is dangerous for kids running out into the street. Please refrain from throwing beads or any other items. We want the street to be cleaner after the parade than before. “Keep Alachua County Beautiful” is one of our sponsors and we back them up. Again, it’s a short parade; only 50 groups will be allowed to march in it.
OUR LAST PARADE
Here’s a fun 12-minute video made by our friend Carol Tedesco.
Thanks again for your interest in Gainesville’s super sonic, soon-to-be-iconic, dancin’ in the street event.
