Want to watch a parade, see an art show and enjoy water views, all at once?
You can at “The Hague Parade: A Floating Art Exhibition,” which will be floating along the Hague, an inlet of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Event organizer Lindsay Horne said the idea was inspired by the Bosch Parade, a biennial celebration in the Netherlands that features artistic floats on the Dommel River.
“My social media algorithm started flirting with me and showing me all these reels of the Bosch Parade,” Horne said. “I completely fell in love.”
The Norfolk event, its Facebook page says, is “a love letter to the water in the form of creative expression, collaboration, and community.”
When Horne started talking about the idea, her friends and fellow artists encouraged her to create the event. She said this is a “proof-of-concept year.”
Eight teams have created artworks to float down the Hague, and artist Ariana Foster will have a fashion show inspired by sustainability on the bridge at the end of the parade.
One of the floats was made by 11 students from the Governor’s School for the Arts. The visual arts and theater tech departments built floating sculptures out of pool noodles.
“The students have been enthusiastically building away in our twice-a-week classes since early September,” said Jennifer Hand, a visual arts instructor. The sculptures include an articulated octopus, a bird in flight skimming above stylized waves, a sparkly puffer fish and a giant bobbing half-apple.
Artist teams have been working on floats for “The Hague Parade: A Floating Art Exhibition,” Sunday in Norfolk. (Lindsay Horne/Courtesy photo)
A float by the artist team of Richard Justis and Kyle Reed pokes fun at sea level rise in Norfolk. Push Comedy Theater’s float, using a platform of wood and rain barrels as a stage, will include a live performance.
“The idea of the parade was to bring people from all different backgrounds to create a whimsical spectacle to spark joy and curiosity, all while celebrating our waterways,” Horne said. “This is a way we can come together to collaborate with the water to continue to dream, hope and create.”
The parade will begin near the intersection of Mill Street and Mowbray Arch and end at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Spectators are encouraged to bring a chair or beach towel.
Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net
If you go
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Hague waterway, from the intersection of Mill Street and Mowbray Arch to Chrysler Museum of Art
Details: Facebook event page “The Hague Parade: A Floating Art Exhibition”
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/10/02/floating-art-exhibit-hague/
