BRATTLEBORO — Strolling of the Heifers is seeking strollers, marchers, and heifers for its upcoming parade, as well as entertainers, volunteers and vendors for various Stroll Weekend events.
The 12th annual Strolling of Heifers Weekend is June 7-9, with the agriculturally themed parade scheduled for Saturday, June 8, at 10 a.m., in downtown Brattleboro.
Registration or application forms for all events and functions, and guidelines for each, are available at www.strollingoftheheifers.com/register.
For parade units, parade director Richard Chapin announced that the deadline for applications is May 1. He is seeking parade units of all kinds, including musical units, marching units, animals, clowns, acrobats and dancers.
The theme of this year's parade is “Running of the Bulls Meets Mardi Gras,” and parade participants are encouraged to use costumes, dance, puppets and their imagination to amplify that theme as well as the general agricultural theme of the event.
Chapin cautioned that in general, no motorized vehicles except farm vehicles are allowed in the parade, and that animals other than draft animals need to be appropriately contained.
As a safety matter, dogs are not allowed in the parade, along the route, or at the expo.
For more information, contact Chapin at rchapin.members1st@yahoo.com, 802-257-5131, or 802-257-9300.
A contingent of heifer calves from area farms and 4-H groups will lead the parade, as always. To participate, heifers must have been born before Feb. 1. All heifers must be accompanied by a health chart, which is obtained from their veterinarian.
Heifers may be registered online as well, and questions may be directed to the heifer coordinator, Peter Stickney, at pstickney@putneyschool.org or 802-387-4730.
The Stroll's entertainment chairs, Beth Kiendl and Amelia Struthers, are seeking entertainers for the Friday evening (June 7) downtown street festival, Saturday pre-parade entertainment, and the Saturday Slow Living Expo (formerly Live Green Expo) at the Commons and Retreat grounds.
The deadline for entertainer applications is May 5, and early applications are strongly encouraged. If you have any questions, write Struthers at nolaughing@yahoo.com.
Vending locations are still available for the Friday evening street festival as well as the Slow Living Expo. Prospective vendors can register at the Stroll website. The deadline is May 17 but earlier registration is encouraged. The website also details event details and vendor registration rates.
For more information, contact Stroll general manager Julie Potter at julie.strollingoftheheifers@gmail.com or 802-490-6366.
The Stroll also seeks volunteers to help in myriad ways at all events, ranging from the Slow Living Summit June 5-7 to the Tour de Heifer, Sunday, June 9. To volunteer, visit www.strollingoftheheifers.com/get-involved, or contact Vicki Friedman, volunteer coordinator, at strollvolunteers@gmail.com or 802-490-2265.