The 2024 Peoplehood Parade & Pageant: Reclaiming the Streets with Joy, Art, and Activism

With nearly 80% of participants from underserved communities, Spiral Q strives for equity, representation, and a voice for those often silenced. (Hanbit Kwon)

Words and photos by Guest Contributor Hanbit Kwon.

The streets of West Philly came alive on November 9th, 2024 with the dazzling spectacle of color, sound, and activism that is the 24th annual Peoplehood Parade & Pageant. More than 25 local organizations and over 500 community members joined together for one of the city’s most visually striking and politically charged collective actions powered by art.

Unity in Action: Over 500 people gathered to march from the Paul Robeson House to Clark Park, uniting in art, joy, and resistance at the 24th annual Peoplehood Parade. (Hanbit Kwon)

Led by Spiral Q, an arts organization committed to social activism, the parade is a dazzling celebration of identity, resilience, and unity, fueled by the belief that art and activism can embody and spark social change.

Cultural Power: Art, music, and movement were at the heart of this year’s pageant, demonstrating the deep connection between culture and activism. Pictured here are advocates from Neighborhood Bike Works, petitioning for safer streets. (Hanbit Kwon)

For nearly three decades, Spiral Q has championed the intersection of creative expression and social action, using puppetry and performance to amplify the call for social change.

This year’s parade—marked by its signature larger-than-life puppets and elaborate banners—was no exception.

John Jarboe (pictured right) of Bearded Ladies Cabaret
at the 24th annual Peoplehood Parade and Pageant, in West Philly. (Hanbit Kwon)

Through the collaborative art-making process, artists, activists, and youth engage with pressing social issues, such as displacement and inequality.

A Collective Voice: Participants from diverse groups, including Families for Ceasefire Philly and the Philly Tenants Union, marched together to amplify their shared struggles. (Hanbit Kwon)

Artists, activists, and community members worked side by side in the months leading up to the event to craft these intricate works of art that address some of the most pressing social issues of our time. Through the creation of these works of art, community members came together not only to celebrate their shared humanity but to confront global issues–the war in Gaza–and local issues–development and gentrification in Kensington and Chinatown–that impact us every day. It wasn’t just a celebration; it was a protest, a call to action, and a visual statement of solidarity.

Members from the Ginger Arts Center. The 24th annual Peoplehood Parade and Pageant, in West Philly. (Hanbit Kwon)

Fighting for Home: Groups like No Arena in Chinatown Solidarity and Save the Meadows advocated for communities threatened by gentrification and large-scale development. (Hanbit Kwon)

What sets this parade apart is its ability to create a space for the marginalized to be seen and heard. The massive puppets, which took months to create, gave a voice to those whose struggles are often ignored. Whether it was the haunting figure representing the Palestinian resistance or the powerful symbolism of the fight for tenant rights in Philly, the parade’s art was both a tool for advocacy and a means of celebration.

Global Solidarity: This year’s pageant also highlighted international movements, including the pro-Palestine ceasefire movement, showing how local struggles are part of a global fight for justice. (Hanbit Kwon)

The 2024 Peoplehood Parade was a remarkable visual reminder that when communities unite, their collective voices can shift the narrative, question the status quo, and imagine the way toward a more just and inclusive future. Spiral Q’s Peoplehood Parade and Pageant remains one of Philadelphia’s most powerful acts of civic engagement, where art becomes activism and the streets become a space for joy and hope.