Parade of Mythical Beasts
The Parade of the Mythical Beasts, produced by Scratch Built Productions for Basingstoke Festival 2026, brought together over 500 marchers, more than 20 community groups and local schools for a spectacular celebration of creativity and community spirit.
Dragons, unicorns, phoenixes and fantastical creatures filled the streets of Basingstoke, with participants working together to create costumes, props and giant puppets.
The project also included the Beast of Basingstoke design competition, inviting people of all ages to submit their own ideas for a mythical creature. The competition received over 70 entries and involved more than 300 young people through local schools and groups, with the winning design brought to life as a giant puppet by local puppet maker Nick Ash. The parade celebrated local imagination, encouraged community participation and gave people the opportunity to contribute to a major town-centre cultural event.
The Together Parade
The Green Parade
The Green Parade at Basingstoke Festival 2025, produced by Scratch Built Productions, brought the town centre to life on 20 June with a spectacular celebration of sustainability, nature and community creativity.
More than 500 participants from local schools, colleges and community groups took part, showcasing imaginative green costumes, giant puppets and creations inspired by the natural world.
The parade was supported by YB Creative, Scratch Built Productions’ free creative work experience programme, which gave young people hands-on experience of the creative industries. YB Creative participants worked alongside professional artists and makers to help prepare for the festival opening parade, developing practical skills, building confidence and contributing to a major public event. Together, the project celebrated biodiversity, environmental awareness and the power of creativity to bring communities together.
The Together Parade launched Basingstoke Festival in June 2022, The first one after the Covid Pandemic.
Celebrating diversity and bringing schools, community groups and audiences together through outdoor arts. The colourful procession featured towering giants, larger-than-life snails, Indian elephants and a gigantic lion. Starting on Cross Street and travelling through the town centre to Festival Place, the parade transformed public spaces into a shared celebration of creativity, culture and community. The event demonstrated the power of collaborative arts to bring people together and make culture visible and accessible in the heart of Basingstoke.
