Key West is second to New Orleans when it comes to lively, quirky parades. We have the annual Fantasy Fest Parade, pet masquerade parades, boat parades, and in April, the annual Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade, which celebrates creativity and honors the "dynamic junkman of Key Largo," sculptor Stanley Papio.

Rebel folk artist Papio was known to make art out just about anything, bringing life and expression into every scrap of material he touched. The Kinetic Sculpture Parade keeps his spirit alive by allowing creativity to take center stage. See participants' human-powered parade floats and art bicycles, which are made to inspire and amaze in delightful and remarkable ways.

Cash prizes are awarded among different categories, which ups the ante and overall creativity! The family-friendly event also features works from kids and local schools.

The Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade is set for noon on April 4, 2020, at the Customs House at 281 Front St. in Old Town, Key West. The parade will head down Duval Street to Southard Street, with a concert and award ceremony at 1pm at Truman Waterfront, located at 21 E. Quay Rd. in Key West.

If you drove along US Highway 1 in the '70s and '80s, you may remember the works of Stanley Papio. The scrap metal sculptor encouraged people to leave their old cars and appliances on his land so he could use the metal in his welding creations. You can read about the scrap metal sculptor here. You can also check out a permanent exhibition of the late artist's works at the Key West Art & Historical Society's Fort East Martello at 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd. 

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