Hundreds of people of all ages lined Court Street on Saturday, Oct. 29, as the Honey for the Heart parade made a triumphant return to Uptown Athens to kick off the Halloween festivities with a spectacle showcasing community collaboration and the spirit of Athens.
Cloaked and bedazzled in costumes and masks made from upcycled materials, more than 300 people marched in the parade featuring larger-than-life puppets. Honey for the Heart is a project by the Passion Works Studio, an Athens-based art studio known for its vibrant displays and rainbow-colored palette. The parade is co-sponsored by Arts for OHIO, an OHIO College of Fine Arts initiative providing access to arts events at no charge to Ohio University students, and Ohio University Learning Communities.
Honey for the Heart is a beloved Athens tradition and has been sorely missed by locals who have eagerly awaited its return since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the month leading up to the parade, Ohio University students collaborated with other Athens community members to create puppets and other art in preparation for the parade as part of their Learning Community Seminars and through Arts For OHIO. More than 1,700 people participated in the collaborative making of art and puppets for this year’s Honey for the Heart.