by Kirby Laney, posted 19 February 2019
Over three workshops, held on February 23rd and 24th, and March 2nd, from Noon – 4p, the Fremont Arts Council (FAC) will offer instruction, assistance and a supportive environment for building mini-floats, at The Powerhouse. These free workshops are perfect for groups of people of varying abilities, ages and interests, and have the added benefit of leading up to one of the most accessible of all flash-mob parades – the FAC Petit Troll at Noon on March 3rd.
Led by Neon Brass Party, the Petit Troll lets the good times roll through the Fremont Sunday Market – on the Sunday before Mardi Gras, and Fat Tuesday. Inspired by the ‘tit Rəx parade held in New Orleans in front of Mardi Gras, the Petit Troll can serve as a smaller, shorter parade lead up to the FAC signature event: the Solstice Parade, coming up on June 22nd.
See The FAC In Action
Where some might find planning and preparation for the Solstice overwhelming or burdensome, the Petit Troll offers an easy-in for anyone interested in dancing along! Petit Troll also offers the FAC a way to invite a wider audience in to join the fun. “It’s an outreach event,” acknowledged Brigette LaGarde, Events Team Leader for the FAC. “We can have a booth,” at the Market, “and spend a good chunk of the day talking with people,” before and after Petit Troll, LaGarde explained, “and still have fun with it!”
“It’s difficult getting the word out,” LaGarde admitted. The FAC holds public meetings, events, and workshops throughout the year, but the all-volunteer organization still struggles to get people engaged. LaGarde mentioned ‘table-itis’, and how hard it is to convey the magic the FAC creates at a meeting. “It doesn’t capture what the FAC is about,” she said.
At Petit Troll, “you can see us in action,” LaGarde explained. And not just at the parade, but also at the three workshops, where anyone can learn how to build a float, but in miniature.
Petit Troll uses shoebox size floats, pulled through the parade by string – or feathered boa – and these can be as elaborate or as simple as any Solstice float. This year, for Petit Troll, FAC volunteers will assemble an assortment of sustainable bases upon which workshop attendees can build whatever kind of float their imagination can conjure. “We’re putting together a team,” explained Lymarie Perez, about the bases, “and we’re making them in the workshops.”
People can bring their own bases, and float materials, but in its fifth year of Petit Troll-ing, FAC volunteers have refined the kind of base that will work best. Past floats have been tippy, or didn’t roll well over the rough street pavement. “We’re still learning,” Perez acknowledged about building these mini-floats, but still, “we’re excited to make them, and see how it rolls.”
Workshops, Quick & Safe
Workshop attendees can bring wooden wheels, spare toy tires, dowels, pully ropes, zip ties, used skateboards (that roll,) used penny boards, and duct tape to donate to the Petit Troll build. The FAC also welcomes donations of gee gaws and glitter for decorating, although the FAC workshop space, The Powerhouse, does already have dozens of headdresses (used during the FAC Feast of the Winter Solstice last December,) ready to be stripped for reuse – or worn by Petit Troll participants. For 2019, Perez and LaGarde emphasized the strong focus, in FAC workshops, on using eco-friendly materials, and re-use.
Ultimately, FAC workshops are always meant to inspire volunteers – from the experienced to the drop-in – to create. The free public workshops, held last September, for building lanterns before the FAC Luminata Lantern Walk resulted in a record 700 lanterns being created. Best of all, volunteers who built three lanterns got to keep one.
At Petit Troll workshops, attendees build floats for the parade – and take them home after the March 3rd event. “Most projects are done in an afternoon, quick and safe,” LaGarde advised, and like most FAC workshops, the Petit Troll parade build is open to all ages, all abilities, and people of all interests and skills sets.
A History Of Making Smiles
“We got a lot of positive feedback from last year,” LaGarde reported. The 2018 Petit Troll probably had the most organization behind it, and did the most outreach at the Sunday Market.
Begun in 2014, when Jen Bay brought the idea to the FAC and organized the first Petit Troll parade, this event has yet to attain the splash and dazzle of the Solstice Parade. Instead, for its first few years, Petit Troll has appeared at the Market as a flash mob, drawing stares and smiles as brightly dressed adults and children pulled their floats through the crowds.
Now the Market has provided the FAC a booth space for participants to gather to refine their costumes, decorate their umbrellas (if needed,) and enlist passers-by (again, if needed) to pull any un-manned floats. As the fifth Petit Troll rolls on March 3rd, it could be the biggest and best of all the Petit Trolls.
You won’t want to miss this one!
Volunteers, And Krewe, Needed
“We always need volunteers,” admitted LaGarde. The FAC is currently holding elections, and new volunteer (and Petit Troll Lead) Perez hopes to be voted onto the Board. Still, its very easy for anyone, whether on the Board or just walking in, to contribute new ideas and enthusiasm to the FAC. As LaGarde advised, the monthly COW (Committee-Of-the-Whole) meetings on the second Tuesdays at 7p are open-to-all, but so are the Event Team meetings on the first Tuesdays. (Check the FAC calendar for locations – click here.)
For the 2019 Petit Troll, the FAC will partner with the Stay Happy Collective and Esters Enoteca, where participants can gather after the parade for King Cake. “We’re looking for other groups to collaborate with,” LaGarde observed, “we have the infrastructure in place,” to make it easy for organizations to engage.
“We celebrate community through our art, and we build community through our art,” LaGarde observed about the FAC, “You get out of it what you put into it.” Everyone who wants to be a part of the art, either in a small way, like with Petit Troll, or a big way, like an ensemble and/or float in the Solstice Parade, is welcome to come take part. After all, as LaGarde said, “we do it all year long!”
Drop-in to any workshop, at The Powerhouse, on Saturday, Feb 23rd, Sunday, Feb 24th, or Saturday, Mar 2nd, from Noon to 4p, or pre-register to be sure of space – on Sign-Up Genius (click here.)
Register to participate in Petit Troll at Sign-Up Genius (click here,) to make sure there will be enough King Cake for everyone. Participants gather at the FAC Outreach Booth (look for an orange tent) at the Sunday Market at 11a on Sunday, March 3rd. Go to the FAC website (click here,) for more details!
Related Articles
- Create Joy, And Memories, With the FAC Petit Troll
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- Petit Troll Lets The Good Times, And Tiny Floats, Roll!
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- FAC Highlight Reel: Parades Big & Small
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©2019 Kirby S. Laney. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.