Lindsay Horne, inspired by the Bosch Parade on the Netherlands' Dommel River, has organized the Hague Parade, a floating art exhibition on Norfolk's waterways. The event debuts on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the intersection of Mill Street and Mowbray Arch, ending at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Nine artist teams designed sustainable, leave-no-trace floats using canoes, kayaks, and rain barrels. Participants include students from the Governor's School for the Arts, the Barry Art Museum, and California artist Stan Clark. The parade aims to celebrate water rather than lament rising sea levels, with hopes to grow into a larger community weekend featuring a boat race and family activities.
The Hague Parade matters because it transforms local waterways into a platform for community-driven, environmentally conscious art, directly engaging residents and students in creative collaboration. By emphasizing appreciation of water over climate anxiety, the event offers a positive, inclusive model for public art that bridges the arts and sciences. Its partnership with the Chrysler Museum of Art and local businesses like Foster Beauty and What's In Your House Boutique demonstrates how grassroots initiatives can strengthen cultural ties and attract broader participation, potentially inspiring similar water-based art events in other cities.