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Chaos and Kisses: A Grand Opening Parade for Calder Gardens
Calder Gardens will celebrate its opening with Chaos and Kisses, a free public parade on Saturday, September 20, from noon to 2pm, conceived by acclaimed artist, composer, and musician Arto Lindsay. Featured artists include Sun Ra Arkestra, Pig Iron Theatre, Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, Mad Beatz Philly, and PHonk!
Opening on Sunday, September 21, Calder Gardens is a new cultural destination that honors the legacy of Alexander Calder, a leading 20th-century artist and native Philadelphian. The space unites Calder’s art with architecture, nature, and activations that nurture different ways of thinking, feeling, and understanding.
The opening parade begins at noon at LOVE Park near City Hall, which features the famous bronze statue of William Penn by Calder’s grandfather Alexander Milne Calder. It continues along the Parkway, past the landmark Swann Memorial Fountain by Calder’s father Alexander Stirling Calder, and concludes in Maja Park near Calder Gardens with a free concert at 1pm by the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra.
The parade’s lineup features an unprecedented ensemble of Philadelphia-based performers and artists, including Pig Iron Theatre, Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, Mad Beatz Philly with youth drumlines, and Brazilian percussion ensemble PHonk!. Together, these artists will activate the city with music, movement, theater, and spectacle, guided by Arto Lindsay’s conceptual framework for the event.
The idea of a parade is deeply rooted in the history and spirit of Calder Gardens, honoring the Calder family’s ancestry in Philadelphia and the city’s vibrant arts scene. Staged on the Parkway and free to all, the parade celebrates collaboration, experimentation, and impermanence—values that were central to Calder’s own work and will guide the programming at Calder Gardens in the years ahead.
Commissioned by Calder Gardens, the event is conceived by Lindsay, an artist, musician, and producer whose work blurs boundaries between music, performance, and visual art. Chaos and Kisses takes its name from his original score for the occasion, which shapes the flow of the parade while leaving room for individual experiences and encounters. “Everyone knows what to expect from a parade,” Lindsay says, “which makes it the perfect place for the unexpected to appear.” By collaborating exclusively with local artists and communities, Lindsay and Calder Gardens emphasize the importance of collective creation and place-based cultural production.
Please note: Calder Gardens opens September 21, the day after the parade. While supplies last, parade attendees will receive vouchers for free admission (redeemable for six months during available time slots).
Event Details: Chaos and Kisses: A Grand Opening Parade for Calder Gardens by Arto Lindsay
Featured Artists: Sun Ra Arkestra, Pig Iron Theatre, Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, Mad Beatz Philly, PHonk!
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: Noon – 2pm
Route: LOVE Park → Swann Memorial Fountain → Parkway → Maja Park (next to Calder Gardens)
Finale Concert: Sun Ra Arkestra, 1pm at Maja Park
Price: Free and open to the public
