Town Festival Street Parade

The class puts on a pasacalles, the street parade held at town festivals in Spain: a little band of bucket drums, shakers and rhythm sticks marches around the playground while dancers follow waving scarves. It works on walking to a beat and introduces a festive tradition.

How to play

1. Explain the pasacalles: at Spanish town festivals, a brass band (charanga) plays through the streets and people dance behind it, much like a hometown parade (2 min).
2. Line up the band: drums in front, shakers and sticks in the middle, dancers with scarves at the back (2 min).
3. March along the playground "streets" to the drum: one beat, one step (4 min).
4. Stop at the town square (a chalk circle): the band plays and the dancers dance in a ring waving their scarves (3 min).
5. Swap roles: dancers take the instruments for another lap (3 min).
6. Arrive at the "town hall" door and finish with a big cheer and a bow (1 min).

Rules

• Walk to the drum and don't pass the band.
• Scarves dance in the air; no pulling on anyone.
• In the square everybody dances, nobody just watches.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair can lead, keeping the beat on a drum in their lap.
• Autism: offer the end of the line where it's quieter, or ear defenders if they use them.
• Visual impairment: walks arm in arm with a dancer and plays a shaker, following the band by sound.

Learning goals

• Move while following a steady beat.
• Learn about the street parade as a festive tradition.
• Take part in a group celebration.

Equipment for a class of 25

• bucket drums: 8
• homemade shakers: 10
• rhythm sticks: 7
• colored scarves: 25
• chalk

Teacher tip

If you have photos or videos of a town parade, local or from Spain, show them; children love spotting the band. The lead drum sets the pace, so an adult or a very steady child plays it on the first lap.

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