The Wing Luke Museum explains why a museum participates in a neighborhood parade.

Last month, Wing Luke Museum staff and volunteers marched in Seattle’s annual Chinatown Seafair parade.  There we are, lined up behind the crowned princesses of West Seattle and in front of campaigning political candidates, waiting our turn to walk in front of an expected 10,000 spectators.

The unglamorous side of parades is that there is a lot of standing around, especially if you are scheduled in the last part of the parade as we were.  You wait, watch the marching bands or drill teams practice, chat with each other, and then wait some more.

The moment we were given the cue, though, everything comes together.  Adult and kids alike snap to attention and get into position.  Angelo Pizarro, the featured guitarist from our neighborhood music series, JamFest, starts filling the streets with his energizing tunes.  And just like that, we remember why we’re here. We’re here to support and show how our community and our neighborhood are rich in so many ways.  We’re here to break stereotypes of what museums do and how they do it.  We’re here to showcase JamFest so that local residents know that there is more to Chinatown than food.  Not your typical Museum activity, we know, but it’s critical to think outside your walls.