Park Guides and Parade Marshalls
PARK GUIDES are absolutely essential to the smooth and safe running of the Night of Dread Pageant evening, both for the volunteer performers and professional artists participating, and the audience members watching. You’ll also get to work with our amazing Clay and Paper Theatre staff who will lead and manage the production for the evening. Park Guide duties may include:
Before the event begins, you’ll give volunteers and audience members directions to washrooms, puppet sign-out, the First Aid station, the C&P Info and T-shirt Sales tent.
You’ll also communicate to the Stage Manager and/or Park Manager(s) any problems that they may observe so that the event can stay safe and fun for everyone.
Park Guides will also watch over the Cemetery of Fears installation and make sure no gravestones are removed.
Park Guides will help to guide folks through the park from one dreadful activation to the next.
Park Guides (who are free) may assist in setting up the candles in the performance circle for the scenario with direction from a C&P production leader.
Park Guides, where possible, will also carry a Clay and Paper Theatre DONATION BOX* throughout the evening and encourage Night of Dread revellers to donate. During the pageant performance you will be called on (by the Masters of Ceremonies) to circulate through the audience for donations as well.
Once the scenario performance is complete, you will help gather puppets, costumes and props from volunteers and artists and drop them off at Puppet Central.
*DONATIONS: Night of Dread is a Pay-What-You-Can event. As a very small arts organization ALL DONATIONS ARE CRUCIAL, as they help pay for this event, for the amazing artists and Clay and Paper Theatre Staff. This is why we have DONATION BOXES set up in different locations in the park on the Parade and Pageant night. This is also why we have Park Guides and other Volunteers circulate with DONATION BOXES before the Parade and at the Pageant itself. Your assistance with this is greatly appreciated.
PARADE MARSHALLS are a parade-specific role for Night of Dread on Saturday, October 25th. Parade Marshalls can be on foot and on bikes. You are the “Shepherds of the Parade.” You will help with safety (if you are on foot) and with safety and relaying information to the Head Bike Marshall if you are on a bike.
Parade Marshalls on foot will be particularly important when the parade crosses at two intersections with lights (Please see Parade Map). You will stop at these lights keeping an eye on traffic and holding a “Parade Crossing” sign. You will wait to make sure the entire parade has crossed.
Parade Bike Marshalls must have your own bicycle, helmet and bicycle lights.
All Parade Marshalls will have high visibility vests provided to them. Parade Marshalls on foot will also be supplied with a “Parade Crossing” sign and a flashlight.
Once the scenario performance is complete, you will help gather puppets, costumes and props from volunteers and artists and drop them off at Puppet Central.
Parade Marshalls and Park Guides will also need to attend ONE 1.5 hour Orientation Session at Dufferin Grove Park on Wednesday, October 22nd at 6:00 PM.
We’ll need you at Dufferin Grove Park for 3:30 PM on Saturday, Oct. 25th, 2025 to pick up your equipment and get any last minute updates and instructions from C&P staff.
