You Can Help Build MayDay!

Volunteer for the MayDay Parade & Festival!

The annual MayDay Parade & Festival draws up to 50,000 people and couldn't happen without community involvement and volunteer help! HOBT produces this event with only a small core staff and about 160 volunteers. Your help is needed especially on the day of the event: Sunday, May 3, 2009.

Party Setup

Gift For Us All Breakfast - May 28 & 29, 2008

Take a peek at our fanciest party of the year, as we host the sixth annual "Gift For Us All" breakfast.

• Wednesday May 28, 1:00-5:00 pm – Help set up tables for breakfast the next day.  Make the ballroom beautiful!  Take home a free MayDay t-shirt or rain poncho!
• Thursday May 29, 6:00 -8:00 am – Join the 6:00 am crew as we set out food and flowers.  Leave by 8:00 am with a free MayDay t-shirt or rain poncho and our biggest thanks.

MayDay Workshop Assistants

Be part of an amazing community art project!  At the times listed below, we open our doors to anyone and everyone who wants to build a costume for the MayDay Parade.  We offer these workshops free of charge but must rely on the help of many volunteer to do so. 

We ask volunteers to help at four workshops over the course of the month, to hand out supplies or to help people create parade-able art, preferably on the same day each week.  It’s lots of fun and, come May Day, you receive a free t-shirt and two free tickets to our shows as a small expression of our gratitude. 

2009 Public Workshop Dates:

• Saturdays 8:30 - 11:30 am – April 4, 11, 18 and 25
• Saturdays 12:30 - 3:30 pm –April 4, 11, 18 and 25
• Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:30 pm – April 7, 14, 21 and 28
• Thursdays 6:30 - 9:30 pm – April 9, 16, 23, and 30

Hosting Artists

House a MayDay Artist!

Artists come from all over to help with MayDay – from Germany and Philadelphia, from England and Milwaukee.  Because we cannot provide them with compensation, they are in need of free housing during their time here.  If you have a bed that you could spare for a guest, kindly let us know! 

MayDay Parade Host

Host a Block of the MayDay Parade

• Sunday May 3, 2009, noon – 3pm

Would you and some friends – or an organization you’re part of – like to host a block of the MayDay Parade?  You may set up a table, provide information about your group, and sell beverages in sealed cans – while, at the same time, welcoming people to the block and handing out programs.  You get to see the whole Parade!  After the Parade, tidy up your block and join the rest of the festivities.

MayDay Festival

MayDay! - Sunday May 3, 2009

The MayDay Festival takes place because hundreds of volunteers pitch in on Parade-day to make it all happen.  Can you?  It’s a great community event, and you receive a free t-shirt and two free tickets to our shows as a thank-you.

• 6:30 - 9:30 am – Help us unload trucks in Powderhorn Park as the sun rises and ducks awaken.  The day’s excitement unfolds!
• 1:00 - 4:00 pm or 4:00 – 7:00 pm – Sell t-shirts and other fun merchandise from a MayDay booth.
• 7:00 - 10:00 pm – Help re-load our trucks and get everything back home to our Theatre.  We will be so very grateful for your help!

Many more volunteer positions are available, including stage managing, carrying a banner or being a marshal in the Parade, etc.  Ask, and we’ll tell you more.

For More Info

To sign up for any of these opportunities,
please contact Margery Otto: 612-721-2535 x14 or by e-mail

Thanks for your support!