October 17, 2026 was the Come Out with Pride Parade in Orlando Florida. Stella P. Alberaéz Tascón had the thought to have the 14-foot Trump Puppet in an Orange Jump Suit in Lake Eola Park during the parade. We walked the route around the park and found that there were many spots where a 14-foot-tall puppet would have difficulty navigating.
She switched gears and decided to finish a puppet she had started which was a life sized bears. She already had the head made along gloves and boots. There were only a few days left before the parade and she would have to sew a shirt, pants and the inner suit for the character.
She worked all night to complete some of the tasks the tasks needed. On the day of that parade she was still sewing the pants and shirt. She was working right until the moment the parade started. It was an incredible superhuman push to get the Pride Bear completed.
I was assigned to complete the HUGS and FREE LOVE sign. I used a painting pole to hold up a large heart. Stella managed to cover the pole and added fringe all around the heart. The pole could be expanded to elevate the sign high above the crowd. When we made our way into the park security had a long discussion as to whether they should allow the sign in. Maybe they thought the pole could be used as a weapon. Ultimately the security officer waved us in.
Stella added a rainbow bow tie on the bear and had pompoms and strings of tiny battery powered lights. I carried a hip pack which held two Smart bottles of water and I hooked up a tube system which would allow Stella to drink without taking her bear head off. I was pleased that my water supply system worked.
Stella was an absolute star during the parade. We walked down the block towards Lake Eola and found a location at the end of the street with no security fencing. The Pride Bear danced to the music on every float. When parade dancers saw the bear they had to come over for a hug. Huggy the Pride Bear must have given out hundreds of hugs.
Stella could not see straight ahead of her because of the bear muzzle. I had to shout out Bear Hug straight ahead any time someone approached for a hug. Stella had an adorable way of shuffling her feet in excitement and opening and closing her paws which invited people to come in for the hug. Everyone adored her. Several people cried while hugging the bear. Several said that Huggy gave the best hugs ever.
After the parade we made our way to the dance floor where Huggy got even more hugs. Huggy danced for hours right until it was time for the fireworks over Lake Eola. Even as the fireworks went off Huggy stayed in character looking on in amazement and joy.
I felt so much joy helping make the moment happen. I brought my art bag but there was never a moment where I could sketch. Both hands were needed to keep the sign vertical and clear of hitting anyone. When I danced I was essentially doing a tango with the sign pole. I felt like Fed Astaire dancing with the pole, but I probably looked more like Pewee Herman.
On young man said, “You remind me of my father.” I responded, Does your father attend Pride?” He said, “No, my father hates me.” Huggy gave the fellow a long hug. A dance soared high above the dancing crowd on top of flowing light fabric. I am not sure how the device worked but it looked like pure magic. Blue Star was on stage as a DJ and her dance troupe was performing both on stage and close to the crowd.
Huggy gave away more hugs than we ever imagined he would. Stella had her website URL as a bar cove on the bear’s butt and hopefully some people scanned her butt. Several guys had too much to drink and leaned in with all their weight when hugging. Thankfully I never had to intervene. Huggy never spoke but communicated with pantomime. The whole night was magical.