Get ready for one of the most unique public art spectacles of the year.
On September 18 and 19, a massive herd of 40 life-sized buffalo puppets will take over the streets of Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.
They will be roaming, grazing, and running wild right alongside everyday pedestrians!
An interactive public art experience
This historic two-day event is part of Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi. Conceived by Amir Nizar Zuabi in partnership with elders from the Lenape and Lakota communities, it is officially the largest interactive public art experience in the country this year.
The spectacle aims to tell the story of our national mammal. The buffalo is a powerful symbol of resilience, reckoning, and repair, having been brought back from the brink of extinction thanks largely to Native peoples and their conservationist allies.
If the creative team sounds familiar, it’s because they are the exact same minds behind Little Amal—the 12-foot-tall refugee girl puppet that captivated New York City during her 10-day walk back in 2022.
Join the wild herd
During these two historic walks, over 150 volunteer puppeteers will maneuver the incredibly lifelike creations. Designed by the South African collective Ukwanda Puppets and built from recycled materials, the buffalo will actually be assembled locally at St. Ann’s in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The audience is highly encouraged to interact and join the march! As the herd stops at locations of historic significance, the surrounding parks, plazas, and squares will completely transform.
You can expect live performances, tribal ceremonies, gospel choirs, and marching bands animating the route. Featured artists include Rhiannon Giddens, Laurie Anderson, the Native Pride Dancers, Pilobolus, and the Fogo Azul marching band, alongside First Nations tribal elders and civic leaders.
When and where to see the march
The beautiful events are completely free and open to the public. Here is exactly where you can join the stampede this fall:
- Friday, September 18 (Lower Manhattan): The herd will march from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, beginning at Bowling Green Park and ending the day in Foley Square.
- Saturday, September 19 (Downtown Brooklyn): The procession runs from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM, traveling from Abolitionist Place to Brooklyn Bridge Park.