Life-Sized Buffalo Puppets Will March Through Lower Manhattan And Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY — New Yorkers will have the chance to witness a herd of 40 life-sized buffalo puppets stampeding through the streets of Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn this weekend.

“Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi” is a free, interactive public art spectacle featuring more than 100 volunteer puppeteers that will run from Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18 and 19.

The buffalo will travel past landmarks including Wall Street, the Charging Bull, Federal Hall, City Hall, Abolitionist Place and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

On Sept. 18, the march will begin at Bowling Green Park and will conclude in Tribeca's Foley Square.

In Brooklyn, the next day, the march will begin at Abolitionist Place and end at Harbor View Lawn, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The two-day event will feature live music, dance, marching bands, gospel choirs, tribal ceremonies and teachings, and appearances by artists and performers including Susan Sarandon, Rosario Dawson, Wendell Pierce, Rhiannon Giddens, Sam Waterston, Laurie Anderson and Chaske Spencer.

Created by Amir Nizar Zuabi in partnership with Elders from Lenape and Lakota Tribes, the project is produced by St. Ann’s Warehouse, The Walk Productions and KBH Arts—the team behind Little Amal, the 12-foot-tall puppet that traveled across New York City in 2022.

For more event information and for detailed route maps, New Yorkers can visit this website.