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Sparky the Giant Rideable Unicorn

Admit it, you probably think unicorns don't really exist. Let Sparky prove you wrong! Sparky the Giant Rideable Unicorn is a highly interactive, electric-assist four-wheeled art bike. He can be ridden by four people—two people in the saddle and two people pedaling the bike cart. Sparky stands about 11 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 11 feet long . He is basically a large puppet—he has an articulated head that can nod and shake and he has moveable legs that can make him appear to trot like a horse. Sparky is constructed out of a welded steel frame covered in chicken wire and fabric, and he is lit by over 6,000 LEDs. The bike cart carries a state-of-the-art sound system that can get any party mystically moving and grooving. 


Sparky was built in the spring of 2019 in Ithaca New York by artists Doug Shire and Laurence Clarkberg. Sparky has made appearances in over a dozen parades, festivals, and other events nationwide. In the spring of 2019 he appeared at the Playa Del Fuego and PortalBurn regional Burning Man events in the northeast and several local Ithaca events. In August of 2019 he made an epic journey across the US to join thousands of other art cars at Burning Man. Sparky has been a huge hit everywhere we have taken him, and he has helped hundreds of people cross "ride a unicorn" off their bucket lists.

—Doug and Laurence

Upcoming Appearances

No events at the moment

Selected Past Appearances

  • Winter Light Festival
    Winter Light Festival
    Fri, Dec 04
    Ithaca Commons
    Dec 04, 2020, 7:00 PM – Dec 14, 2020, 10:00 PM
    Ithaca Commons, 171 E M.L.K. Jr. St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Dec 04, 2020, 7:00 PM – Dec 14, 2020, 10:00 PM
    Ithaca Commons, 171 E M.L.K. Jr. St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Sparky will again make an appearance at Ithaca, New York's winter Light Festival! Look for him at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Ithaca Commons.
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  • Constellation Burn
    Constellation Burn
    Thu, Oct 10
    Pegasus Farm Campground
    Oct 10, 2019, 7:00 PM – Oct 14, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Pegasus Farm Campground, 624 Arnold Hill Rd, Elkins, WV 26241, USA
    Oct 10, 2019, 7:00 PM – Oct 14, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Pegasus Farm Campground, 624 Arnold Hill Rd, Elkins, WV 26241, USA
    Sparky wowed the crowds at Constellation Burn in West Virginia!
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  • Burning Man
    Burning Man
    Wed, Aug 21
    Black Rock City
    Aug 21, 2019, 7:00 PM – Sep 04, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Black Rock City, Black Rock City, NV, USA
    Aug 21, 2019, 7:00 PM – Sep 04, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Black Rock City, Black Rock City, NV, USA
    After an epic cross-country journey, Sparky joined the thousands of art cars and art installations at Burning Man 2019.
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  • POrtalBurn
    POrtalBurn
    Thu, Jul 25
    Hannibal
    Jul 25, 2019, 7:00 PM – Jul 29, 2019, 11:00 AM
    Hannibal, Hannibal, NY 13074, USA
    Jul 25, 2019, 7:00 PM – Jul 29, 2019, 11:00 AM
    Hannibal, Hannibal, NY 13074, USA
    Upstate New York's official regional Burning Man event.
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  • Grassroots Festival
    Grassroots Festival
    Thu, Jul 18
    County Fairgrounds
    Jul 18, 2019, 7:00 PM – Jul 21, 2019, 11:00 PM
    County Fairgrounds, County Fairgrounds, Trumansburg, NY 14886, USA
    Jul 18, 2019, 7:00 PM – Jul 21, 2019, 11:00 PM
    County Fairgrounds, County Fairgrounds, Trumansburg, NY 14886, USA
    Grassroots is a well-respected music festival held in Trumansburg NY every summer. Sparky led the Happiness Parade at the festival this year!
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  • Watermusic: Dancing on the Trail
    Watermusic: Dancing on the Trail
    Fri, Jul 12
    Stewart Park
    Jul 12, 2019, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
    Stewart Park, 1 James L Gibbs Dr, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Jul 12, 2019, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
    Stewart Park, 1 James L Gibbs Dr, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    As part of this music, art, and dance festival Sparky toured around Stewart Park with a series of musicians on his back, then we gave people rides!
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  • Interdependance Day
    Interdependance Day
    Fri, Jul 05
    The Haunt
    Jul 05, 2019, 7:00 PM
    The Haunt, 702 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Jul 05, 2019, 7:00 PM
    The Haunt, 702 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Our friend Vic DeBeer created the Interdependance Day event as an alternative to Independance Day, to celebrate "diversity, unicorns, rainbows and glitter"!
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  • Unifier
    Unifier
    Thu, Jun 20
    Tolland
    Jun 20, 2019, 7:00 PM – Jun 23, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Tolland, Tolland, MA, USA
    Jun 20, 2019, 7:00 PM – Jun 23, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Tolland, Tolland, MA, USA
    Unifier Festival is a Healing and Expressive Arts Festival, A Sacred World Music Festival, and a Beach Party. Immerse Yourself in Nature on 417 community owned acres in the foothills of the Berkshires.
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  • FIGMENT Art Festval
    FIGMENT Art Festval
    Sat, Jun 01
    Roosevelt Island
    Jun 01, 2019, 7:00 PM – Jun 02, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Roosevelt Island, Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10044, USA
    Jun 01, 2019, 7:00 PM – Jun 02, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Roosevelt Island, Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10044, USA
    Festival goers lined up to ride Sparky at the FIGMENT art festival held on Roosevelt Island in New York City!
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  • Ithaca Festival Parade
    Ithaca Festival Parade
    Fri, May 31
    Ithaca
    May 31, 2019, 6:00 PM
    Ithaca, Ithaca, NY, USA
    May 31, 2019, 6:00 PM
    Ithaca, Ithaca, NY, USA
    Sparky led the 2019 Ithaca Festival Parade, just behind Mayor Svante Myrick. Mickey Quinn, Queen of the Festival, rode on top!
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  • Playa del Fuego
    Playa del Fuego
    Thu, May 23
    Tamaqua, PA, USA
    May 23, 2019, 7:00 PM – May 28, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Tamaqua, PA, USA
    May 23, 2019, 7:00 PM – May 28, 2019, 11:00 PM
    Tamaqua, PA, USA
    Sparky's debut was at the regional Burning Man event known as Playa del Fuego in Tamaqua, PA.
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