Dane County Bids Goodbye To Bucky On Parade

A four-month public art display of 85 colorful, life-sized Bucky Badger statues wrapped up this week in Dane County. Bucky on Parade encouraged families throughout the city, and state, to see all 85 Bucky statues.

The Graff family, including Ryan and his sister Jaden, were one such family. They did not procrastinate.

Ryan said that it took them “a few days” to visit all 85 statues, and then thought again. “Well, maybe a few weeks,” he said.

Ryan’s favorite Bucky was outside Madison City Hall. Standing before it, he described the theme.

“I think it’s like a person at a beach or something with a microphone and sunglasses and a bunch of detail on it,” he said. The “microphone” is actually a light bulb. The statue is called “Bucky Energized!” and depicts renewable energy through solar panels and wind turbines.

His second favorite Bucky was next to the Capitol, covered in pennies.

To celebrate the end of Bucky on Parade, the Madison Area Sports Commission in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison is hosting a fundraiser finale in which all proceeds will go to Garding Against Cancer, Madison Area Sports Commission and other community charities.

While Ryan said he’s sad the statues are leaving, thanks to his mom, he will have a “Bucky Book” with pictures from this summer.

“So we can keep looking at the Buckies when they’re gone,” he said.