Going Nuts For Kigu! Squirrels parade across London

Kigu have been doing a sterling job of keeping creature-clad festival goers and costume party enthusiasts in good spirits, but dissatisfied with simply providing the costumes, Kigu took the Japanese-inspired phenomenon to the next level with their first ever Kigu Secret Squirrel Procession… and we’ve only just recovered from kigurumi, squirreling antics.

When a 100-strong group of flying squirrels planned a rendezvous at a secret location only to be revealed less than a day before the event, the animal anticipation was bound to mount (no pun intended). With The Cat & Mutton pub on East London’s trendy Broadway Market announced as the meeting point, squirrels turned out thick and fast…with the odd rogue penguin and cow too.

London Fields may be accustomed to unusual attire and loud mobs, but this was a Hackney gathering like no other. Led by Kigu, the procession scurried through the night chanting “What do we want? Acorns! When do want them? NOW!”, it was a rowdy affair to say the least.

Skateboarding squirrels, cider-swilling squirrels, denim-accessorising squirrels, even squirrels styled with stilettos took to the streets to find the secret party location. Bewildered pedestrians stopped mid stride, car horns beeped and onlookers peered through curtains at the curious procession. The average urban, nocturnal pest would be lucky to get a fraction of such attention!

But we couldn’t stop to chat, we had a one track mind – nuts. Acorns to be precise. Onwards we went to the secret squirrel lair, where king and queen squirrels were crowned, nut piñatas dangled from the ceiling and bewinged squirrels danced the night away. We ate more nuts than a scurry of squirrels (yes, that is the collective noun for squirrels) would eat in a year! All we wish now is that we had many more Kigu themed secret processions than just one a year.

- Thomasin Arnold-Baker