If you miss the colorful doves that formed part of the Peace Parade in San Jose over the last few months, you’ll have a chance at keeping one (or more of them) at your house when the prettiest 40 doves go on auction a week from today, on April 17^th.

According to national newspaper La Nacion, bidding on these doves is more than just taking home a part of Costa Rica’s recent history, but also a chance to help 10 of our country’s neediest public and community schools. These doves, which dotted the urban landscape of downtown San Jose from December 15^th to March 15^th, were designed by Tico artists and students.

The Peace Parade was an exhibition of 70 colorfully decorated doves placed along many of San Jose’s landmarks. Mayor Johnny Araya reached out to corporate and civic sponsors to donate and decorate the doves, meaning they had to shell out money to participate, and in return they received free advertising. Sponsorship of each dove ran up to $36,000, and the project was budgeted to yield a 20 percent profit donated to ten needy schools around the country.

Each of the winged peace symbols sits upon a recreation of our mysterious stone spheres, one of the oldest symbols of our pre-Columbian era.

Speaking to journalist Andrea Solana from La Nacion, the director of the Peace Parade explained that bidding for the doves will start at $2,000. The buy-in at the auction is $100, which will be deducted from the wining bid prize.

If you’d like to take a look at the doves before they are snapped up by anxious bidders, they will be on display on the morning of the event at the parking lot of Fogo Brasil. Bidding will start at 7:00 pm on April 17^th.

For more information, please contact the Peace Parade at 2231-4579 or 2248-1111. Emails can be sent to Mr. Mariano Morelli, Director of the Peace Parade. You can also see the doves now at their Facebook page.