Parade is not a traditional feature film, but a filmed circus performance in which Tati himself appears as Monsieur Loyal at the Stockholm Circus. Tati acts as a consummate ringmaster. In a playful, often absurd manner, he guides the audience through a series of performances by musicians, jugglers, magicians and acrobats. With nostalgic delight, Tati performs classic gags and mime acts from his early variety repertoire, such as the famous tennis match without a net or ball. The film thus takes on the character of a lively ode to variety entertainment.