Organized by local arts non-profit Creative Alliance and Friends of Patterson Park, Baltimore's Great Halloween Lantern Parade attracts thousands of costumed marchers every year.
Parade-goers wind along a half-mile trek through Southeast Baltimore’s Patterson Park carrying their own lighted, often ghoulish objects. There is no advance registration for the parade, so organizers never know how many people will show or what they’ll bring.
The Halloween Lantern Parade is a throwback to the days when the joy of creation trumped the business of promotion. Unlike so many nationally known parades today, this event is not some corporate marketing scheme. It is an unstructured procession celebrating artistic inspiration and the vibrancy of Patterson Park.
Drummers keep a lively beat, as stilt walkers, jugglers and oversized lanterns shaped like animals mingle in the crowd. Some parade goers create colorful paper lanterns at Creative Alliance workshop; others bring store-bought ones or cleverly disguised flashlights.
Halloween Lantern Parade 2008
Date: Sat. Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. (marchers;) 8 p.m. (watchers) Raindate Sun. Oct. 26
Where: Patterson Park, marchers, Linwood and Eastern Aves.; puppet show, Patterson Park Ave. and Lombard St.
The ghostly procession ends with a shadow puppet drama set to eerie, live music. The show, projected on a 40-foot tall screen, tells a different spooky story every year. In 2006, shadow puppets retold The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe with a unique Baltimore twist. See 2006 Event on YouTube. In 2007 look for a story loosely based on a Grimms fairytale in which the moon has been sold to the underworld.
As a free event in October, the Halloween Lantern Parade is part of Free Fall Baltimore, a month-long series of free events and attractions throughout the city.
Lantern Making
Though parade-goers are welcome to bring their own lanterns, the Creative Alliance makes it easy by offering lantern-making workshops. Advance reservations is recommended for all workshops, call 410-276-1651 to register.- Lantern Making Workshops
Good for both adults and children, these workshops provide a lantern-making kit, art supplies and 1 ½ hours to make your creation.
Free
Usually on Sundays in October Check back for exact 2008 dates and times. - Lantini Party
DJ spins soul music as bartender serves up "lantinis" for this grown-up art project. $18-20 (includes lantern-making supplies and one drink)
Check back for exact 2008 dates and times. - Advanced Lantern-Making
Want to be one of the parade marchers with the fabulous large lanterns shaped like hearts, spiders or boats. Join the advanced lantern-making group. Contact greg@creativealliance.org to register. Space is limited. $10
Usually one Sunday in October. Check back for exact 2008 dates and times.
