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Line-up at Adair Park I at 7:45pm
Choose a spot to walk behind one of our five marching bands!
Step-off at 8:45pm
Everyone is always invited to make a lantern and walk in the parade! Individual creativity rules in this parade.
The Beltline Lantern Parade doesn't have a theme like Mardi Gras doesn't have a theme - be your own theme!
There are all kinds of ways to make a lantern. Look at photos of past parades below,
check out the Lantern Ideas & Inspiration page, or join the Weird Gone Pro Lantern Workshop. Schedule below!
Parade Line-up and Route Map!
BAND LINE UP!
Atlanta Drum Academy
Black Sheep Ensemble
Seed & Feed Marching Abominables
Atlanta Freedom Band
Wasted Potential Brass Band
Please help welcome and remind new comers of our simple parade game book:
Weird Gone Pro Lantern Workshop Series 2023!
The goal of our workshop series is to give you ideas and skills to best deliver the gift of your creative play for this year’s parade and all the ones to follow! All workshops are hosted by Chantelle Rytter and Krewe and held at our gigantic Lantern Parade Studio at Lee + White, 1070 White Street, Atlanta GA 30310, generously gifted by Ackerman & Co. Our collection of giant lantern puppets are at the studio! You're welcome to pop in for a visit when you're on the trail and see us at work.
Teach the Teachers: Lantern Forms Tour & Demo
Wednesday, April 19, 6-7pm
Art teachers & lantern-making party hosts! Come tour all the lantern forms at the studio
and get some tips and tricks and material sources for hosting lantern-making.
4-Day Master Class: ATL Aliens Ensemble
SOLD OUT
Friday, May 5, 6-9pm
Saturday, May 6, 11am-4pm
Sunday, May 7, 11am-5pm
Monday, May 8, 5 - 9pm
$100
8 spaces
Skill Level: Crafty.
This four-day workshop is a collective build culminating in the group performing the ensemble in the BeltLine Lantern Parade on May 20th. We’re going to build three flying saucers and three new aliens to create a signature ATLiens Ensemble. The one-eyed creatures pictured here are existing puppets to be refreshed and rehearsed with the group. You will learn weird new skills, puppeteer giant puppets, fly saucers, make new friends, and be rockstars in the parade! Please send a note of interest confirming your availability for the dates and commitment to performing in the parade to chantellerytter@gmail.com. Need-based financial assistance available.
Lantern Houses with Fabric - Adults-Only Night
Tuesday, May 9
5:30-8:30
$25
Skill Level: Somewhat Crafty
Affordable houses on the Beltline! These cozy lantern houses are made with sticks and fabric with hot glue. This project is hot glue intense. If you’re not a hot glue pro, you will be after you build this house! All materials, lights, batteries, and tools are provided, but if you have a favorite hot glue gun and fabric scraps you’ve been meaning to use, bring them. This class is likely to run longer and you might get all fancy and want to finish at home. Tickets are per house. Two folks are welcome to work on one house, but please no more than two.
Illuminated Sunflowers - Adults-Only Night
Friday, May 12
6-9pm
$30
Skill Level: Somewhat Crafty.
These happy sunflowers stand 4’ tall and are made of fabric. They are mostly scissor and hot glue work. All materials are provided. You are welcome to bring a snack and a beverage. This workshop is likely to run over, please do your best to be on time. Tickets are per sunflower. Two people are welcome to work on one sunflower, but please no more than two.
English Style Lanterns with Sticks, Reed, and Wet-Strength Tissue
Saturday, May 13
11-2pm
SOLD OUT $25
Skill Level: Easy, except maybe if you get all crazy with it.
The classic UK pyramid lantern is easy and the white wet-strength tissue is cool to use. It’s just tape and glue. You crafty folks are welcome to make other shapes! If you get all fancy, you might end up finishing at home. All materials are provided. Best for folks 8 years old and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This workshop is likely to run over, please do your best to be on time. Ambitious builders are welcome to stay an extra hour. Tickets are per lantern. Two folks are welcome to work on one lantern, but please no more than two.
Globe Lanterns - Free for Moms
Sunday, May 14
12-2pm
$25 not-moms
Mom's 100% discount code: MOMMY
Skill Level: Easy-peasy
Globe lanterns are easy and fun. This is applying colored tissue paper with wet glue. Dimensional bits, like unicorn horns, are added with paper and hot glue. All materials provided. Best for ages capable of using scissors. Kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Tickets are per lantern. Two people are welcome to work on one lantern, but please no more than two.
Tuesday, May 16
5:30 - 8:30pm
$25
Skill Level: Easy-peasy
Parasols look great twirling in the parade! We will be adding colored tissue paper and lights to white paper parasols with wet glue. This project is best for folks 8 years-old and up. All materials included. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Tickets are per parasol. Two people can work on one parasol, but please no more than two.
Jellyfish Lanterns - Adults-Only Night - SOLD OUT
Wednesday, May 17
5:30 - 8:30pm
$30
Skill Level: Easy-peasy, but it does involve hot glue
These jellyfish come with color-changing lights! They are super cool and pretty easy to make. It’s all scissor work and hot glue. Tickets are per jellyfish. Two folks are welcome to work on one jellyfish, but please no more than two.
ABOUT THE PARADE:
The Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade is is the mothership of our lantern parades. In 2010, the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons answered a call for proposals from Art on the Atlanta Beltline with the idea of a lantern parade where everyone is invited to make a lantern and participate, like Mardi Gras Day marching down the Beltline. At the time, the Beltline Eastside Trail was a creepy dirt path behind the dumpsters. Our first lantern parade in 2010 drew a spirited 400 participants, and zero spectators. By 2019 the parade was drawing an estimated 70,000 in spectators and participants, and became a beloved Atlanta tradition. The Krewe builds and performs giant lantern puppets and hosts lantern workshops. We are always astounded by the amazing lanterns people bring to the parade! Atlanta's got game. This is our 14th year with Art on the Atlanta Beltline! We are forever grateful to the Atlanta Beltline for giving such great support to a crazy idea.
Note: Why did we move the parade to the Westside Trail? The Eastside Trail is lit!
Big thanks to everyone who came out for the 2022 Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade!
You brought the magic to our first lantern parade on the Westside Trail! There's a great set of photos from the AJC, an excellent recap on the BeltLine Blog, a fun WABE interview with Lois Reitzes, and a lovely piece in Atlanta Intown Magazine. Check out the BeltLine's video!
Here's some of our favorite photos and video from 2019, our 10th year on the Eastside Trail: 11 Alive's 30 minute video! , Atlanta Intown's Photos, and Steve Eberhardt's Photos.
