Sandy Springs will host its inaugural Lantern Parade on the night of June 18. Themed “Take It to the River,” the mile-long parade will have residents carrying homemade lanterns walking down Morgan Falls Road to the Overlook Park, where live music and performances will be staged.
A series of lantern-making workshops for residents to prep for the parade is slated for June 7-11.
Similar parades have been a hit in Decatur, Atlanta’s BeltLine and Grant Park. The Sandy Springs version is produced by the creator of those parades, Chantelle Rytter, who also will lead the lantern-making workshops.
The Sandy Springs parade will have local touches, including lanterns shaped like turtles, one of the city’s mascot animals. Parade organizers also will place a 25-foot-long lantern made to look like an albino alligator in the Chattahoochee River.
Anyone with a lantern will be welcome to walk in the parade, which starts at 9 p.m. June 18, and anyone is welcome to watch (flashlights recommended). Rolling closure of the street will begin at 8:30 p.m. Return shuttle service will be available.
The parade will begin at North Springs United Methodist Church, 7770 Roswell Road.
For more information, see eventbrite.com/d/ga–atlanta/lantern-parade.