15 Years of Magic: The Annual Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade is Back!

Mark your calendars for Atlanta's most magical night of the year! The Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade celebrates its 15th anniversary on Saturday, May 3, illuminating the Southwest Trail with thousands of handcrafted lanterns, giant puppets, and the joyful sounds of live music. 

Led by parade creator Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, this cherished Atlanta tradition brings together our community in a dazzling display of light and creativity. What began in 2010 with just a few hundred participants has grown into one of the city's most anticipated events, drawing tens of thousands of lantern enthusiasts. 

"I believe we have a common calling to delight one another," says Chantelle Rytter. "To see the people we share a community with as playful volumes of light, and to be witnessed as such, does a body good. It is restorative. It is collective joy, and we need it. Your creative play is a gift to our city." This year’s parade invites everyone to lean into that spirit– bringing their own imaginations and light to the trail. 

Adding to the energy and excitement, five incredible marching bands will accompany the Krewe: Atlanta Drum Academy, Atlanta Freedom Band, Black Sheep Ensemble, Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective, Seed & Feed Marching Abominables, and Grammy Award-winning artist Kebbi Williams and the Wolfpack. 

Event Details 

• DATE: Saturday, May 3, 2025 

• TIME:  

  • 7:35 PM: Line-up begins at Adair Park I 

  • 8:35 PM: Parade steps off onto the Atlanta Beltline Southwest Trail 

  • 9:15-10:00 PM: All-band giant puppet jam and parade finale 

• LOCATION:  

  • Start: Adair Park I (Catherine St SW) 

  • End: Lee + White (1070 White St SW) 

Join the Celebration 

Everyone is invited to participate! Bring your own lantern and join thousands of fellow Atlantans as we transform the Beltline into a river of light. The parade route stretches one mile along the Southwest Trail, offering plenty of space for spectators and participants. 

After the parade, join the Krewe, the bands, and fellow parade-goers at the official after-party in the Lee + White Food Hall parking lot. This unique "All-Band-Puppet-Jam" offers a chance to interact with the Krewe's giant puppets and all participating bands. 

Make Your Own Lantern: Lantern-Making Workshops 

Need help creating your lantern? Join one of Chantelle's lantern-making workshops! All workshops are held at the Krewe's studio, located at 1200 White St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, next to Dill Dinkers Pickleball. There is plenty of parking available; look for the entrance near the red Krewe flag.  

Master Lantern Puppet Class “Time Flies Weirdly” 

• Dates: Thursday, April 10 - Thursday, April 17  

• Time: Weekdays, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM, Saturday & Sunday 11:00 AM – 6 PM (with lunch break) 

• Location: Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons Studio (1200 White St. SW) 

• Cost: $100 (Need-based financial assistance available) 

• Spaces: 7 

• Details: An intense week-long team build celebrating the Krewe’s 15 years of lantern parading on the Beltline with an ensemble of absurd timepieces with wings. You will learn new construction skills, puppeteer tricky-tricky clocks, make new friends, and be rockstars in the parade! 

• Registration: Please send a note of interest confirming your availability for the dates and your commitment to performing in the parade to chantellerytter@gmail.com. 

Trees Atlanta Acorn Lantern Workshop 

• Date: Tuesday, April 22 

• Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM 

• Location: Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons Studio (1200 White St. SW) 

• Cost: $20 per person 

• Details: The Acorn Lantern Theme celebrates the over 30 native Georgia Oaks planted along Atlanta's Beltline Arboretum, benefiting Atlanta's wildlife and city. These lanterns highlight the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum. All materials included. Kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times.  

• Registration: Register here  

Everybody Lantern Puppets 

• Date: Thursday, April 19 

• Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

• Location: Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons Studio (1200 White St. SW) 

• Cost: $25 

• Details: These lantern puppets are easy and can be as simple or elaborate as you like. It's your design. Think of them as a fantastical second self, a playful critter native to the world of lantern parade! All materials included. This project is best for ages capable of using scissors and respecting hot glue. Kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Tickets are per lantern. Two people are welcome to work on one lantern puppet. 

• Registration: Register here  

Everybody Lantern Puppets Adults-Only Class 

• Date: Thursday, April 24  

• Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM 

• Location: Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons Studio (1200 White St. SW) 

• Cost: $25 

• Registration: Register here 

Drop-in Coloring Lantern Workshop 

• Date: Sunday, April 27 

•  Time: 12 PM – 4 PM  

• Location: Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons Studio (1200 White St. SW) 

• Cost: FREE 

• Details: These lanterns are easy and great for anyone who likes to color! They only take about an hour to make. All materials are included, funded by Atlanta Beltline Art. Kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 

Coloring Lantern Adults-Only Night 

• Date: Tuesday, April 29  

• Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM 

• Location: Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons Studio (1200 White St. SW) 

• Cost: $12 

• Details: Easy peasy lanterns! Relax, color, BYOB. All materials included. 

• Registration: Register here 

Stay updated on Atlanta Beltline Art announcements and events here or follow along on social media @AtlantaBeltline and with #BeltlineArt. 

The 2025 Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade is presented by Lee + White, Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners and supported by the following Atlanta Beltline Art sponsors: Delta Air Lines and Norfolk Southern at the Gold level; Kaiser Permanente and Northside Hospital at the Silver level; and Cox Enterprises and Ponce City Market at the Bronze level. 

This program is also supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.