Atlanta Beltline Art Collaborates with Lantern Parade’s Chantelle Rytter for New Community Experience, "Where the Weird Things Are: An Upside Down Parade"
From the creator of the beloved Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade comes another magical community celebration.
- Arts & Culture
Atlanta Beltline Art has a new addition to its fall line-up: “Where the Weird Things Are: An Upside Down Parade,” an immersive, participatory experience created by the visionary behind the long-running Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade, Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons.
For the past 14 years, the Lantern Parade has illuminated the Beltline trail, drawing thousands of spectators and hundreds of community participants. Rytter and her Krewe have now created "Where the Weird Things Are,” a special Halloween experience that brings together local folklore, giant mythical creatures and their stories.
After debuting last fall as a pop-up parade, this year’s event has been reimagined into a reverse parade format where parade participants are stationary and spectators are invited to walk around them. Attendees will stroll around the pond of Historic Fourth Ward Park to experience the puppet line-up or, as with the Lantern Parade, may join in with their own “weird” creations.
“Where the Weird Things Are” will feature live music, provided once again by Atlanta-based marching band the Black Sheep Ensemble. Special to this event, however, is the addition of storytime, where Rytter will tell of the tales of her featured creatures.
As always, the community is invited to create the upside-down parade with the Krewe. Four free “Weird Thing” workshops will be held October 5 -14 at the Krewe's Parade Studio, located at 1200 White Street SW, 30310. The Krewe is thrilled to welcome guest parade artist Henry Lipkis, a founder of the New Orleans Monster Parade, who will give an artist talk, teach a master monster class, and co-host the headdress workshops. The full workshop schedule as well as at-home ideas can be found here.
WHO: Atlanta Beltline Art, Atlanta Beltline's arts and culture program, in collaboration with event creator and curator Chantelle Rytter and her Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons
WHAT: Atlanta Beltline Art’s “Where the Weird Things Are”
WHEN: Saturday, October 19, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
7:00 PM: Parade and music start
7:45 PM: Storytime at the amphitheater
8:15 PM: All-Creature Dance Party around the pond
WHERE: Amphitheater at Historic Fourth Ward Park (Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail)
680 Dallas St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
WHY: “To conjure and celebrate the mystical creatures who live in the wild places of our imaginations, and along the Atlanta Beltline! We long for the tales of mystical creatures from here. We want for campfire stories set where we live, affirming that here is an oddly unique place in the world. Georgia leans its back against Appalachia and soaks its feet in the coastal south. This is where the weird things are. Once a year, we will turn a parade upside down to call them, invite them to dance and sing with us, and listen to their tales!” - Chantelle Rytter
For more information, visit Where the Weird Things Are.
The 2023-24 Atlanta Beltline Art exhibition is sponsored by Delta Air Lines and Norfolk Southern at the Gold level; Jamestown – Ponce City Market and Northside Hospital at the Silver level; and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Kaiser Permanente at the Bronze level.
This program is 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.
Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is the official implementation agency for the Atlanta Beltline. Its vision is to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive and sustainable city life. As one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States, the Atlanta Beltline is building a more socially and economically resilient Atlanta with our partner organizations and host communities through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing and public spaces for all. For more information on the Atlanta Beltline, please visit www.beltline.org.
About Atlanta Beltline Art
Atlanta Beltline Art is the largest temporary public art exhibition in the history of Atlanta. It showcases the work of hundreds of visual artists, performers, and musicians along the Atlanta Beltline corridor. This spectacular project places working professionals alongside emerging artists, and draws residents and visitors into some of the most unique public spaces in the City of Atlanta, providing powerful new perspectives on the city and its vibrant neighborhoods. The exhibition showcases how art strengthens and beautifies current and former industrial areas and creates signature spaces exemplifying the transformation of the city through the Atlanta Beltline. Atlanta Beltline Art touches almost 20 intown communities. Stay abreast of Atlanta Beltline Art announcements and events at beltline.org/art, or follow on social media @atlantabeltline and with #beltlineart.
Media Contacts:
Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Office of Communications and Media Relations
100 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30303
Keona Swindler, Communications & Media Relations Manager
404.477.3550, kswindler@atlbeltline.org
Sigele Winbush, PR Consultant
404.862.2081, sigele@sigelewinbush.com
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